Best car insurance companies in South Carolina: Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners is the best car insurance company in South Carolina, based on an analysis by Insurance.com, with an overall rating of 3.99. Travelers, State Farm, Progressive, and Geico are among the top car insurance companies in South Carolina.

Below is a full list of the top South Carolina insurance companies based on price, NAIC complaint ratio, and AM Best financial ratings. The total Insurance.com score is calculated out of five using these factors.

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Graph
Table
CompanyAM BestJD PowerNAICAverage annual premiumInsurance.com score
Auto-OwnersA++8590.5$1,4753.99
TravelersA++8510.49$1,9493.36
State FarmA++8070.7$2,1063.23
ProgressiveA+8280.65$1,8163.11
GeicoA++8470.91$2,0543.05
AllstateA+8160.65$2,3362.92
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

Cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina: Auto-Owners

Based on a rate analysis by Insurance.com, Auto-Owners is the cheapest full coverage car insurance company in South Carolina, with average rates of $1,475 annually or $123 a month. USAA offers cheaper rates if you are eligible. Auto-Owners also offers cheaper liability car insurance in South Carolina at $566 per year, on average.

Don't just go with the first insurer you come across. Comparison shopping is the key when it comes to finding the best deal on auto insurance. Get quotes from several different insurers and compare their rates. You may be surprised at how much difference there can be in rates from one company to another.

We have gathered price quotes from all the major insurance providers in South Carolina and put together a list of the cheapest car insurance companies.

CompanyState minimum liability50/100/50 liability100/300/100 liability with $500 deductible
USAA$444$611$1,451
Auto-Owners$415$566$1,475
Progressive$560$748$1,816
Travelers$712$984$1,949
Geico$512$779$2,054
State Farm$621$863$2,106
Southern Farm Bureau$686$915$2,202
Allstate$619$803$2,336
Sentry Insurance$1,999$2,516$3,681
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.

Average cost of car insurance in South Carolina

The average cost of car insurance in South Carolina is $2,009 a year for a full coverage policy with a coverage level of 100/300/100 for a driver age 40, according to a rate analysis by Insurance.com. For the state minimum coverage, the average annual cost in South Carolina is $720.

Auto insurance calculator

Average auto insurance rates in South Carolina
30
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
Male
Male Female
29810 - Allendale
For a 30-year-old male
$58 State minimum
$207 Full coverage
$81 Liability only

Most & least expensive ZIP codes for auto insurance in South Carolina

Most Expensive

ZIP codeCityHighest rate
29913Crocketville$211
29933Miley$211
29810Allendale$207
29918Estill$207

Least Expensive

ZIP codeCityLowest rate
29809New Ellenton$147
29642Easley$149
29640Easley$149
29644Fountain Inn$150
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

The South Carolina Department of Insurance says...

Uninsured motorists coverage protects the policyholder directly. This coverage pays if you are injured and/or your property is damaged by a hit-and-run driver or an uninsured driver. South Carolina law requires you to carry uninsured motorists coverage equal to the minimum amounts of liability coverage (25/50/25). There is typically a $200 deductibleThe deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for a covered loss when you file a claim..

- The South Carolina Department of Insurance

South Carolina car insurance requirements

You need car insurance with minimum coverage levels of 25/50/25 in South Carolina, which costs $726 each year or $60 each month.

Minimum liability insuranceLiability insurance covers sums that an insured becomes legally obligated to pay because of bodily injuries or property damage, or financial losses caused to other people. requirements for South Carolina:

  • Bodily injury liability (BI): $25,000 per person and $50,000 for accident
  • Property damage liability (PD): $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist property damage coverage: $25,000 per accident

Cheapest car insurance companies for minimum liability coverage in South Carolina

According to Insurance.com, Auto-Owners has the cheapest state minimum liability coverage at $415 per year or $35 each month. 

Here are the most affordable car insurance companies for state minimum coverage in South Carolina.

