How to Compare Car Insurance Rates 2024
How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

SR-22 Car Insurance in South Carolina (2024)

Written by
Aaron Besson
Edited by
Bryan Ochalla
Published on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
South Carolina drivers may need to get SR-22 insurance after a major traffic incident, such as driving under the influence (DUI) or reckless driving.

Farm Bureau offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance in South Carolina. Progressive is the next-cheapest option for most of the state’s drivers.

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area
It's free, simple and secure.

“SR-22 insurance” isn’t an actual policy type you buy in South Carolina. The term refers to the minimum amount of car insurance you need to be able to drive again after certain driving violations.

In South Carolina, you need 25/50/25 liability car insurance for an SR-22. This means:

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

Your insurance company files an SR-22 form with the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to prove you have enough car insurance and to reinstate your driver’s license.

The average cost of a full-coverage car insurance policy with an SR-22 in South Carolina is $3,050 a year, or $254 a month. This is 16% cheaper than the national average rate of $3,626 a year. Farm Bureau offers the state’s cheapest SR-22 insurance rate, at an average of $1,946 a year, or $162 a month.

USAA offers the second-cheapest rate for full-coverage car insurance with an SR-22, at $2,083 a year. However, it only offers car insurance for active duty or veteran military and their families.

The second-cheapest rate for most South Carolinians looking for car insurance after an SR-22 comes from Progressive, at $2,740 a year.

Cost of SR-22 insurance by company

CompanyAverage annual rate
Farm Bureau$1,946
USAA*$2,083
Progressive$2,740
Travelers$2,821
Auto-Owners$2,834
Average$3,050
Allstate$3,230
Geico$3,351
State Farm$3,847
Nationwide$4,594

*USAA only available to active duty and veteran military as well as their families.

It normally costs around $25 dollars to file an SR-22, but the final filing cost depends on your car insurance company. Check with your insurer to get your exact price.

You may be required to file an SR-22 in South Carolina if:

  • You are convicted of a DUI
  • You are convicted of reckless driving
  • You have an excessive amount of violations in a set period of time
  • You’re found driving without any or insufficient car insurance

If your driver’s license is suspended after any of these incidents, you will need to file an SR-22 to reinstate it. You’ll usually need to file an SR-22 with the state for three years, but it may be longer depending on the severity of your violation.

If you let the SR-22 lapse before your mandated end date, your auto insurance company will notify the South Carolina DMV. This can result in your drivers license getting suspended again.

Check with your current car insurance provider first to see if it will file an SR-22 on your behalf with the DMV.

Depending on why you need to file an SR-22, your insurer may consider you too high a risk to cover. This can result in the cancellation of your car insurance coverage.

If this happens, or if your current car insurance company doesn’t offer SR-22 filing, take the opportunity to compare car insurance quotes from several companies to get the best combination of cost and coverage for your needs. Some companies won’t offer coverage to drivers who need an SR-22, making comparing quotes even more important.

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area
It's free, simple and secure.

While South Carolina’s car insurance rates with an SR-22 are cheaper than the national average for SR-22, its average rate with an SR-22 is still 69% higher than the state’s average of $1,808 a year.

Some comparison shopping can help you find the cheapest DUI car insurance, but don’t expect it to be cheap compared to someone with a clean record.

In South Carolina, a DUI stays on your driving record for at least three years. You can expect to pay higher car insurance rates during that time.

Nonowner SR-22 car insurance shows you carry South Carolina’s minimum liability limits even if you don’t own a vehicle. South Carolina requires you to carry the same coverage limits whether you own a car or not.

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 in South Carolina. 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 one DUI on their record who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX.

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 motorist: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident if required in that state
  • Personal injury protection: Minimum limits if required in that state
  • Collision: $500 deductible
  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

*USAA only available to active duty and veteran military, and their families.

On this page