The population of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has grown by 41.7% since 2010, according to U.S. Census data. This fast-growing city is a popular tourist destination home to about 38,400 year-round residents.1
The cost of liability car insurance is $170 per month in South Carolina but $170 in Myrtle Beach. Drivers in Myrtle Beach still pay more for liability coverage than the national average of $104 due to its high risk of property damage from hurricanes and tropical storms.
Here’s what you need to know about finding cheap coverage in Myrtle Beach, including how to compare quotes and coverage options.
6 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Myrtle Beach
Since insurance rates vary by company, it’s essential to get quotes from different car insurance companies to find the best fit that aligns with your budget.
Here are three of the cheapest options, but costs will vary depending on your specific needs and situation. The quotes provided below reflect statewide average insurance costs in South Carolina.
Best insurer for military members: USAA
Best insurer for safe driver discounts: State Farm
Best insurer for drivers with a past incident: Auto-Owners
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Myrtle Beach
Shopping around is important if you’re looking for affordable car insurance in Myrtle Beach because rates vary by insurer. Insurance companies also look at your age, gender, driving history, location, and more when determining your premiums.
While some of these factors are outside of your control, you can take some steps to find affordable insurance:
Research discounts. Just as insurance rates vary by company, so do discounts. Research potential discounts online or ask your insurance agent or customer service agent about possible savings and eligibility requirements. Common discounts include those for safe drivers, low-mileage drivers, or bundling multiple insurance products with your auto insurance, such as homeowners insurance, condo insurance, or renters insurance.
Drive safely. Being mindful of speed limits and paying attention behind the wheel can also help you get the lowest rates on car insurance.
Choose a safe car. Insurers often give discounts if your vehicle has certain safety features, like an anti-theft alarm or engine cutoff, airbags, and more.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Myrtle Beach: USAA
A liability-only auto insurance policy offers basic protection and generally costs less than a full-coverage policy. It can protect you if you cause an accident and hurt another person or damage someone else’s property. But it won’t cover your own vehicle damage or bodily injury.
The average cost of liability coverage in Myrtle Beach is $170 per month. Here are some options for affordable liability insurance coverage.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Myrtle Beach: USAA
Full-coverage car insurance protection goes beyond what liability coverage provides. It always includes collision insurance, comprehensive insurance, and liability insurance, though it may include other coverages as well. Myrtle Beach drivers with newer cars could likely benefit from a full-coverage auto policy.
On average, Myrtle Beach drivers pay $216 per month for full-coverage insurance. Here are some affordable full-coverage options in the city.
Car insurance requirements in South Carolina
South Carolina is a tort state, meaning the insurance companies of drivers found at fault in an accident are responsible for covering the cost of damages, injuries, and losses. South Carolina law requires you to have a minimum amount of car insurance.
Here are the required coverages and amounts for South Carolina drivers:3
If you want more coverage than a standard liability policy to protect your vehicle, you should consider the following optional coverages:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
If you don’t have a spotless driving record, you’re likely to pay a bit more for auto coverage in Myrtle Beach. Past infractions like speeding tickets, driving under the influence, at-fault accidents, and other moving violations can increase your insurance rates because your insurance company will view you as a higher risk on the road.
On average, Myrtle Beach drivers with a past incident on their record pay $198 per month for liability coverage and $252 for full coverage.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: USAA
Speeding tickets are one of the most common infractions that can increase your insurance prices. Exceeding the posted speed limit can increase your likelihood of getting into an accident, so insurers may charge you higher rates if you have past tickets.
The average cost of car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Myrtle Beach is $202 per month for liability and $257 for full coverage.
Here are average liability quotes from Myrtle Beach insurers for drivers with clean driving records versus past tickets.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA
A past at-fault accident will also result in higher insurance rates. Insurance companies are likely to regard you as a high risk on the road if you have an at-fault accident or multiple accidents on your record. Still, you can try to find affordable coverage by shopping around.
On average, Myrtle Beach drivers with an accident pay $214 per month for liability and $272 for full coverage.
Here’s how average liability quotes compare for drivers with a clean driving record and people with an accident.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: USAA
Your insurance company will also deem you a higher risk behind the wheel if you have a past DUI charge. Comparing quotes from different insurance companies and focusing on driving safely in the future are good ways to decrease your car insurance rates.
The average cost of coverage for Myrtle Beach drivers with a DUI is $213 for liability and $271 for full-coverage insurance.
Below, you can compare the average costs of liability coverage for drivers with a DUI and people with clean records.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: USAA
Car insurance prices start to decline when you’re around 35 years old, but then they tend to increase again around age 70. Statistically, older drivers are more likely to get into fatal car accidents than middle-aged drivers, so insurance companies deem them high-risk policyholders.4
Senior drivers in Myrtle Beach pay an average of $148 per month for liability coverage and $188 for full-coverage insurance.
Here are some companies offering affordable liability and full-coverage auto policies for senior drivers.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: USAA
Teen drivers have the highest average car insurance rates by age. Due to a lack of driving experience, teens are statistically more likely to have fatal motor vehicle accidents.
Joining your parents’ insurance policy, opting to drive a safe car, and taking advantage of applicable discounts can help you get the best deal on coverage, but you’ll still likely pay more for insurance than a driver older than 35.
The average cost of coverage for Myrtle Beach teenagers is $341 per month for liability and $433 for full coverage.
Here are some of the cheapest insurers offering affordable rates for young drivers in Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach car insurance quotes by credit tier
Your credit history will also factor into your insurance prices in Myrtle Beach because South Carolina insurers can consider your credit-based insurance score when determining premiums. Generally, the better your credit, the lower your monthly insurance payment. People with a poor credit history typically pay higher rates.
Below, you can compare average full-coverage insurance costs by credit tier in Myrtle Beach.
Is car insurance more expensive in Myrtle Beach?
Liability car insurance in Myrtle Beach costs more than the national average but less than the South Carolina state average. Myrtle Beach drivers pay $170 per month for liability coverage on average, compared to the national liability average of $104.
Different factors, such as area population, crime rates, and more, influence insurance costs in your ZIP code. For example, in Charleston, the largest city in South Carolina, drivers pay around $197 per month for liability and $268 for full coverage. Myrtle Beach has a much smaller population of around 38,400, which may influence the city’s slightly lower rates.
More cities in South Carolina
Car insurance in Myrtle Beach is more affordable than rates in some other South Carolina cities. Compare average rates in other cities below.