Average Car Insurance Cost in South Carolina (2025)

Even though South Carolina has an affordable cost of living, car insurance costs are higher than average. Coverage is much higher than the national average of $144 per month. South Carolina drivers may have high average rates partially due to the state’s high crash fatalities and minimum requirements.

Average rates for car insurance have increased nationwide over the past few years, and South Carolina is no exception. Annual full-coverage car insurance costs in the Palmetto State have increased by more than 29% between 2023 and 2024, according to Insurify data.

How much is car insurance in South Carolina?

Drivers in South Carolina pay an average of $242 per month for full-coverage car insurance, or $2,908 per year. Full coverage includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, which helps pay for your repairs after a car accident.

Liability-only policies, on the other hand, cost $170 per month, or $2,036 per year. These liability-only policies meet legal requirements for coverage in South Carolina but don’t offer extra protection for your car repairs or medical expenses.

How South Carolina car insurance rates have changed over the past two years

The average price for full-coverage car insurance in South Carolina rose to $3,500 in 2024, up significantly over rates from just a few years ago. Full-coverage rates also rose nationally, though they remain cheaper than in South Carolina.

See how South Carolina car insurance prices have changed over the past two years below.

Average South Carolina car insurance rates by city

Your location will influence how much you pay for car insurance, even for different ZIP codes within the same city. For example, drivers who live in rural areas typically have lower rates since there’s less congestion, traffic, and theft. Drivers in bigger cities like Charleston and Columbia pay more for car insurance, on average.

Even small details, such as whether you park your car in a garage, on the street, or in a driveway, can affect how much you pay.

Here are the average rates of coverage in different South Carolina cities.

Average South Carolina car insurance rates by age and gender

Your age and gender affect how much you pay for coverage. Insurance companies may review demographic driving and accident data to determine rates.

Female drivers usually pay less than males because they have fewer accidents on average. And teen drivers younger than 20 pay more than older drivers because they have less experience behind the wheel. Rates decrease as drivers age, but insurance premiums will likely increase again after retirement.1

Below, you can find the average rates for car insurance by age and gender in South Carolina.

Average cost to insure popular vehicles in South Carolina

The make of your vehicle and whether it’s a new car affect how much you pay for car insurance. Insurers consider a car’s safety features and the damage it might cause in an accident.

Due to their practicality, pickup trucks and midsize SUVs are popular vehicles in South Carolina. Even though the state has major cities like Charleston, most of the area is rural, and drivers utilize large cars for additional safety and mobility.

Below, you can see the average monthly cost of full-coverage car insurance for South Carolina’s most popular vehicles.

How your driving record affects car insurance rates in South Carolina

Your driving record has a significant effect on how much you pay for coverage. Drivers with a clean record — free of accidents, tickets, or violations — can earn lower rates. Any violation, even a speeding ticket, can increase insurance costs. But a more serious violation, like a DUI, causes rates to increase even more.

The following table shows full-coverage insurance rates for a sample driver profile with an incident on their record.

How to lower your insurance costs in South Carolina

Even though South Carolina is one of the most expensive states for coverage, you can use the following strategies to help lower your insurance premium: