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Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina (2025)

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.

Best cheap car insurance in South Carolina

$1,460/year
Cheapest full coverage: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners logo
$1,531/year
Second-cheapest full coverage: Geico
Geico logo
$2,885/year
Cheap for teens: Farm Bureau
Farm Bureau logo
+
More Options

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in South Carolina

Drivers in South Carolina get the cheapest full-coverage car insurance with Auto-Owners at $1,460 a year, or $122 a month. Geico is the second-cheapest company, with an average rate of $128 per month.

While Geico’s average rate is a bit higher than Auto-Owners, Geico offers more discounts than Auto-Owners does. Getting a few of them could make Geico your cheapest option. Keep an eye out for both companies’ discounts when you compare car insurance quotes.

USAA has the overall cheapest rate for full coverage Full-coverage car insurance usually includes liability, collision and comprehensive coverages. Liability covers injuries and damage you cause to others. Collision and comprehensive protect your own vehicle from damage and theft. in South Carolina — however, it only sells car insurance to military members and their families.

Cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina

Cheapest company for full coverage

CompanyAnnual rateLendingTree score
auto-owners logoAuto-Owners$1,4605 stars
geico logoGeico$1,5313.5 stars
farm bureau logoFarm Bureau$1,5554 stars
nationwide logoNationwide$1,8913 stars
travelers logoTravelers$1,9094.5 stars
state farm logoState Farm$1,9814.5 stars
progressive logoProgressive$2,1744 stars
allstate logoAllstate$2,5613 stars
usaa logoUSAA*$1,2454 stars

Auto-Owners also has the cheapest liability car insurance in South Carolina at $634 a year, or $53 a month. Geico is the next-cheapest option at $55 a month.

Auto-Owners’ and Geico’s average rates for liability-only insurance are close enough that discounts could make a big difference. So could add-on coverages. In particular, Auto-Owners has an add-on that waives its accident surcharge after your first at-fault accident.

South Carolina law requires drivers to buy at least the state’s minimum amount of liability car insurance, which covers the medical and property damage bills of others after you cause an accident.

Cheapest company for minimum coverage

CompanyAnnual rate
Auto-Owners$634
Geico$654
Farm Bureau$746
Progressive$811
State Farm$907
Nationwide$914
Travelers$927
Allstate$1,267
USAA*$357

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in South Carolina

Teen drivers in South Carolina get the cheapest car insurance with Farm Bureau. Farm Bureau has the cheapest liability coverage for the state’s teens at $1,721 a year. Full coverage is $2,885 a year.

Parents looking to get cheap car insurance for a young driver in your home should add them to your current car insurance policy. Your rate will increase, but it should still be cheaper than if you each had your own policies.

Cheapest companies for teen drivers

CompanyLiabilityFull coverage
Farm Bureau$1,721$2,885
Geico$2,067$4,158
Auto-Owners$2,423$4,506
Travelers$2,503$4,649
State Farm$2,970$5,549
Allstate$3,325$6,921
Nationwide$3,358$6,877
Progressive$3,876$9,695
USAA*$1,555$4,692

At $1,460 a year, or $122 a month, Auto-Owners has the best rates for South Carolina drivers needing cheap car insurance with a speeding ticket on their records. Geico is next at $128 a month.

After getting a speeding ticket in South Carolina, you can expect your car insurance to go up around 19%.

Cheapest companies after a ticket

CompanyAnnual rate
Auto-Owners$1,460
Geico$1,531
Farm Bureau$1,702
State Farm$2,132
Nationwide$2,265
Travelers$2,413
Progressive$3,011
Allstate$3,329
USAA*$1,522

Farm Bureau has the cheapest full-coverage car insurance after an accident for South Carolina drivers at $1,971 a year, or $164 a month. Auto-Owners is the state’s second-cheapest company after an accident, with an average rate of $170 a month.

The average South Carolina driver sees their car insurance rate go up about 45% after an accident.

