The Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina for November 2024

Here is the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina according to NerdWallet's analysis.

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Updated · 5 min read
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Written by Ben Moore
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Edited by Lacie Glover
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Fact Checked

Nerdy takeaways

  • Auto-Owners offers the cheapest full coverage in South Carolina, with an average rate of $1,699 per year according to NerdWallet's November 2024 analysis.

  • Full coverage in South Carolina costs an average of $2,693 per year, or $224 per month.

  • If you want the cheapest policy possible, get minimum coverage. The average cost of minimum coverage in South Carolina is $828 per year, or $69 per month.

    Auto insurance is an important purchase, but finding cheap car insurance in South Carolina isn’t always easy. The best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare rates from multiple insurers. NerdWallet found some of the cheapest car insurance companies in your state to help you compare rates and get a better deal for your coverage.

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    Keep reading to find the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for different driver profiles and coverage types among:

    Cheap car insurance in South Carolina

    Here's the cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 35-year-old drivers with different driving records.

    CategoryCheapest companyMedian annual rate
    Clean driving historyAuto-Owners$1,699
    After a DUISouth Carolina Farm Bureau$2,543
    After an accidentAuto-Owners$2,194
    After a speeding ticketAuto-Owners$2,307
    Having poor creditProgressive$3,229

    The cheapest car insurance company in South Carolina is Auto-Owners at $1,699 per year on average, or $142 per month, according to the most recent NerdWallet analysis of full coverage car insurance rates in South Carolina. Meanwhile, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in South Carolina is $2,693 per year, or about $224 per month.

    🤓Nerdy Tip

    Did your rates go up? Auto insurance prices are on the rise in South Carolina. Be sure to get car insurance quotes from three or more companies to find the lowest rate possible.

    Minimum coverage in South Carolina is $828 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, Geico offers the cheapest rates in South Carolina at $575 per year, on average, for minimum coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

    How we chose the cheapest companies in South Carolina

    NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed car insurance rates from 12 auto insurers in South Carolina and listed the five cheapest options for drivers in several age brackets and with different histories, all driving a 2021 Toyota Camry LE. For minimum coverage, we looked at rates that reflect the minimum requirements in South Carolina. For full coverage, we used the below coverage limits:

    • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.

    • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

    • $50,000 property damage liability per accident.

    • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.

    • $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

    • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

    • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

    Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every locale in South Carolina where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.

    Cheap auto insurance in South Carolina for 20-year-old drivers

    Drivers in their 20s may have to get a lot of quotes to find the best cheap car insurance. Prices can be sky-high for younger 20-somethings, but tend to come down as drivers get more experience on the road. Still, some companies routinely have better insurance rates for young drivers, so it's best to shop around to find them.

    Cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 20-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina with clean driving records may want to consider the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Auto-Owners$3,509$292
    Progressive$3,542$295
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$3,593$299
    Travelers$4,180$348
    Nationwide$5,907$492

    Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 20-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$1,223$102
    Progressive$1,281$107
    Auto-Owners$1,488$124
    Allstate$1,585$132
    Travelers$1,626$136

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 20-year-olds with poor credit

    Drivers with poor credit in South Carolina should look at the following insurers with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$1,937$161
    Allstate$2,257$188
    Geico$2,627$219
    Travelers$2,780$232
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$2,944$245

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 20-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

    For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$1,263$105
    Progressive$1,563$130
    Allstate$1,864$155
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,972$164
    Travelers$2,023$169

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 20-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

    For drivers with a recent accident in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$1,448$121
    Progressive$1,647$137
    Auto-Owners$2,091$174
    Travelers$2,157$180
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$2,243$187

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 20-year-old drivers after a DUI

    The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI is shown here, alongside the insurers' average rates for minimum coverage.

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$1,575$131
    Geico$1,984$165
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$2,106$176
    Travelers$2,425$202
    Allstate$2,865$239
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    Cheap auto insurance in South Carolina for 30-year-old drivers

    By the time they reach their 30s, most drivers will enjoy cheaper car insurance rates than in their teens and 20s. Still, factors like a person’s driving record and car make and model can increase prices. Drivers in their 30s can get lower rates by shopping around and taking advantage of any car insurance discounts.

    Cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 30-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina seeking full coverage auto insurance can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Auto-Owners$1,730$144
    Progressive$2,054$171
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$2,326$194
    Allstate$2,551$213
    Travelers$2,592$216

    Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 30-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina who want their state's minimum coverage can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Allstate$597$50
    Geico$597$50
    Auto-Owners$632$53
    Progressive$690$58
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$899$75

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 30-year-olds with poor credit

    Drivers with poor credit in South Carolina should consider the following companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Allstate$889$74
    Progressive$977$81
    Geico$1,142$95
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,589$132
    Travelers$1,663$139

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 30-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

    For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$704$59
    Allstate$738$62
    Progressive$895$75
    Auto-Owners$932$78
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,043$87

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 30-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

    For drivers in South Carolina with a recent accident, here are the lowest average rate options for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$811$68
    Auto-Owners$877$73
    Allstate$1,054$88
    Progressive$1,067$89
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,183$99

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 30-year-old drivers after a DUI

    For the cheapest auto insurance after a DUI, we found the following options for minimum coverage.

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$936$78
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,113$93
    Geico$1,373$114
    Travelers$1,382$115
    Auto-Owners$1,451$121

    Cheap auto insurance in South Carolina for 40-year-old drivers

    Drivers in their 40s tend to have better insurance rates than their younger counterparts on average, but still pay more than older age groups. Shopping around for cheap car insurance quotes with multiple insurers is the best way to find lower rates. Good drivers who don’t get behind the wheel often might want to consider pay-per-mile insurance, which charges drivers by how many miles they drive.

    Cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 40-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina with clean driving records may want to think about the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Auto-Owners$1,696$141
    Progressive$1,816$151
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$2,138$178
    Travelers$2,349$196
    Allstate$2,551$213

    Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 40-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina who want just the minimum coverage may want to check prices from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$570$48
    Allstate$597$50
    Auto-Owners$619$52
    Progressive$647$54
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$815$68

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 40-year-olds with poor credit

    Drivers with poor credit in South Carolina can check out the following insurers with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$860$72
    Allstate$889$74
    Geico$1,142$95
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,441$120
    Travelers$1,521$127

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 40-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

    For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$664$55
    Allstate$738$62
    Progressive$821$68
    Auto-Owners$912$76
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$945$79

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 40-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

    For drivers with a recent accident living in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$806$67
    Auto-Owners$858$72
    Progressive$965$80
    Allstate$1,054$88
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,071$89

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 40-year-old drivers after a DUI

    The cheapest minimum coverage auto insurance we found for drivers with a DUI came from the following companies.

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$842$70
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,009$84
    Travelers$1,368$114
    Geico$1,373$114
    Auto-Owners$1,418$118

    Cheap auto insurance in South Carolina for 50-year-old drivers

    Drivers in their 50s have cheaper car insurance rates than most other age groups on average. Prices will continue to drop as they inch toward their 60s and gain more driving experience. Rates can still vary depending on other factors such as a driver’s gender and location, so it’s smart to shop around to find the best rate. Our list of cheap auto insurance companies is a good place to start.

    Cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 50-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina with clean driving records may want to get quotes from these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$1,625$135
    Auto-Owners$1,628$136
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$2,076$173
    Travelers$2,314$193
    Allstate$2,334$194

    Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 50-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina who opt for the state minimum coverage may want to consider the following companies, with the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$531$44
    Allstate$550$46
    Auto-Owners$584$49
    Progressive$627$52
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$805$67

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 50-year-olds with poor credit

    Drivers with poor credit in South Carolina can check with the following companies, which showed the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Allstate$818$68
    Progressive$821$68
    Geico$892$74
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,421$118
    Nationwide$1,496$125

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 50-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

    For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$624$52
    Allstate$681$57
    Progressive$801$67
    Auto-Owners$857$71
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$934$78

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 50-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

    For drivers living in South Carolina with a recent accident, here are the insurers with the lowest average minimum coverage rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$689$57
    Auto-Owners$807$67
    Progressive$889$74
    Allstate$977$81
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,057$88

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 50-year-old drivers after a DUI

    The cheapest auto insurance we found for drivers with a recent DUI comes from the following companies, listed with rates for minimum coverage.

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$800$67
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$996$83
    Geico$1,247$104
    Auto-Owners$1,329$111
    Travelers$1,368$114
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    Cheap auto insurance in South Carolina for 60-year-old drivers

    Although 60-year-olds have cheaper car insurance rates than many other age groups on average, prices will start increasing as they get older. To find cheap car insurance for seniors, drivers in their 60s should make sure to shop around to find the best rate. Drivers in this age group should also take advantage of any available discounts for senior citizens.

    Cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 60-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$1,528$127
    Auto-Owners$1,609$134
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,929$161
    Travelers$2,159$180
    Allstate$2,337$195

    Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 60-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Allstate$550$46
    Geico$566$47
    Auto-Owners$574$48
    Progressive$626$52
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$737$61

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 60-year-olds with poor credit

    Drivers with poor credit in South Carolina can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$817$68
    Allstate$818$68
    Geico$926$77
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,307$109
    Travelers$1,438$120

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 60-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

    For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$664$55
    Allstate$681$57
    Progressive$801$67
    Auto-Owners$844$70
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$853$71

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 60-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

    For drivers with a recent accident living in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Geico$731$61
    Auto-Owners$795$66
    Progressive$870$72
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$966$81
    Allstate$977$81

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 60-year-old drivers after a DUI

    The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for minimum coverage.

