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Car insurance for teens in South Carolina is more expensive than it is for older drivers, but costs depend on several factors, including age, gender, coverage limits, and the insurer you choose. Knowing the averages in your state can help you budget, compare quotes, and find the best option for your family.

Use our calculator to estimate what car insurance might cost for your teen in South Carolina. Having a ballpark figure makes it easier to budget, compare quotes, and choose the coverage that works best for your family.

Car insurance calculator for state teens

South Carolina
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16
Full coverage – 100/300/100 liability, $500 collision and $500 comprehensive deductibles. State minimum liability – Liability coverage limits vary by state, no coverage for physical damage to your vehicle. Liability only – 100/300/100 liability, no coverage for physical damage to your vehicle.
Full coverage
Average annual rates for state teen drivers
$7,707 Average rate
$11,654 Highest
rate
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$5,032 Lowest
rate

Most expensive companies for auto insurance in ()

Company Average annual rate
Progressive $11,654
Sentry Insurance $10,515
Travelers $8,407

Least expensive companies for auto insurance in ()

Company Average annual rate
Southern Farm Bureau $5,032
Auto-Owners $5,696
GEICO $5,992

Methodology

Average teen car insurance costs in South Carolina

On average, insuring a teen driver in South Carolina costs $6,021 per year for a policy with 100/300/100 coverage limits – that’s $100,000 for one person injured in an accident, $300,000 for all injuries in a single accident, and $100,000 for property damage – plus $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive.

Because teens are new to the road, insurers view them as higher risk, which makes their premiums much steeper than those of adults.

Your rate may also change based on the coverage you select, the type of car your teen drives, and where you live. Families in South Carolina can save money by asking about good student discounts, signing up teens for a driving course, or adding them to an existing family policy.

Teen car insurance costs in South Carolina, by age

Premiums drop as teens gain experience. For example, a 16-year-old in South Carolina with full coverage pays an average of $7,205 per year. By 19, the average rate is $4,474.

Though still higher than adult premiums, the steady decline shows how added years of driving lead to more affordable coverage.

See the table below for average teen car insurance costs in South Carolina by age.

AgeAverage annual premium
16$7,205
17$6,488
18$5,861
19$4,474
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Teen car insurance rates in South Carolina, by gender

In most states, insurers set rates differently for male and female drivers, though California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania prohibit this. In South Carolina, a 16-year-old male pays around $7,707 per year, compared to $6,704 for a female – a difference of $1,003.

Crash data helps explain the gap. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 3,048 teens ages 13-19 lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in 2023, and two out of three were male. Because young men are more likely to be in serious accidents, insurers factor that risk into their rates.

The table below shows average teen car insurance rates in South Carolina by gender.

AgeAverage annual premium for maleAverage annual premium for female
16$7,707$6,704
17$6,914$6,061
18$6,246$5,475
19$4,802$4,142
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Cheapest car insurance companies for teen drivers in South Carolina

Car insurance for teens is expensive everywhere, but some companies consistently offer lower rates. That’s why comparing quotes is the best way to find the most affordable coverage for your family.

In South Carolina, Auto-Owners offers the lowest rates for drivers ages 16-19, averaging $3,967 per year for full coverage with 100/300/100 limits and $500 deductibles.

The next lowest average premium comes from Southern Farm Bureau, at $4,367.

See the table below for the cheapest companies offering teen car insurance in South Carolina.

CompanyAverage annual premium
Auto-Owners$3,967
Southern Farm Bureau$4,367
GEICO$5,351
Travelers$5,577
State Farm$5,674
Allstate$6,010
Progressive$8,846
Sentry Insurance$8,860
USAA*$5,903
*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
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Minimum car insurance requirements for teens in South Carolina

In South Carolina, teen drivers must carry the same minimum liability coverage as adults before getting behind the wheel. That includes:

  • $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
  • $25,000 in property damage liability

State-minimum limits offer only basic protection, and the cost of medical care or vehicle repairs can easily exceed them. That’s why it’s wise to choose higher coverage limits-especially when adding a new teen driver to your policy.

If your car is financed or leased, your lender will require comprehensive and collision coverage. These protections help pay for repairs to your own vehicle after an accident, theft, or weather damage.

Smart ways to save on car insurance for your teen

There’s no avoiding the fact that insuring a teen driver costs more, but you can take steps to manage the expense while keeping them safe on the road:

  • Check state averages. Knowing what families typically pay in your state gives you a ballpark figure to budget and compare against quotes.
  • Choose the right car. A safe, reliable sedan is far cheaper to insure than a luxury or sports car.
  • Consider full coverage. Liability is cheaper, but full coverage offers better protection against accidents, injuries, and costly repairs.
  • Ask about discounts. Many insurers reward good grades, defensive driving courses, or low mileage with lower rates.
  • Talk with your teen. Driving isn’t just freedom – it’s responsibility. Open conversations about risks and safety can encourage habits that save lives.
  • Review your rates each year. Premiums usually drop as your teen gains experience and keeps a clean record, so it’s worth checking annually.

Helping your teen start off safely on the road

Adding your teen to your car insurance policy will raise your rates at first-but it won’t last forever. As they gain experience and prove themselves as safe drivers, premiums usually go down year by year.

You can ease the cost by comparing quotes, bundling policies, and asking about discounts. More importantly, insuring your teen isn’t just about following state rules. It’s about giving them a safe, confident start on the road while protecting your family financially.

Methodology

Insure.com analyzed rates collected from Quadrant Information Services for teen male and female drivers aged 16-19 for a full coverage policy with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles.

To evaluate the premiums, our data experts compared rates 53,409,632 insurance quotes from 170 insurance companies across 34,588 ZIP codes. The rates are for comparison purposes only; your exact rates may vary.

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Shivani Gite
Contributing Writer

 
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Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions.

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