Cheapest companies after an accident

CompanyAnnual rate
Farm Bureau$1,971
Auto-Owners$2,039
Geico$2,203
State Farm$2,359
Travelers$2,578
Nationwide$2,796
Progressive$3,674
Allstate$4,323
USAA*$1,772

Best insurance for South Carolina teens with an accident or ticket: Farm Bureau

South Carolina teens with a ticket or accident on their record get the cheapest car insurance from Farm Bureau at $2,014 a year and $2,297 a year, respectively.

Geico offers full-time students with a good academic record a discount of up to 15%. You can also earn a discount if a young driver in your family has completed a qualifying driver’s education course.

Cheapest companies for teens with bad driving records

CompanyTicketAccident
Farm Bureau$2,014$2,297
Geico$2,067$2,310
Auto-Owners$2,888$3,763
State Farm$3,293$3,777
Travelers$3,386$3,578
Nationwide$3,569$3,664
Progressive$4,360$4,659
Allstate$4,580$6,393
USAA*$2,060$2,484

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in South Carolina

Farm Bureau offers the best cheap car insurance with a DUI in South Carolina at $1,827 a year, or $152 a month. Travelers is the next-cheapest company at $226 a month.

After a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction, most South Carolina drivers see their car insurance go up by an average of 71%.

Cheapest companies after a DUI

CompanyAnnual rate
Farm Bureau$1,827
Travelers$2,716
Progressive$2,823
Auto-Owners$3,186
Nationwide$3,498
Allstate$3,555
Geico$3,625
State Farm$4,451
USAA*$2,277

At $2,804 a year, or $234 a month, Farm Bureau has the cheapest insurance rates for South Carolina drivers with poor credit. Nationwide comes in second for cheap car insurance for poor credit, with an average rate of $241 a month.

Nationwide offers a SmartRide program that can lower your car insurance rate by tracking your safe driving habits.

Insurance companies see a connection between credit score and the chances of filing a claim, and charge higher car insurance rates to offset costs. Learn your credit score for free at LendingTree Spring before you shop for insurance.

Cheapest companies for drivers with poor credit

CompanyAnnual rate
Farm Bureau$2,804
Nationwide$2,887
Travelers$3,272
Geico$3,368
Progressive$3,547
Allstate$3,920
Auto-Owners$4,468
State Farm$7,490
USAA*$1,936

Auto-Owners and State Farm are the best car insurance companies in South Carolina, based on customer satisfaction, financial strength, policy offerings and easy-to-use online tools.

Both Auto Owners and State Farm have above-average J.D. Power ratings and great financial backing to fulfill claims.

South Carolina car insurance company ratings

CompanyJ.D. Power**AM BestLendingTree
Allstate635A+3 stars
Auto-Owners654A++5 stars
Farm Bureau673A4 stars
Geico637A++3.5 stars
Nationwide641A3 stars
Progressive622A+4 stars
State Farm657A++4.5 stars
Travelers616A++4.5 stars
USAA*739A++4 stars

*USAA only sells insurance to members of the military and their families.
**Source: J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Higher is better; 644 is average.

Auto-Owners has some noteworthy car insurance coverages. If your car is damaged in an accident, it might be worth less than it was before the accident, even after repairs. Auto-Owners’ Diminished Value add-on covers that loss in value.

State Farm has add-ons that cover car rentals and travel expenses after an accident. The first helps pay for a rental car while your own vehicle is in the shop. The second helps pay for meals, lodging and transportation if you’re in an accident more than 50 miles from home.

While Farm Bureau has the cheapest rates and best customer satisfaction rating for most young drivers, as well as drivers with bad driving records in South Carolina, it does worse than Auto-Owners and State Farm in the areas of financial strength and coverage options.

South Carolina insurance rates by city

Walhalla has the cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates among South Carolina cities at $1,587 a year. Crocketville is the state’s most expensive city for car insurance at $2,380 a year.

Charleston, the state’s largest city, pays $2,085 a year for car insurance. The second-largest city, Columbia, pays an average rate of $1,970 a year. North Charleston, the third-largest city, pays $2,153.

