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25 Years of insurance experience
78.5M Quotes reviewed
170 Insurance providers evaluated
34.5K ZIP codes analyzed

If you live in South Carolina, you can expect to pay an average of around $197 per month for full coverage car insurance, or $2,367 per year. If you carry only your state’s minimum required liability coverage, your cost drops to about $57 monthly or $682 annually.

Location plays a big role in what you pay for car insurance. Insurers calculate rates based on state-specific risk factors such as accident frequency, repair and medical costs, theft rates, and even weather-related risks. Urban areas with heavy traffic or higher crime rates tend to see higher premiums, while rural areas are often cheaper. Beyond location, your age, driving record, credit score, ZIP code, and the type of car you drive also affect your rate.

Average annual cost
$2,367

Average per month cost
$197

Average cost for state minimum coverage
$918 / Year

Cheapest car insurance company
Auto-Owners

$1,715 / Year

Average cost for young drivers
$3,809 / Year

Average cost for Senior drivers
$2,324 / Year

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Average car insurance cost in South Carolina

Drivers in South Carolina generally pay an average of $197 per month or $2,367 per year for full coverage car insurance. However, if you go with the state’s minimum coverage, your monthly premium could be as low as $57 or $682 per year. Just keep in mind that opting for minimum coverage means significantly less protection if you’re in an accident.

Your exact car insurance costs may vary, as insurers consider multiple factors including your age, driving experience, credit score, where you live and what kind of car you drive.

Cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina

Auto-Owners provides the lowest full coverage rates, for an average cost of $1,715 per year or $143 monthly for a policy with 100/300/100 liability limits and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles.

Nationwide also offers affordable insurance coverage to South Carolina drivers at an average cost of $2,130 a year or $177 per month.

Although these insurers offer some of the most affordable average rates in South Carolina, your exact insurance cost may vary. Be sure to shop around and compare quotes to get the best deal on auto coverage.

Affordable car insurance providers in South Carolina

Graph
Table
Company nameAverage per month costAverage annual cost
Auto-Owners$143$1,715
Nationwide$177$2,130
Southern Farm Bureau$192$2,310
Travelers$195$2,342
GEICO$201$2,417
Progressive$222$2,666
Allstate$234$2,806
State Farm$261$3,133
USAA*$148$1,772
*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
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*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
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Data last refreshed in 2025
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Average cost of car insurance by coverage levels in South Carolina

The cost of your car insurance also depends on the coverage levels you choose.

If you opt for just the minimum coverage required by your state, you’ll pay $57 per month, or $682 per year. It’s a low-cost option, but keep in mind that it won’t pay for any repairs to your own car if you’re in an accident.

For solid protection, full coverage might be the right choice. It includes liability coverage along with collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision coverage covers damage to your vehicle from accidents, irrespective of fault. Comprehensive coverage protects against non-collision events like theft, vandalism or weather events.

In South Carolina, the average cost for full coverage is $197 per month, or $2,367 per year

While it’s more than what you’d pay for minimum coverage, the added protection can be worth it, especially if your car is of significant value.

Coverage limitsAverage annual cost
State minimum liability-only$682
Liability only$918
Full coverage$2,367
Non-owner state minimum liability$424
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Auto insurance premiums vary significantly from city to city, so drivers need to be sure they’re getting the best deal. Insure.com has done the research for you. Get more information on auto insurance rates by city below.

Our agents make it hassle-free to get the right quote.

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Average car insurance cost in South Carolina by city

Because car insurance rates vary by location, the city you live in also affects how much you pay. If you’re in cities like North Charleston, Summerville or Florence, you’ll likely see higher premiums because of high traffic and accident rates, and greater risk of theft or damage.

On the other hand, drivers in cities like Greenville or Rock Hill pay significantly low insurance rates, on average between $2,189 and $2,247 a year. Insurers typically charge lower premiums in these cities due to fewer accidents, lower population density, vehicle theft and vandalism rates.

CityAverage annual cost
Greenville$2,189
Rock Hill$2,247
Mount Pleasant$2,255
Columbia$2,409
Sumter$2,467
Goose Creek$2,478
Florence$2,508
Charleston$2,508
Summerville$2,512
North Charleston$2,594
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Average car insurance cost in South Carolina by age

Age plays a significant role in how insurers calculate car insurance costs. Young drivers usually pay more, as their inexperience on the road makes them a higher risk.

Rates are often highest for teenagers, begin to decrease after 25, and then climb again once drivers are in their 70s.

Let’s break down what you can expect to pay in South Carolina for full coverage, depending on your age and gender.

Average car insurance cost in South Carolina for young drivers

As a young driver, you’ll likely face higher-than-average insurance rates. Because of limited driving experience, insurers view young drivers as riskier, resulting in higher insurance rates until they gain more experience on the road.

