The average South Carolina driver spends about $1,022 per year on car insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
As you're shopping for car insurance coverage, you might notice that prices vary widely. Car insurance companies consider your location, age, gender, and driving record to calculate rates for premiums. Other factors like credit score, marital status, vehicle type, previous coverage, and miles driven can all play a role in the amount you'll pay for coverage.
That said, it's important to compare prices and policies to save. You'll want to get quotes from several different companies and compare them to make sure that you're getting the best price for you.
The best cheap car insurance in South Carolina based on credit score
Consumer Reports gathered premium pricing formulas from every car insurance company in each state. It found that three companies came out on top for three tiers of credit. Here are the average premiums the data shows for the typical single adult driver.
| Excellent credit (FICO 800+) | Good credit (FICO 670-739) | Poor credit (300-579) |
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The best car insurance for drivers with a clean record
For a driver in South Carolina age 25 or older with no accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| Travelers | $152 |
| Nationwide | $163 |
| GEICO | $163 |
| State Farm | $168 |
| Progressive | $169 |
| USAA* | $172 |
| Root | $182 |
| Liberty Mutual | $187 |
| Allstate | $213 |
| Safeco | $219 |
| Esurance | $239 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 2,187 policyholders in the state of South Carolina
Best car insurance for one or more accidents on record
For a driver in South Carolina age 25 or older, with one or more accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| Bristol West | $120 |
| State Farm | $167 |
| GEICO | $190 |
| Progressive | $215 |
| Esurance | $237 |
| Allstate | $255 |
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 2,187 policyholders in the state of South Carolina
The best car insurance in South Carolina based on customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction with car insurance providers may factor into your decision. According to J.D. Power, a consumer research company that surveys customers, these are the top car insurance companies in the Southeast region (which includes South Carolina):
South Carolina car insurance rates by city
Below is the estimated average annual premium of auto insurance policies per household in South Carolina's most populous cities:
| City | Average annual insurance premium |
| Charleston | $1,411 |
| Columbia | $1,311 |
| North Charleston | $1,286 |
| Mount Pleasant | $1,564 |
| Rock Hill | $1,339 |
| Greenville | $1,364 |
| Summerville | $1,413 |
| Goose Creek | $1,470 |
| Sumter | $1,249 |
| Hilton Head Island | $1,468 |
| Spartanburg | $1,247 |
| Florence | $1,344 |
| Myrtle Beach | $1,270 |
| Aiken | $1,327 |
| Greer | $1,406 |
| Anderson | $1,256 |
| Mauldin | $1,472 |
| Socastee | $1,304 |
| Taylors | $1,404 |
| Lexington | $1,502 |
| Greenwood | $1,162 |
| North Augusta | $1,351 |
| Wade Hampton | $1,379 |
Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence
The most popular car insurance companies in South Carolina based on market share
The following are the most popular car insurance companies in South Carolina, based on the percentage of insured South Carolina drivers who use them:
| Company | Market share (%) |
| State Farm | 21.20 |
| GEICO | 13.99 |
| Progressive | 12.30 |
| Allstate | 11.49 |
| USAA* | 9.78 |
| Nationwide | 4.86 |
| Travelers | 4.72 |
| Liberty Mutual | 4.60 |
| Southern Farm Bureau Casualty | 3.02 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | 2.19 |
| MGA Insurance | 1.83 |
| State Auto | 0.95 |
| The Hartford | 0.89 |
| Sentry | 0.88 |
| American Family | 0.84 |
| MetLife | 0.74 |
| AssuranceAmerica | 0.68 |
| National General Holdings | 0.52 |
| American National | 0.52 |
| Horace Mann | 0.50 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Who gets the best cheap car insurance in South Carolina?
As the numbers above show, the drivers with the best credit scores are likely to see the lowest costs of coverage. Raising your credit score could be a big help in lowering your rate. But, with so many factors going into your costs for coverage and each insurance company weighing those factors differently, the best way to get a good deal is to shop around.
To do this, you'll want to get quotes from several different companies. Once you have several quotes, compare them, and don't just focus on the premium— the amount you pay for your policy. You'll want to look for the policy that gives you the most coverage types and limits for your money. Also, look at the deductible, or the amount you'll be responsible for paying if you get into an accident. The policy with the most coverage, the lowest deductible, and the most affordable premium is generally the best policy for you.