Best Car Insurance in South Carolina for 2025

From the sandy beaches of Hilton Head to the winding curves of the Blue Ridge Mountains, South Carolina has a lot to offer residents looking for a getaway by car. But before you hit the road, the price of car insurance in the Palmetto State might make you stop and reconsider.

While various factors contribute to your insurance rates, some deals are available if you know where to look.

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Key takeaways

The best car insurance in South Carolina is USAA, which costs a monthly average of $104 for comprehensive coverage.
In South Carolina, drivers with a clean driving record pay an average of $267 per month.
The city of Florence has the most expensive car insurance in the state, averaging $302 per month.

Best car insurance companies in South Carolina

The best car insurance in South Carolina is USAA, which offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance, costing an average of $104 monthly. Auto-Owners Insurance provides the lowest minimum coverage, averaging$67 monthly.

Provider	J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating	Estimated monthly full coverage	Estimated monthly minimum liability coverage
USAA	876/1,000	$104/month	$63/month
State Farm	847/1,000	$236/month	$141/month
Progressive	836/1,000	$177/month	$105/month
Nationwide	834/1,000	$171/month	$101/month
GEICO	828/1,000	$192/month	$149/month
Travelers	818/1,000	$194/month	$115/month
Auto-Owners	816/1,000	$113/month	$67/month

USAA: Highest customer satisfaction

USAA earned 876 out of 1,000 in customer satisfaction in South Carolina, the highest score in the state. It also offered the cheapest full coverage insurance but had more expensive minimum coverage. USAA offers multiple policy types, but its coverage is only available to current and former military members and their families.

Pros

USAA has multiple discounts, like the SafePilot program, which can save you up to 30%
It offers accident forgiveness if you remain accident-free for five years

Cons

Only current and former military members and their families can apply for USAA policies
You may find better pricing for minimum coverage insurance

Get a quote now | USAA review

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State Farm: Best for new drivers

New drivers and their families will likely pay significantly more for car insurance. State Farm's coverage averages $116 monthly for full coverage and $69 for minimum coverage. While it is more expensive than other carriers on our list of the best car insurance providers, it offers specific discounts for new drivers and good students that could help you save money.

Pros

State Farm received the second-highest customer satisfaction rating in South Carolina
It has multiple agents and offices throughout South Carolina

Cons

You'll likely find cheaper coverage with a competitor
It doesn't offer some specialty options like vanishing deductibles

Get a quote now | State Farm review

Progressive: Best for high-risk drivers

Although Progressive costs an average of $177 per month for full coverage insurance, it may be a good choice for high-risk drivers. Not only does it provide policies to drivers with at-fault accidents, DUIs, or multiple speeding tickets on their record, but it can also file SR-22 forms required by the courts.

Pros

Progressive has multiple policy options, including accident forgiveness
It had the third-highest customer service rating in South Carolina

Cons

Progressive was significantly more expensive than some competitors
Its safe driving program, Snapshot, could raise your insurance rates

Get a quote now | Progressive review

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GEICO: Most affordable coverage

GEICO is South Carolina's second cheapest minimum car insurance provider (averaging $149 monthly). Its average price of $192 a month, and it is accessible to everyone in South Carolina. It has multiple policy options and discounts to help drivers save more on car insurance. However, you may need to look elsewhere if you want some specialty policies like a vanishing deductible or gap insurance.

Pros

GEICO has lower prices than most of its competitors in South Carolina
It has multiple discount options, including up to 22% off for being a good driver

Cons

You may be able to find more specialty policies with a competitor
It earned below-average customer service scores

Get a quote now | GEICO review

Auto-Owners: Best budget pick

Auto-Owners Insurance operates in 26 states, including South Carolina, and only provides policies through independent agents. Its full coverage insurance is more expensive than some competitors, costing an average of $113 monthly. However, its minimum insurance costs an average of $67 monthly and is the lowest-cost option available in South Carolina.

Pros

It had the most affordable minimum car insurance available in South Carolina
Auto-Owners has policies not found at some competitors, like a common loss deductible

Cons

Auto-Owners had fewer discount options than some competitors
It earned below-average customer service scores in South Carolina

Get a quote now | Auto-Owners review

South Carolina auto insurance requirements

Most states have minimum insurance requirements to drive legally. In South Carolina, all drivers must have:

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

Since accidents can get expensive quickly, carrying insurance limits above the state's minimum requirements is generally a good idea if you can afford to. Work with your insurance agent to find the right balance of coverage and price.

How to choose a car insurance provider in South Carolina

If you're researching a new car insurance provider, consider the following to ensure you get the best deal:

Check financial stability: Use a website like Standard & Poor's or AM Best to check the financial rating of each insurance company. Before you request a quote, confirm that the company is licensed in South Carolina by checking the South Carolina Department of Insurance or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Get multiple quotes: Compare pricing and coverage options from at least three companies and make sure the quoted policies match your current insurance type and limits so you don't accidentally reduce your insurance coverage.
Ask for reviews: Ask friends and family for recommendations and check review websites like the Better Business Bureau to see how a company handles problems. Consider using an insurance broker to help you get multiple quotes at one time, but understand the broker's fees before signing up.

How much does car insurance cost in South Carolina?

The average cost of car insurance in South Carolina is $267 per month for full coverage and $176 for minimum insurance. The most expensive car insurance rates are in Florence, where drivers pay, on average, $302 monthly. Myrtle Beach drivers pay the least for car insurance, an average of $227 monthly.

South Carolina car insurance rates by city

Drivers in Florence are likely to pay significantly more for their car insurance than other cities in South Carolina due in part to the high rate of violent crime in the city.

According to the neighborhood analytics website NeighborhoodScout, Florence is considered one of the country's top 100 most dangerous cities. A person's chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Florence is one in 18, which means insurance companies will see more claims, leading to higher insurance rates.

City	Avg. monthly full-coverage premium
Florence	$302/month
Rock Hill	$266/month
Columbia	$302/month
Charleston	$284/month
Greenville	$258/month
Myrtle Beach	$227/month

Methodology

Our analysis was conducted using six different auto insurance marketplaces to determine the best auto insurance in each state. The data we analyzed included coverage premiums from up to 10 different insurance providers. We looked at rates by city, driver profile, and credit score, as well as factored in the impact of driving violations. This data is for comparative purposes only. Your actual quote may be different.

FAQs about car insurance costs in South Carolina

What are the minimum car insurance coverage requirements in South Carolina?

The minimum car insurance coverage requirements in South Carolina are $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident in bodily liability insurance, and $25,000 in property damage liability per accident.