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$796$66
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$910$76
    Geico$1,247$104
    Auto-Owners$1,312$109
    Travelers$1,372$114

    Cheap auto insurance in South Carolina for 70-year-old drivers

    Car insurance costs may start to rise for 70-year-old drivers. To find the cheapest possible coverage, shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Also, look for insurers that offer discounts for seniors. For example, some insurers offer discounts to senior drivers who take a defensive driving course.

    Cheapest full coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 70-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Progressive$1,634$136
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,884$157
    Auto-Owners$1,884$157
    Travelers$2,410$201
    Allstate$2,468$206

    Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in South Carolina for 70-year-olds

    Drivers in South Carolina who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Allstate$594$50
    Progressive$674$56
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$716$60
    Auto-Owners$716$60
    Geico$743$62

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 70-year-olds with poor credit

    Drivers with poor credit in South Carolina can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Allstate$883$74
    Progressive$890$74
    Geico$1,205$100
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$1,272$106
    Nationwide$1,720$143

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 70-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

    For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    Allstate$729$61
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$829$69
    Geico$882$74
    Progressive$901$75
    Auto-Owners$1,059$88

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 70-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

    For drivers with a recent accident living in South Carolina, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$938$78
    Geico$965$80
    Auto-Owners$995$83
    Progressive$1,035$86
    Allstate$1,041$87

    Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for 70-year-old drivers after a DUI

    The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for minimum coverage.

    CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
    South Carolina Farm Bureau$885$74
    Progressive$909$76
    Geico$1,260$105
    Allstate$1,581$132
    State Farm$1,651$138

    Cheapest car insurance for military families in South Carolina

    If you're an active member of the military or a veteran — or have an immediate family member who is — chances are you'll get a relatively cheap rate with USAA, a company that isn't available to the general public.

    Because of that restriction, USAA isn't ranked with the others, but it was the cheapest auto insurance options for 67 of the 70 driver profiles we examined.

    Minimum auto insurance limits required in South Carolina

    South Carolina drivers are required to carry liability coverage, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI) and uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD).

    Here are the minimum amounts of insurance coverage needed to drive legally:

    • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person.

    • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

    • $25,000 property damage liability per accident.

    • $25,000 UMBI per person.

    • $50,000 UMBI per accident.

    • $25,000 UMPD per accident.

    Liability car insurance covers the cost of any damage, injuries or deaths you cause in a car accident, up to your policy’s predefined limits.

    Uninsured motorist coverage will cover expenses from injuries or damage after an accident with a driver who doesn’t have car insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage will cover the same expenses if you’re hit by a driver with some car insurance, but not enough to cover all costs from the crash.

    Although these limits will satisfy legal requirements, it’s wise for most drivers to get more than the bare coverage. The minimum car insurance might not be enough to fully cover accident costs, and the remaining balance would have to come out of your own pocket.

    Visit NerdWallet’s guide to car insurance requirements by state for more detail on how coverage works.

    Alternative car insurance in South Carolina

    Drivers who’ve been denied car insurance on the voluntary market within the past 60 days may qualify for coverage under the Associated Auto Insurers Plan of South Carolina. This option helps drivers who have checkered driving histories, extremely poor credit or other factors preventing them from getting traditional auto coverage.

    NerdWallet can make it easy to find coverage at the most competitive price. Use our car insurance comparison tool to view rates from top insurers.

    Methodology

    For our “good driver” profile, NerdWallet averaged insurance estimates for single male and female drivers with good credit and no tickets or violations. The analysis included 5-10 of the largest insurance companies in each state; smaller insurers were also included when rates were available. Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries were excluded from our analysis as rates were not available.

    For full coverage policies, we used the following coverage limits:

    • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.

    • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

    • $50,000 property damage liability per accident.

    • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.

    • $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

    • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

    • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

    In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion.

    We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.

    We analyzed rates for drivers 20 to 70 years old in ten-year increments. For the average cost of full and minimum coverage in each state, we looked at 35-year-old drivers.

    We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:

    • For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect the minimum required coverage by law in the state.

    • We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit.

    • For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim.

    • For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.

    We looked at 35-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company overall, the cheapest company for minimum coverage and the cheapest company for drivers with poor credit in states where credit history is used to price rates. We looked at 20-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company for young drivers.

    These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different. Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.

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