South Carolina Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements for 2024 (See SC Policies & Limits)

South Carolina minimum auto insurance requirements ensure drivers have essential liability protection, with set limits of $25,000 for injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

USAA offers the lowest rates starting at $28 per month, followed by Geico at $33 per month and State Farm at $36 per month. These companies meet South Carolina’s minimum coverage needs while keeping costs affordable for drivers.

South Carolina Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage Requirements & Limits

Since accident expenses can quickly exceed minimum limits, many drivers also consider adding extra coverage for better financial protection.

Exploring options like comprehensive and collision coverage can provide added peace of mind. Compare South Carolina car insurance rates today using our free quote tool to find the best coverage at the lowest price.

South Carolina Minimum Coverage Requirements & What They Cover

South Carolina car insurance laws require all drivers to carry both liability and uninsured motorist coverage to stay compliant with SC auto insurance requirements. The state minimum car insurance in South Carolina mandates includes coverage for bodily injury and property damage under specific limits.

Drivers must have at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage. Additionally, South Carolina minimum car insurance coverage includes uninsured motorist protection, ensuring financial protection if you’re hit by an uninsured driver.

This includes $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Understanding SC minimum car insurance requirements is crucial, as failing to meet South Carolina car insurance requirements can result in penalties, fines, and potential license suspension. Be sure to review South Carolina SR22 insurance requirements if you have driving violations that require proof of coverage.

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Cheapest Car Insurance in South Carolina

South Carolina Min. Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by City

Other Options for South Carolina Drivers Who Don’t Want Insurance

If you don’t want to purchase insurance, there is another other legal option for you. You are legally permitted to pay a $550 fee with the State of South Carolina DMV to register as an uninsured driver. Doing so makes you legally financially responsible for all costs associated with an accident no matter who is at-fault.

If someone else hits you and you’re registered with the state as an uninsured motorist, you cannot call their insurance company to ask them to pay for the damage the way you would if you were insured.

Driving With the Bare Minimum Coverage Required by South Carolina Law

Not everyone can take advantage of paying only for the minimum state insurance requirements in South Carolina. Only those who own their car may pay for just the minimum.

Owning your car doesn’t mean driving it. It means you must own it outright and make no payments to any lenders.

When you own your car and you are not liable to anyone else for it, you get to cover it as much or as little as you want.

If you lease your car, you must always have full coverage. You will not own a leased car to have the option to reduce the amount of coverage.

If you finance your car for five, six, or seven years with a lender and keep it until it’s paid off, you will own your car. It’s not until this point that you get to make the decision how much or how little you want to insure the car as long as it meets state requirements.

If your insurance policy lapses or you cancel it after you’ve registered your car, the lender will find out.

Lenders own your car until you pay that last payment, which means they keep a very close eye on the coverage it has so they’re not stuck with a totaled car as part of their investment.

You will receive a letter from the lender demanding you immediately purchase insurance that meets their standards. Failure to do so results in finding out they purchased a policy for you.

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Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in South Carolina

The State of South Carolina takes insurance very seriously. They want to protect all drivers and their financial situation, and you will be given fines, penalties, and other punishments if you are caught driving without insurance if you are not registered with the state as an uninsured motorist.

All penalties are broken down into first, second, and subsequent offenses.

First-time offenders must pay the $550 uninsured motorist coverage fee in addition to a fine between $100 and $200. If you cannot pay the fine, you go to jail for the length of time determined by the court up to 30 days.

You must pay $5 per day until you purchase an insurance policy, and you lose your driver’s license until you’re able to prove you have an insurance policy. It costs $200 to reinstate your license.

Second-time offenders are required to pay a $200 fine, $5 per day until you purchase insurance, a $200 license reinstatement fee, and you are required to spend up to 30 days in jail.

If you drive without insurance again, you’re facing a fine of $5 each day you do not have insurance, $5 for every day you already drove without insurance, and your license is suspended until you prove you have an insurance policy.

It costs $200 to reinstate your license. You are also spending 45 days to 6 months in jail.

Tips for Finding Affordable Insurance in SC

The best way to drive in South Carolina is with a valid insurance policy that meets the minimum requirements by the state and/or the lender who owns your vehicle.

It’s too expensive to drive without insurance, and the premiums you pay each year are somewhat inside your control when you know how to compare rates and shop for discounts.

Your insurance rates are determined by the risk factor you present to insurance companies. If you have great credit, a great driving history, and you drive a safe car, you are not a risky driver in the eyes of insurance companies.

Before shopping around for insurance quotes, fix any mistakes on your credit report, and learn which discounts to ask for.

You get discounts for having more than one car on your policy, for bundling your insurance policies for home and life with your car insurance, and you even get discounts if you’re retired or a low-mileage driver.

All you have to do is ask. Don’t miss out on our free quote tool below! Just enter your zip code and start comparing rates now!

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