Car insurance rates near you

CityAnnual rate% from average
Abbeville$1,722-10%
Adams Run$2,18915%
Aiken$1,688-11%
Alcolu$1,9311%
Allendale$2,24118%
Anderson$1,762-8%
Andrews$2,0206%
Arcadia$1,855-3%
Arcadia Lakes$1,9271%
Arial$1,709-10%
Awendaw$1,9472%
Aynor$2,0005%
Ballentine$1,9955%
Bamberg$1,9352%
Barnwell$1,9372%
Batesburg$1,798-6%
Batesburg-leesville$1,748-8%
Bath$1,750-8%
Beaufort$1,817-5%
Beech Island$1,773-7%
Belton$1,802-5%
Belvedere$1,736-9%
Bennettsville$1,9100%
Berea$1,8970%
Bethera$2,24718%
Bethune$1,867-2%
Bishopville$1,9965%
Blacksburg$1,811-5%
Blackstock$1,9814%
Blackville$1,9362%
Blair$1,9713%
Blenheim$1,9884%
Bluffton$1,795-6%
Blythewood$1,9040%
Boiling Springs$1,742-9%
Bonneau Beach$2,0286%
Bowling Green$1,887-1%
Bowman$2,0095%
Bradley$1,766-7%
Branchville$2,0347%
Briarcliffe Acres$1,783-6%
Brookdale$2,0427%
Brunson$2,23417%
Buffalo$1,857-3%
Burnettown$1,691-11%
Burton$1,830-4%
Cades$2,0156%
Calhoun Falls$1,721-10%
Camden$1,890-1%
Cameron$2,0307%
Campobello$1,731-9%
Canadys$2,33623%
Carlisle$1,834-4%
Cassatt$1,868-2%
Catawba$1,806-5%
Cayce$1,883-1%
Centerville$1,735-9%
Central$1,622-15%
Central Pacolet$1,796-6%
Chapin$1,8970%
Chappells$1,748-8%
Charleston$2,0859%
Charleston AFB$2,09810%
Cheraw$1,825-4%
Cherryvale$1,9342%
Chesnee$1,738-9%
Chester$1,866-2%
Chesterfield$1,807-5%
City View$1,9301%
Clarks Hill$1,784-6%
Clearwater$1,747-8%
Clemson$1,646-14%
Cleveland$1,729-9%
Clifton$1,883-1%
Clinton$1,743-9%
Clio$1,9502%
Clover$1,809-5%
Columbia$1,9703%
Conestee$1,895-1%
Converse$1,878-1%
Conway$1,9894%
Coosawhatchie$2,13912%
Cope$1,9573%
Cordesville$2,11011%
Cordova$1,9955%
Cottageville$2,15513%
Coward$2,0689%
Cowpens$1,840-3%
Crocketville$2,38025%
Cross$2,13012%
Cross Anchor$1,856-3%
Cross Hill$1,730-9%
Dale$2,11611%
Dalzell$1,9472%
Darlington$1,9814%
Daufuskie Island$1,807-5%
Davis Station$2,0628%
Denmark$1,9613%
Dentsville$2,0126%
Dillon$2,0216%
Donalds$1,743-9%
Dorchester$2,0668%
Drayton$1,798-6%
Due West$1,751-8%
Duncan$1,801-5%
Dunean$1,887-1%
Early Branch$2,19015%
Easley$1,728-9%
East Gaffney$1,804-5%
East Sumter$1,9975%
Eastover$2,0176%
Edgefield$1,755-8%
Edgemoor$1,879-1%
Edisto$2,0065%
Edisto Island$2,20516%
Effingham$2,0367%
Ehrhardt$2,0719%
Elgin$1,9653%
Elko$1,9151%
Elliott$2,0347%
Elloree$1,9784%
Enoree$1,745-8%
Estill$2,27519%
Eureka Mill$1,858-2%
Eutawville$2,0387%
Fair Play$1,641-14%
Fairfax$2,26719%
Fairforest$1,831-4%
Five Forks$1,743-9%
Florence$2,0176%
Folly Beach$2,0005%
Forest Acres$1,9633%
Forestbrook$1,881-1%
Fork$1,9774%
Fort Lawn$1,9221%
Fort Mill$1,785-6%
Fountain Inn$1,716-10%
Furman$2,26119%
Gable$2,0176%
Gadsden$2,0487%
Gaffney$1,799-6%
Galivants Ferry$1,9985%
Gantt$1,835-4%
Garden City$1,834-4%
Garnett$2,21416%
Gaston$1,9935%
Gayle Mill$1,862-2%
Georgetown$1,9734%
Gifford$2,20316%
Gilbert$1,852-3%
Glendale$1,871-2%
Gloverville$1,694-11%
Golden Grove$1,770-7%
Goose Creek$2,09010%
Gramling$1,742-9%
Graniteville$1,698-11%
Gray Court$1,710-10%
Great Falls$2,0457%
Greeleyville$1,9673%
Green Pond$2,18615%
Green Sea$1,9945%
Greenville$1,834-4%
Greenwood$1,715-10%
Greer$1,776-7%
Gresham$2,0498%
Grover$2,17214%
Hamer$2,0487%
Hampton$2,23717%
Hanahan$2,0668%
Hardeeville$1,9543%
Harleyville$2,0216%
Hartsville$1,9362%
Heath Springs$1,9774%
Hemingway$1,9904%
Hickory Grove$1,786-6%
Hilda$1,9311%
Hilton Head Island$1,741-9%
Hodges$1,715-10%
Holly Hill$2,0035%
Hollywood$2,23817%
Homeland Park$1,785-6%
Honea Path$1,808-5%
Hopkins$2,0216%
Horatio$1,9734%
Huger$2,12211%
India Hook$1,761-8%
Inman$1,729-9%
Inman Mills$1,708-10%
Irmo$1,877-1%
Irwin$2,0156%
Islandton$2,19115%
Isle Of Palms$1,887-1%
Iva$1,811-5%
Jackson$1,769-7%
Jacksonboro$2,26319%
Jamestown$2,08710%
Jefferson$1,812-5%
Jenkinsville$1,9372%
Joanna$1,735-9%
Johns Island$2,0819%
Johnsonville$2,0216%
Johnston$1,778-7%
Jonesville$1,834-4%
Judson$1,9271%
Kershaw$1,890-1%
Kiawah Island$2,0618%
Kinards$1,739-9%
Kingstree$1,9774%
La France$1,697-11%
Ladson$2,13412%
Lake City$2,0256%
Lake Murray of Richland$1,8970%
Lake Secession$1,764-7%
Lake View$1,9854%
Lake Wylie$1,817-5%
Lakewood$1,9804%
Lamar$1,9502%
Lancaster$2,0075%
Lando$2,0809%
Landrum$1,714-10%
Lane$1,9794%
Langley$1,688-11%
Latta$2,0176%
Laurel Bay$1,845-3%
Laurens$1,718-10%
Leesville$1,789-6%
Lesslie$1,823-4%
Lexington$1,871-2%
Liberty$1,690-11%
Liberty Hill$1,9191%
Little Mountain$1,822-4%
Little River$1,886-1%
Little Rock$2,0327%
Livingston$2,0246%
Lobeco$1,9080%
Lodge$2,14913%
Long Creek$1,630-14%
Longs$1,9130%
Loris$2,0085%
Lowndesville$1,758-8%
Lugoff$1,8980%
Luray$2,23017%
Lydia$1,9362%
Lyman$1,802-5%
Lynchburg$2,0397%
Manning$1,9392%
Marietta$1,758-8%
Marion$1,9834%
Martin$2,0819%
Mauldin$1,751-8%
Mayesville$2,0317%
Mayo$1,816-5%
Mc Bee$1,849-3%
Mc Clellanville$1,9472%
Mc Coll$1,9683%
McConnells$1,801-6%
McCormick$1,757-8%
Meggett$2,23817%
Miley$2,37325%
Modoc$1,773-7%
Monarch Mill$1,855-3%
Moncks Corner$2,12912%
Monetta$1,750-8%
Montmorenci$1,792-6%
Moore$1,794-6%
Mount Carmel$1,738-9%
Mount Croghan$1,835-4%
Mount Pleasant$1,882-1%
Mountain Rest$1,619-15%
Mountville$1,740-9%
Mullins$1,9653%
Murphys Estates$1,785-6%
Murrells Inlet$1,811-5%
Myrtle Beach$1,852-3%
Neeses$2,0146%
Nesmith$2,0417%
New Ellenton$1,664-13%
New Zion$1,9734%
Newberry$1,720-10%
Newport$1,769-7%
Newry$1,609-16%
Nichols$1,9965%
Ninety Six$1,747-8%
Norris$1,679-12%
North$2,0105%
North Augusta$1,763-8%
North Charleston$2,15313%
North Hartsville$1,9432%
North Myrtle Beach$1,769-7%
Northlake$1,703-11%
Norway$1,9955%
Oak Grove$1,889-1%
Oakland$1,9563%
Okatie$1,826-4%
Olanta$2,0286%
Olar$1,9392%
Orangeburg$2,0236%
