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Car insurance is key to protecting your personal finances. But with so many options, it isn't always easy to determine which company offers the best car insurance in South Carolina. Here's a closer look at which companies offer the cheapest rates for several common driver profiles.
American National charges female drivers about $1,397 per year on average while men pay about $1,358 per year. This is based on the profile of 35-year-old drivers with clean records. American National's rates are quite a bit under the state average, which is $2,259 per year for women and $2,292 per year for men.
Other companies that offer some of the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina include:
American National also offered low-cost car insurance in South Carolina to adults with a single accident on their record. While the state average annual premium for these drivers is $3,189, American National policyholders only pay about $1,868 per year on average.
These companies also offer cheap car insurance quotes in South Carolina to drivers with an accident history:
Drivers with prior speeding tickets see their South Carolina auto insurance premium rise to $2,881 per year on average. But those who choose Geico can get coverage for about $1,496 per year on average.
The following insurers also offer cheap auto insurance in South Carolina to drivers with a single speeding ticket:
Young drivers pay a whopping $5,689 per year on average for South Carolina auto insurance. But teens who choose American National can get the same coverage for about $2,849 per year.
These insurers also make the list of the best car insurance companies in South Carolina for teen drivers:
Senior drivers only pay about $2,227 for South Carolina auto insurance, but those who choose American National could save about $1,000. Its average annual premium for drivers 65 and older is just $1,255 per year.
These insurers also offer affordable car insurance in South Carolina to seniors:
South Carolina minimum car insurance costs about $891 per year, but drivers who go with American National can get the same coverage for just $556 per year.
These insurers also offer cheap liability car insurance in South Carolina:
Drivers with poor credit pay about $3,589 per year for South Carolina auto insurance, but those who go with Nationwide pay a more affordable $2,435 per year.
These companies also offer cheap South Carolina auto insurance to drivers with poor credit:
How much is car insurance in South Carolina? That depends on several factors, including the driver's history, location within the state, vehicle type, and more. The table below shows how South Carolina's rates for several common driver profiles stack up to the national average.
Average Rate Category | South Carolina | National Average |
---|---|---|
Overall | $2,712 | $2,646 |
Young drivers | $5,689 | $5,988 |
1 accident on driving record | $3,189 | $3,092 |
1 speeding ticket on driving record | $2,881 | $2,766 |
Here are some South Carolina car insurance laws all drivers should be familiar with:
In at-fault states like South Carolina, the driver who is found to be responsible for the accident pays for the medical bills for all parties involved. This is different from no-fault states where each driver bills their own insurer for medical expenses.
Drivers who choose not to purchase South Carolina auto insurance must either pay a $550 annual uninsured motorist fee or risk the following consequences:
Drivers in South Carolina must carry at least the following car insurance coverage:
South Carolina drivers must have at least:
In addition, drivers must have at least $25,000 of property damage liability coverage.
Drivers looking to score the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina should do the following:
Here are some other things drivers should know when searching for car insurance in South Carolina:
South Carolina is one of the few states that doesn't mandate its drivers carry auto insurance. But it's usually a good idea to have it anyway. Drivers who skip it still have to pay a $550 annual uninsured motorist fee, and it's possible to get state minimum coverage for about the same amount with some companies. This is the better investment because then the driver will have some protection if they cause an accident, rather than paying for the whole thing out of pocket.
South Carolina's minimum coverage doesn't include any coverage for the policyholder's vehicle. Drivers who don't want to get stuck paying for vehicle repairs out of their own pocket should consider adding collision and comprehensive insurance coverage to their policy as well. Collision coverage kicks in if the driver causes an accident or gets in a single-car accident. Collision coverage protects against animal-vehicle collisions, theft, vandalism, bad weather, and more.
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The data found on this page is a combination of publicly available quote data obtained directly from the carrier as well as insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from the top ten (10) to fifteen (15) carrier markets, within each state, based on annual written premium and should be used for comparative purposes only -- your own quotes may be different.