Best Auto Insurance Companies in South Carolina

Whether you’re having a beach day at Myrtle Beach, taking a weekend trip to golf on Hilton Head Island, or spending the day in Charleston checking out the shops and colorful buildings, residents of the Palmetto State must have a legally adequate car insurance policy before taking to the open road (or open beach). Finding the best South Carolina car insurance policy for your needs may take a bit of hunting, but that’s where we come in.

Finding the best insurer, policy, and price for your car insurance can be daunting, as the insurance marketplace is overwhelming with all the possibilities. Knowing what to look out for when building your policy is crucial to finding the best policy for your need. We’re here to help you figure out what you need to know before you search for your policy so you can head into battle with a plan.

The best South Carolina car insurance will vary from driver to driver, as a policy is subjective to the driver’s needs and values. Each driver’s circumstances inform their decision on insurer, coverage, and cost. However, drivers must often determine their values using two key factors: cost and coverage. 

South Carolinians who value coverage over cost will likely want a full coverage policy from an insurer that offers an array of optional coverages. Drivers who value cost over coverage will likely want a minimum coverage policy from an insurer that offers low base rates and plenty of opportunities for discounts. 

Many drivers don’t want to compromise on cost or coverage, and that’s fine. Those who want excellent coverage at the lowest rate possible will likely want a full coverage policy from an insurer that offers low base rates and many stackable discounts. 

However, all drivers must ensure their policies meet the required minimum in the state. According to the South Carolina state car insurance laws, all residents must have at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident, $25,000 in property damage liability per accident (25/50/25 liability coverage, and the same 25/50/25 limit for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). Those who finance or lease their vehicles may be required to carry collision and comprehensive coverages as a stipulation of their legally binding contracts.

While it can be tempting to sacrifice coverage for some savings, a minimum coverage policy may not be the best for everyone. The average full coverage premium in South Carolina is about $1,640 annually, just below the national average of $1,670 annually. Doing your research before binding a policy allows you to reduce your premiums below the average cost so you can get great coverage at a low rate. Keep reading to find out how to find the cheapest policy in the state while maintaining coverage that’ll keep you safe in every scenario.

In South Carolina, the best auto insurance will vary from driver to driver but will likely be a full coverage policy from an insurer that offers low base rates and plenty of discounts. While selecting a policy based on your needs is crucial, it’s equally as important to protect yourself the best you can while behind the wheel.

Once you decide what you value most in a policy, whether that’s cost, coverage, or both, you can gather quotes from several insurers to determine where you can get a policy that most directly aligns with your needs.

One must remember that while values in a policy range from person to person, so do premiums. Some drivers may not be eligible for an insurer’s average rate, while others may be eligible for much lower premiums. Insurers use factors like your driving record, insurance history, age, gender, and ZIP code, among other factors, to determine your individual rates.

These factors help your insurer determine the risk they take by taking you on as a policyholder. If an insurer feels a driver is at high risk of filing a claim, they deem that driver a high-risk driver and charge them higher premiums. While many high-risk drivers will have a poor driving record or insurance history, some non-driving factors like ZIP code or age can lead an insurer to believe a driver is high-risk. For example, drivers in densely populated ZIP codes typically pay higher premiums because they’re more likely to get into an accident and file a claim. 

If the factors contributing to your rates are making your premiums higher than average, don’t lose hope for savings just yet. Plenty of great insurers in the Palmetto State have lower-than-average base rates and a range of discounts to help you lower your premiums without sacrificing your coverage. 

There are plenty of auto insurance companies in South Carolina, so finding the right one for your needs can be challenging. The best way to discern which insurer has the most appropriate policy for your needs is to get and compare quotes from several insurers. Getting and comparing quotes is a great way to ensure you get the right policy at the best price. Plus, it can be done online to save precious time. 

Let’s look at some of the top insurers in the Palmetto State that offer competitively low base rates for full coverage policies, various additional coverage options, and plenty of discounts to save you a few extra bucks.