Pacolet$1,811-5%
Pacolet Mills$1,9744%
Pageland$1,860-2%
Pamplico$2,08710%
Parker$1,9080%
Parris Island$2,09810%
Patrick$1,865-2%
Pauline$1,763-7%
Pawleys Island$1,800-6%
Peak$2,0015%
Pelion$1,9492%
Pelzer$1,780-7%
Pendleton$1,665-13%
Pickens$1,672-12%
Piedmont$1,784-6%
Pine Ridge$1,9392%
Pineland$2,19815%
Pineville$2,12211%
Pinewood$2,0055%
Pinopolis$2,0749%
Plum Branch$1,759-8%
Pomaria$1,815-5%
Port Royal$1,804-5%
Powdersville$1,762-8%
Privateer$1,9613%
Prosperity$1,737-9%
Rains$1,9713%
Ravenel$2,22917%
Red Bank$1,885-1%
Red Hill$1,9522%
Reevesville$2,0186%
Rembert$1,9734%
Richburg$1,9181%
Richland$1,696-11%
Ridge Spring$1,760-8%
Ridgeland$2,13612%
Ridgeville$2,11211%
Ridgeway$1,9372%
Rion$2,10010%
Rock Hill$1,880-1%
Roebuck$1,789-6%
Round O$2,17814%
Rowesville$2,0266%
Ruby$1,823-4%
Ruffin$2,13212%
Russellville$2,19315%
Salem$1,592-16%
Salley$1,867-2%
Salters$1,9422%
Saluda$1,753-8%
Sandy Springs$1,698-11%
Sangaree$2,0819%
Sans Souci$1,841-3%
Santee$1,9814%
Saxon$1,863-2%
Scotia$2,19415%
Scranton$2,0518%
Seabrook$1,880-1%
Seabrook Island$2,0779%
Sellers$1,9985%
Seneca$1,602-16%
Seven Oaks$1,9120%
Sharon$1,796-6%
Shaw AFB$1,9352%
Sheldon$1,865-2%
Shell Point$1,827-4%
Silverstreet$1,754-8%
Simpsonville$1,695-11%
Six Mile$1,646-14%
Slater$1,781-7%
Slater-Marietta$1,761-8%
Smoaks$2,18014%
Smyrna$1,792-6%
Socastee$1,8960%
Society Hill$1,9432%
South Congaree$1,9090%
South Sumter$2,0055%
Southern Shops$1,815-5%
Spartanburg$1,817-5%
Springdale$1,9522%
Springfield$2,0005%
St. Andrews$1,9432%
St. George$2,0548%
St. Helena Island$1,854-3%
St. Matthews$1,9935%
St. Stephen$2,0678%
Starr$1,809-5%
Startex$1,815-5%
State Park$2,0739%
Sullivan's Island$1,894-1%
Summerton$1,894-1%
Summerville$2,10210%
Sumter$1,9754%
Sunset$1,641-14%
Surfside Beach$1,847-3%
Swansea$1,9402%
Tamassee$1,622-15%
Tatum$1,9643%
Taylors$1,798-6%
Tega Cay$1,772-7%
Tillman$2,08710%
Timmonsville$2,0327%
Townville$1,662-13%
Travelers Rest$1,778-7%
Trenton$1,762-8%
Troy$1,726-9%
Turbeville$1,9914%
Ulmer$2,12111%
Una$1,9130%
Union$1,842-3%
Utica$1,615-15%
Valley Falls$1,780-7%
Vance$1,9894%
Varnville$2,18515%
Vaucluse$1,701-11%
Wade Hampton$1,791-6%
Wadmalaw Island$2,15913%
Wagener$1,768-7%
Walhalla$1,587-17%
Wallace$1,889-1%
Walterboro$2,14012%
Ward$1,780-7%
Ware Shoals$1,745-8%
Warrenville$1,687-11%
Waterloo$1,709-10%
Watts Mills$1,716-10%
Wedgefield$1,9643%
Welcome$1,9281%
Wellford$1,803-5%
West Columbia$1,891-1%
West Pelzer$1,768-7%
West Union$1,603-16%
Westminster$1,604-16%
Westville$1,873-2%
White Rock$1,892-1%
White Stone$1,862-2%
Whitmire$1,797-6%
Wilkinson Heights$2,0518%
Williams$2,13612%
Williamston$1,762-8%
Williston$1,895-1%
Windsor$1,753-8%
Winnsboro$2,0005%
Winnsboro Mills$1,9965%
Woodfield$1,9894%
Woodruff$1,738-9%
Yemassee$2,11711%
York$1,771-7%