State minimum auto insurance coverage in South Carolina
Company Liability insurance premiumMonthly liability insurance premium
Auto-Owners$415$35
USAA*$439$37
Geico$519$43
Progressive$549$46
State Farm$621$52
Allstate$626$52
Southern Farm Bureau$705$59
Travelers$727$61
Sentry Insurance$2,125$177
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

*USAA offers coverage only to military veterans and their family

Cheapest car insurance cost in South Carolina by age

company_name
Cheapest for teens
$3,967/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for adults
$1,501/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for seniors
$1,545/yr
Learn more

In South Carolina, car insurance rates are higher for teenagers as they are more prone to accidents.

Auto-Owners offers the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers in South Carolina at $3,967 per year for a full coverage policy.  

Car insurance rates will decrease as teens age and keep a good driving record. Car insurance rates for adults 25+ and seniors 60+ are lower than those for teens and young adults. 

In South Carolina, Auto-Owners offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for adult drivers and senior drivers at $1,501 per year and $1,103 per year, respectively. USAA offers cheaper rates, but is only available to military families.

Compare car insurance rates by age

Select your age group and age below to see the insurance company and its
average annual and average monthly premium rates.

Age group
Teen
Age
16
Table
Graph
Geico$5,897$491
State Farm$6,759$563
Allstate$6,761$563
USAA$6,917$576
Travelers$7,541$628
Progressive$11,123$927
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology
Yearly premium

USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.

Cheapest car insurance companies in South Carolina by driver profile

company_name
Cheapest for at-fault accident
$1,974/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for DUI
$2,247/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for speeding ticket
$1,868/yr
Learn more

Drivers who have accidents or tickets are considered a higher risk and will pay more for car insurance. In South Carolina, Auto-Owners offers the cheapest car insurance rates for drivers with an accident, at $1,974 per year. However, the severity and frequency of the incidents will also affect insurance rates.

Auto-Owners also offers the cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for drivers with speeding tickets at an average of $1,868 per year. USAA offers cheaper rates for drivers with a speeding ticket but has eligibility criteria.

Below are the average South Carolina insurance rates by company for drivers with accidents and tickets on their driving record. 

CompanyClean recordAccidentSpeeding ticket
USAA$1,451$2,176$1,788
Auto-Owners$1,475$1,974$1,868
Geico$2,054$2,981$2,054
State Farm$2,106$2,504$2,265
Progressive$1,816$3,114$2,441
Travelers$1,949$2,657$2,754
Allstate$2,336$3,828$3,031
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.

Compare auto insurance rates by city in South Carolina

Auto insurance rates vary not just by state, but also by city. Cities have different levels of risk based on factors like accident rates, claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing. costs, weather and more. That means where you live in South Carolina will impact what you pay. Below, we've gathered South Carolina car insurance rates by city for comparison.

CityAnnual insurance premium
Anderson
$1,931
Eastover
$2,065
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

Car insurance rates change regularly, influenced by changes in the cost of repairs, claim rates and other factors. Recent years have seen car insurance rates rise across the country, but not every state has seen the same increases.

We've tracked car insurance premium trends in South Carolina to show you how things have changed and help you prepare for potential changes in the future. Take a look at the chart below.

Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2023 to field rates from major insurers in every state across most ZIP codes. Driver profile: male, age 40, driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX with full coverage of 100/300/100 with comprehensive and collision; $500 deductible.

The car insurance rates for drivers with accidents and tickets are averaged based on rates for the following accidents and tickets: 

Accidents: 

  • 1 at-fault property damage accident over $2k
  • 1 at-fault property damage accident under $2k
  • At-fault bodily injury accident 
  • Single vehicle accident 

Tickets: 

  • Distracted driving ticket
  • Speeding ticket 1- 10 MPH over limit 
  • Speeding ticket 11- 29 MPH over limit 
  • Talking on cellphone ticket 
  • Texting ticket 

Insurance.com analyzed rates from more than 34,000 ZIP codes, 56 million quotes, and 136 companies. Rates sourced from Quadrant Data Services are for comparison purposes only; your rates may differ. 

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