One of the top insurers in the Palmetto State is our partner, Progressive. Progressive offers low base rates for all drivers, not just those with clean driving records, and plenty of additional coverages to add to one’s policy. The average full coverage policy with Progressive in South Carolina is about $1,950, just 15% over the state average. While the average base rate is higher than average, policyholders can reduce their premiums by utilizing this insurer’s bounty of discounts. Progressive has discounts for those who insure multiple cars on one policy, for young drivers who earn good grades, and often rewards those who go six months without an accident by reducing their premiums automatically.

South Carolinians can expect competitive base rates and a variety of coverage options when they bind a policy with Nationwide. A full coverage policy through Nationwide costs, on average, about $1,520 annually, or about 10% less than the state average. This insurer also offers plenty of discounts for its policyholders, like the usage-based telematics program for those who make safe choices behind the wheel and a pay-per-mile program for those that drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

Our Partner, Travelers, is among the top insurers in the Palmetto State for its excellent coverage options and lower-than-average base rates. The average premium for a full coverage policy through this insurer is about $1,400, or about 15% cheaper than the state average. While the lower-than-average base rates alone might be enough for South Carolinians to bind with Travelers, the savings with this insurer are bountiful. Travelers also offers several opportunities for policyholders to further reduce their premiums. This insurer offers discounts for those who bundle home and auto insurance or for those who make good choices on the road. 

Geico is another insurer that South Carolinians can’t get enough of. This insurer offers low base rates, a range of stackable discounts, and a host of optional additional coverages. The average full coverage policy with Geico in the Palmetto State costs about $1,330 annually, 20% lower than the state average. Geico offers lower-than-average rates for all types of drivers: young or old, safe or risky, even for those with a history of driving without insurance or an SR-22 on file. Plus, to further reduce one’s premiums, Geico offers plenty of discounts for policyholders to apply and stack onto their policies. Geico offers criteria and enrollment-based discounts, like their student discount and their pay-per-mile program for those who drive less than the national average of 12,000 miles annually.

State Farm is tied with Geico as our pick for the top insurer in South Carolina, as both offer full coverage policies with premiums averaging at about $1,330 annually, or about 20% cheaper than the state average. This insurer offers plenty of optional coverages for policyholders to tailor their policies to their needs. State Farm also offers a wide range of discounts, like an enrollment-based telematics program or a criteria-based discount for those who have anti-theft or other safety features on their vehicles. As a cherry on top, State Farm is known for its best-in-class customer service.

One’s choice of an insurance company in south carolina is subjective, as everyone looks for something different in an insurer. The best insurance company for you will have the coverages you desire at a rate that won’t break the bank. Some of the top insurers in the state that offer low base rates and plenty of other opportunities for savings are State Farm, Geico, and our partner, Travelers.

For some, the best insurance company will be the one with the lowest rates for a minimum coverage policy. While having a policy within your budget and meeting your needs is always essential, a minimum coverage policy may not be the best choice for every driver. 

A minimum coverage policy isn’t the only way to keep your premiums low. Getting a policy from one of the state’s top insurers is a great way to ensure you have the necessary coverage to keep you safe behind the wheel while keeping your savings intact. It can be tempting to cash in on the short-term savings of a lower premium associated with a minimum coverage policy. However, it’s often more cost-efficient to invest a bit more in a full coverage policy than risk financial ruin in the worst-case scenario.

Since there are so many great South Carolina auto insurance agencies, selecting the right one for your safety and budget can be tough. Since the search is so subjective, it’s much easier to outline what you need from your policy and go from there rather than sifting through the great wide insurance marketplace. 

The best way to find the best policy for your needs is to get and compare quotes online. By getting and comparing quotes from multiple insurers, you can easily filter through all your options so you’re left with the best selection for your values and budget.

Lucky for you, quotes are pretty much our specialty here at Clovered. You can use our free quoting tool to compare quotes from several of South Carolina’s top insurers in minutes. If you have any questions about your quote or want to chat with one of our licensed agents, you can contact us at 833-255-4117 or [email protected].