South Carolina is an at-fault state with 25/50/25 minimum liability limits, $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage, but the minimum policy doesn't stop at liability. State law also requires uninsured motorist coverage at the same 25/50/25 limits on every policy, and it cannot be waived.
That built-in UM layer exists for a reason: nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023, per the Insurance Research Council, and South Carolina even lets some vehicle owners legally register without insurance by paying an annual fee. Between the mandatory UM coverage and that quirk, carriers price the South Carolina bundle differently enough that comparing quotes shows a real spread.
The figures below explain the policy structure used in South Carolina. They do not predict an individual premium. For a broader view of how state rules differ, use our national car insurance directory.
South Carolina minimum car insurance requirements
Most quotes begin with liability coverage. Bodily injury liability addresses covered injury claims made by other people when you cause a crash. Property damage liability addresses covered damage to their vehicles or other property. The legal minimum keeps a policy compliant, but it does not say how much financial risk a household can comfortably retain.
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one person
- Required amount or rule
- $25,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered injuries to one other person
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one accident
- Required amount or rule
- $50,000
- What it generally addresses
- Total covered injuries in one accident
- Coverage
- Property damage liability
- Required amount or rule
- $25,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered damage you cause to other property
- Coverage
- PIP or medical coverage
- Required amount or rule
- Not required (at-fault state)
- What it generally addresses
- Medical coverage rules vary by policy
- Coverage
- Additional state rule
- Required amount or rule
- Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury + $25,000 property damage (required, cannot be waived)
- What it generally addresses
- Review the selection or rejection shown on the quote
- Coverage
- Accident framework
- Required amount or rule
- At-fault
- What it generally addresses
- The responsible driver's liability coverage is central
- Coverage
- SR-22 filing
- Required amount or rule
- Used in this state
- What it generally addresses
- Applies only when ordered after qualifying events
| Coverage | Required amount or rule | What it generally addresses |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability, one person | $25,000 | Covered injuries to one other person |
| Bodily injury liability, one accident | $50,000 | Total covered injuries in one accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 | Covered damage you cause to other property |
| PIP or medical coverage | Not required (at-fault state) | Medical coverage rules vary by policy |
| Additional state rule | Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury + $25,000 property damage (required, cannot be waived) | Review the selection or rejection shown on the quote |
| Accident framework | At-fault | The responsible driver's liability coverage is central |
| SR-22 filing | Used in this state | Applies only when ordered after qualifying events |
Source: South Carolina Department of Insurance — Auto insurance
What the state minimum covers, and what it leaves with you
A minimum policy is designed to satisfy state law. It is not designed around the value of your car, the size of a possible injury claim or the amount of savings you want to protect. Those are household decisions, so they need a separate review.
A financed or leased vehicle commonly needs collision and comprehensive coverage under the contract even when state law does not require them. For plain-language definitions and buying context, visit our insurance guides before selecting limits.
Rules and risks that matter in South Carolina
State law is only the starting point. These South Carolina-specific details show what to confirm before you compare coverage or buy a policy.
Mandatory uninsured motorist coverage
Under S.C. Code §38-77-150, every auto policy issued in the state must include uninsured motorist coverage matching the liability minimums: 25/50 for bodily injury plus $25,000 for property damage, the latter typically carrying a $200 deductible. If an uninsured driver hits you, this coverage stands in for the liability policy they should have had.
Underinsured motorist coverage, for at-fault drivers who carry the minimum but cause more damage than it covers, is a separate, optional layer. Because both UM and UIM are priced per carrier, the same Columbia or Charleston driver can see meaningfully different totals for the identical coverage stack.
The uninsured motorist fee, South Carolina's unusual opt-out
South Carolina is one of the few states where a qualifying vehicle owner can legally register without insurance by paying the SCDMV an annual uninsured motorist fee, currently $600, per the SCDMV. Qualification generally requires that every driver in the household has been licensed for three or more years, with no SR-22 requirement and no disqualifying recent violations.
The fee buys no coverage of any kind: an uninsured owner who causes a crash remains personally liable for all of it. For everyone else on the road, this legal opt-out is exactly why the state makes UM coverage mandatory on every policy.
SR-22s and the FR-10
South Carolina uses SR-22 filings: after serious violations or suspensions, your insurer certifies coverage electronically to the SCDMV, and the filing must be maintained without a lapse. Separately, the FR-10 is South Carolina's post-accident form, drivers involved in a crash use it to verify to the SCDMV, within 15 days, that they carried liability insurance at the time.
A violation that triggers an SR-22 also reprices the policy itself, and carriers surcharge the same record very differently. Comparing several quotes matters most for exactly these drivers.
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Start a South Carolina quote requestWhat affects car insurance rates in South Carolina?
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in South Carolina was $1,205 in 2022. This is a historical statewide expenditure benchmark from NAIC average expenditure data, via the Insurance Information Institute. It combines many types of drivers and policies, so it should be used for market context rather than as a current quote estimate.
Insurers apply their filed rating plans to the household in front of them. Two neighbors can see different prices, and the same household can receive a wide range from different companies because each insurer weighs the inputs differently.
Garaging location
Claim frequency, traffic, repair costs, theft and weather exposure vary across South Carolina ZIP codes.
Drivers and record
Age, driving experience, citations, accidents, claims and continuous insurance history can affect price and eligibility.
Vehicle and use
Repair technology, vehicle value, annual mileage, commute and business use change the potential cost of a claim.
Coverage choices
Liability limits, collision, comprehensive, optional benefits and deductibles determine what the policy is being asked to pay.
Household details
Other licensed drivers, additional vehicles and bundling opportunities can change the account-level price.
Company fit
Insurers target different customer profiles. No one company is consistently cheapest for every driver in every territory.
Before you switch
Read the declarations, not only the price.
The declarations page shows drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles and selected benefits. Match those fields before deciding that one quote is better.
Learn how a quote becomes a policy →How to compare South Carolina car insurance quotes
Keep the drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles, dates and payment method the same. Then compare the full-term cost and change only one choice at a time.
Compare insurance companies on price, coverage and service
A familiar name is not automatically the best fit. Compare how each insurer sells and services policies, which optional programs it offers and whether it writes your profile in South Carolina. Availability and underwriting can vary by state.
See how Progressive sells and services policies →
See how GEICO sells and services policies →
See how State Farm sells and services policies →
See how Allstate sells and services policies →Company marks link to independent editorial reviews. They do not identify quote partners or a personalized match.
Browse all company reviews →Compare car insurance by South Carolina city
State law applies across South Carolina, but the garaging address can add a more local rating layer. Use a city guide to review ZIP related factors, vehicle details and the quote worksheet, then return here for the state requirement source.
Check the facts
Rules and market data used on this South Carolina page
The minimum-coverage table is paired with a first-party state reference, and the legal authority named in the guide is S.C. Code §38-77-140 (liability), §38-77-150 (UM); South Carolina Department of Insurance. Historical premium context is labeled by year and linked to the underlying publication. These sources do not replace a policy contract or individualized legal advice; rules and forms can change, so confirm current requirements with the regulator, insurer or a licensed professional.
State requirement source
South Carolina Department of Insurance — Auto insurance ↗Official state consumer page on South Carolina auto liability and uninsured motorist coverage.
Historical market data
NAIC — 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement ↗Historical statewide average-expenditure data published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in June 2024.
Regulator directory
NAIC — State insurance department directory ↗Directory of state insurance regulators for current consumer guidance, licensing checks and complaints.
Checked by Show my rates · Last updated August 3, 2026
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