South Carolina drivers are required to carry at least 25/50/25 car insurance limits.

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

South Carolina also requires car insurance companies operating in the state to offer underinsured motorist coverage, but you do not have to buy it.

Car insurance laws in South Carolina

South Carolina law doesn’t require you to buy full-coverage car insurance. But if you financed your vehicle, your lending agreement will probably require it.

If your drivers license is suspended in South Carolina for a DUI or similar level of offense, you’re required to file an SR-22 to reinstate it. An SR-22 is proof of financial responsibility, showing that you carry the minimum amount of car insurance South Carolina requires. Your insurance company should file the SR-22 with the DMV for you.

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in South Carolina is $1,812 a year, or $151 a month. Liability-only car insurance costs $802 a year, or $67 a month.

South Carolina is an at-fault car insurance state, meaning the driver responsible for the accident pays for injuries and damages they caused.

Methodology

LendingTree uses insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services using publicly sourced insurance company filings. Rates are based on an analysis of hundreds of thousands of car insurance quotes for a typical driver. Prices are shown for comparative purposes only. Your own rates may be different.

Unless noted otherwise, quotes are for a full-coverage policy for a 30-year-old man with good credit and a clean driving record who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX.

Minimum-liability policies provide liability coverage with the state’s required minimum limits.

Full-coverage policies include collision, comprehensive and liability coverage:

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $25,000
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
  • Personal injury protection: minimum limits, where required by law
  • Collision: $500 deductible
  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible


Our team of insurance experts rated insurance companies based on several categories. These categories include average rates, discounts, coverage options, third-party customer service ratings and app/website experience. We weighted these categories based on what customers value in an insurance company.

For third-party customer service ratings, we included NAIC’s Complaint Index scores and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best. NAIC Complaint Index scores are used to determine how satisfied customers are with their claims, while financial strength ratings from A.M. Best reflect the ability to pay out claims.

*USAA is only available to current and former members of the military as well as certain family members.