South Carolina Auto Insurance

Auto insurance in South Carolina

Modern laws regulate the acquisition of auto insurance, helping vehicle owners and implicitly drivers stay protected in case of accidents. Whether the respective vehicle is used for personal or professional purpose, having insurance is a must and never optional. Without the valid insurance policy, vehicle owners are liable for fines of up to $1,000 or might bear the suspension of their driver's license and vehicle registration, for up to six months. If you are interested in finding out more details about the topic of auto insurance in South Carolina, all you have to do is keep on reading this article.

What type of car insurance do you legally need in South Carolina?

According to the Mandatory Liability Insurance Act, all South Carolina residents who intend to operate a moving vehicle must purchase a valid liability insurance policy. If this policy is not purchased or renewed, the respective driving documents might be suspended for several months or more. The local authorities have access to an online insurance verification system, which helps them determine whether a vehicle is insured or not without delay.

For a resident to operate a vehicle in the state of South Carolina, the associated car insurance must meet several requirements. These include: bodily injury liability ($50,000 per accident and $25,000 per person), property damage liability ($25,000 per accident), uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury ($50,000 per accident and $25,000 per person), uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage ($25,000 per accident). The full coverage insurance is superior to the minimum liability coverage, as you can add various options, such as comprehensive and collision insurance. It is always a good idea to choose a higher liability coverage limit than the one required by law in South Carolina. In this way, you will be protected, should the worst-case scenario occur.

The sums mentioned above refer to the amount insurance providers are willing to pay, in the situation that an accident for which you are at fault has occurred. According to the law, it is mandatory to carry a copy of your insurance policy while driving. The same law states that it is illegal to drive without insurance in South Carolina, with consequences including legal fines and the suspension of your driving documents (driver's license, vehicle registration). If one continues to drive without a valid insurance policy, he/she might have to do jail time.

Average cost of auto insurance in South Carolina

How much does auto insurance cost in SC? The state minimum auto insurance policy in South Carolina has a value of $591. However, a full coverage insurance policy has an average value of $1,572 per year. Collision and comprehensive coverages are not included in this policy, which means you will have to calculate your budget accordingly. Several factors influence the overall insurance rates, such as: presence of prior insurance, type of vehicle, location, number of miles driven, driving record, marital status, age, and gender. It is for the best to choose an auto insurance policy that offers the best possible coverage, avoiding those with suspiciously low rates.

Vehicle owners are aware of the fact that the average cost of auto insurance varies from one state to the other. Such variations are encountered for both the minimum and the full coverage, including when it comes to options such as comprehensive and collision insurance. Among the factors that influence these values, one might find: accidents caused by weather-related elements or conditions, at-fault accidents, number of drivers in accordance with the general population, number of uninsured drivers in the city, and road conditions.

South Carolina has a lower rate for the average car insurance than the national median, which is around $1,770. The states with the most expensive policies include: Pennsylvania, New York, Nevada, Michigan, Louisiana, Florida, Colorado, and California. As for the most affordable states, these are: Wisconsin, Washington, Tennessee, Oregon, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Maine. New York is among the most expensive, with $2,996 for the full coverage and $1,339 for the minimum one. As for Maine, it has some of the most affordable policies, with $876 for the full coverage and $227 for the minimum one.

Within the state of SC, you might also notice differences between the various cities. Mount Pleasant has some of the most affordable rates to offer, while North Charleston stands at the top of the list in terms of costs. The average annual premiums are as follows: Mount Pleasant - $1,937; Rock Hill - $1,969; Columbia - $2,089; Charleston - $2,140; North Charleston - $2,193.

The age of the driver is one of the chief factors influencing the value of auto insurance. It is common knowledge that this type of insurance is more expensive for young drivers, as they are seen by insurance companies as irresponsible and more prone to accidents. A teenage driver must be prepared for an annual premium of over $7,700, as opposed to a middle-aged driver, who might expect a premium close to $2,000. Gender differences are present as well, with the insurance policies for men being more affordable. Married couples enjoy better rates, in contrast to those who are single, divorced, or widowed.

The value of a potential coverage policy is influenced by other factors, such as the driver's credit history. A driver with an exceptional credit can save significant sums on his/her auto insurance premium, as opposed to someone with a poor credit history. Prior driving offenses, such as DUI/DWI, reckless driving, at-fault accidents, speeding, will lead to significantly higher rates. Drivers can expect the rates to vary in accordance with the type of coverage. They can add both comprehensive and collision to the state minimum policy, in order to increase the level of protection they benefit from.

Did not find your city or county on the list? Please use our auto insurance companies search box at the top to locate all the best auto insurance quotes in South Carolina. Find car insurance in South Carolina by city, zip code or county name.

Finding the right auto insurance in South Carolina

If you need assistance finding the right insurance policy, perhaps you should contact us. With years of experience and knowledge in the field of auto insurance, we are able to match vehicle owners with the best policies for their needs. The suggestions we make are in the light of one's available budget. All you have to do is give us a call and we will be more than happy to offer our support. This service is completely free, so you do not have to worry about any additional costs.