In South Carolina, 20-year-old male drivers pay an average of $5,320 per year for car insurance, while their female counterparts pay $4,549 for the same coverage.

However, by age 25, average car insurance costs drop to about $2,947 per year for male drivers and $2,800 for female drivers.

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
20$5,320$4,549
21$4,095$3,654
22$3,815$3,451
23$3,520$3,219
24$3,331$3,071
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Average car insurance cost in South Carolina for adult drivers

An adult driver aged 25-60 in South Carolina pays $2,414 per year for full coverage, or $201 each month. Female drivers of the same age pay $2,339 annually or $195 monthly.

Keep in mind that rates can vary depending on personal factors, so it’s always a good idea to compare quotes to get the best deal.

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
25$2,947$2,800
30$2,551$2,466
35$2,477$2,395
40$2,403$2,330
45$2,368$2,291
50$2,239$2,202
55$2,173$2,126
60$2,158$2,105
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Average car insurance cost in South Carolina for senior drivers

As a senior driver, you may notice your car insurance rates increase with age. At 65, men pay $2,199 per year, and women pay $2,136.

By age 70, those averages increase to $2,311 for men and $2,234 for women. At 75, premiums rise again, reaching $2,595 for male drivers and $2,467 for female drivers.

Older drivers often face higher premiums because insurers view them as higher-risk due to slower reaction times and increased accident severity with age.

Still, you can keep your premiums in check by driving safely and taking advantage of senior discounts.

Age of driverAverage annual cost for Male driversAverage annual cost for Female drivers
65$2,199$2,136
70$2,311$2,234
75$2,595$2,467
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Minimum car insurance requirements in South Carolina

Whether you’re purchasing a policy for the first time or relocating to South Carolina, it’s important to understand the state’s liability coverage requirements.

Drivers in South Carolina must carry at least the following minimum coverage limits to stay compliant with the law:

  • Bodily injury per person: $25,000
  • Bodily injury per accident: $50,000
  • Property damage liability: $25,000

Cheapest cars to insure in South Carolina

Insurance premiums vary significantly depending on the type of vehicle you drive. Cars that are more expensive to repair, have higher theft rates, or are statistically involved in more accidents typically cost more to insure. On the other hand, vehicles with excellent safety ratings, affordable repair costs, and fewer claims history tend to have lower insurance premiums.

Subaru Crosstrek has the lowest premium, at an average of $1,770 a year, closely followed by Acura RDX, with an average annual car insurance cost of $1,817.

The table below shows the cheapest cars to insure and their average annual rates.

Make ModelAverage annual premium
Subaru Crosstrek$1,770
Acura RDX$1,817
Subaru Outback$1,833
Honda CR-V$1,834
Mazda CX-5$1,835
Volkswagen Tiguan$1,856
Hyundai Venue$1,861
Mini Cooper Countryman JCW$1,870
Ford Maverick$1,877
Chevrolet TrailBlazer$1,879
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Most expensive cars to insure in South Carolina

BMW M8 Gran Coupe tops the list as the most expensive car to insure in South Carolina, at an average annual cost of $6,079. Below is a list of the most expensive vehicles to insure in South Carolina and their average annual premiums.

Make ModelAverage annual premium
BMW M8 Gran Coupe$6,079
BMW M8$5,552
BMW i7$5,376
Maserati Quattroporte$5,324
Porsche 911 Turbo$5,157
Audi RS7$5,109
Audi RS6$5,089
Audi S8$5,034
Audi e-tron GT$4,939
BMW M4$4,910
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Car insurance costs can vary significantly depending on where you live and your personal profile. The smartest way to get the right coverage at a good price is to shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurers. Taking the time to do a little research can end up saving you a lot on your premiums.

Methodology

Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Service to get 2025 car insurance data. Our team of data analysts and expert editors has analyzed 78,451,280 insurance quotes from 170 insurance companies across 34,588 ZIP codes to determine the average premiums. The insurance rates are based on a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female drivers with a clean driving record and a good insurance score. Quotes premiums are for different coverage limits, including

  • Full coverage policy limits of $100,000 per person for bodily injury, $300,000 total for all bodily injuries per accident and $100,000 for property damage per accident.
  • State minimum limits
  • Liability-only policy with limits of $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident and $100,000 for property damage per accident.

We also collected average car insurance rates for drivers of different age groups:

  • Teen drivers aged 16-19
  • Young drivers aged 20-24
  • Adult drivers aged 25-60
  • Senior drivers aged 65-75

The quoted insurance rates are for comparison purposes, and your rates may vary.

78.5M

Quotes reviewed

170

No. of carriers analyzed

34.5K

ZIP codes analyzed

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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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