South Carolina car insurance: minimums, prices and your estimate
South Carolina requires at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability (written 25/50/25).
South Carolina requires uninsured motorist coverage at the same 25/50/25 minimums as liability, including $25,000 for property damage. If you do not return the insurer's selection form within 30 days, the insurer adds uninsured and underinsured coverage at your liability limits.
Since July 1, 2024, every registered vehicle in South Carolina must be insured, because the state repealed the fee that let owners register a vehicle without insurance.
- Legal minimum
- 25/50/25
- Fault system
- At-fault
- Personal injury protection
- Not required
- Uninsured motorist
- Required
- Underinsured motorist
- Must be offered; you can turn it down
- Credit-based pricing
- Allowed
- Gender-based pricing
- Allowed
- High-risk proof filing
- SR-22 (usually 3 years)
What drivers in South Carolina can expect to pay
Monthly ranges from our model, anchored to South Carolina's position in 7 published price studies from 2025 and 2026 ($2,860 a year for full coverage and $809 for minimum coverage for a standard adult driver; which studies). Suburban ZIP code, mid-size sedan a few years old.
| Driver | Estimated monthly | About per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, full coverage35, clean record, 100/300/100, $500 deductibles | $205-$272 | $2,860 |
| Adult, state-minimum coverage35, clean record, only what the law requires | $58-$77 | $809 |
| Young driver, full coverage20, own policy, clean record | $382-$572 | $5,720 |
| Senior, full coverage70, clean record | $197-$261 | $2,746 |
| After one at-fault accident35, full coverage | $308-$408 | $4,290 |
| After a DUI35, full coverage | $358-$538 | $5,377 |
| Poor credit35, clean record, full coverage | $366-$526 | $5,348 |
Build your South Carolina estimate
Rules worth knowing in South Carolina
- Underinsured motorist coverage is optional, but your insurer must offer it up to your liability limits and get your choice on a signed form.
- Uninsured motorist property damage claims can carry a $200 deductible, which the South Carolina Department of Insurance says is refunded if your insurer recovers the money from the uninsured driver.
- South Carolina does not require PIP or medical payments coverage.
- Insurers may not base auto rates on race, religion, national origin or economic status. They may use a lack of credit history in underwriting only if they show the South Carolina Department of Insurance that it relates to risk.
- An uninsured-vehicle violation carries a $600 reinstatement fee. If you buy insurance after getting a lapse notice, you must show proof of insurance every 7 months for 3 years.
- In South Carolina, an SR-22 can be cancelled 3 years after it was first required, unless a damages lawsuit is pending, a court judgment is unpaid, or you had a qualifying crash in the past year.
Questions about South Carolina car insurance
What is the minimum car insurance in South Carolina?
South Carolina requires at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability (written 25/50/25).
How much is car insurance in South Carolina per month?
For a 35-year-old with a clean record, our model puts full coverage at about $205 to $272 a month and state-minimum coverage at about $58 to $77. Age, record, car, ZIP code and the company you choose move the real number a lot.
Is South Carolina a no-fault state?
At-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash, and their insurer, pays for the other side's injuries and damage.
Can insurers in South Carolina use my credit score?
Yes. Many insurers in South Carolina use a credit-based insurance score, so better credit usually means a lower price.
Do I need an SR-22 in South Carolina?
Only if a court or the state requires one, usually after a serious violation or a lapse. In South Carolina, an SR-22 can be cancelled 3 years after it was first required, unless a damages lawsuit is pending, a court judgment is unpaid, or you had a qualifying crash in the past year.