Guide to South Carolina Car Insurance

• Bodily injury liability coverage: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
• Uninsured motorist property damage coverage: $25,000¹

While bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage pay for injuries and damages you cause to another party, uninsured motorist coverage applies to your losses if someone hits your car when driving without insurance. However, what about your damages and injuries when you cause an accident?

For at-fault accident coverage, you’ll need comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, and medical payments coverage.

• Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive coverage applies to damages from everything but collisions: theft, vandalism, and weather-related incidents like hail, floods, and fires.
• Collision coverage: Collision coverage, on the other hand, covers your property damages in collisions you’ve caused. With both comprehensive and collision coverage, your limit is your car’s actual market value (AMV), which is its purchase price minus depreciation.
• Medical payments coverage: Medical payments coverage covers your injuries in at-fault accidents. While you may have separate health insurance, it may come secondary to medical payments coverage in the event of a car accident. The limit will depend on whether the coverage is primary or secondary and your health insurance limit.

We also recommend increasing your liability and uninsured motorist limits, which should match. Ultimately, you should buy as much insurance as you can afford, with combined liability limits of up to $500,000.

People with a high net worth should protect their assets with more coverage, as they’re a greater target for civil lawsuits than people with a lower net worth. But even for those with a lower net worth, if you’re found to be over 50 percent at fault in an accident and your insurance doesn’t cover the injuries and damages you’ve caused, you could be sued or face wage garnishment.

In the end, how much insurance you need depends on your individual situation, which is why it’s important to discuss the topic thoroughly with your insurance agent. We recommend full coverage if you can afford it, which includes collision, comprehensive, and medical payments in addition to liability coverage.

Auto insurance in South Carolina costs 6 percent more than the national average, at $1,113 annually. Most of that cost, $715, is for liability coverage, compared to $312 for collision coverage and $217 for comprehensive coverage, which are both optional.

However, insurance companies don’t offer one-size-fits-all policies. Expect to pay anywhere from $558 to $6,372.08 per year for car insurance in South Carolina. Auto insurance rates will be low for someone with a clean driving record and minimum car insurance coverage, while premiums will be higher for a teen driver with full coverage. Get an insurance quote to see how much you will pay.

• Allstate
• Auto-Owners
• Farm Bureau
• GEICO
• National Grange Mutual
• Nationwide
• Progressive
• Safe Auto
• Southern Farm Bureau
• State Farm
• The Hartford
• Travelers
• USAA

1. Get just the minimum coverage. Minimum coverage is the cheapest form of insurance, as it’s the lowest the state allows. However, if you go with the minimum coverage, keep in mind that you may pay more out of pocket later if you have any claims.
2. Raise your deductible. If you have collision or comprehensive coverage, which requires deductibles, raising your deductibles will lower your premium. But in the event of an accident, you’ll have to pay your deductible first before your insurance provider will compensate you in any way under these coverages. If you can’t afford your deductible, your coverage becomes a moot point.
3. Get discounts. While discounts vary by company, we’ve seen everything from rewarding students with good grades to lowering costs for people willing to take a defensive driving course. You may be able to save money by doing something as simple as enrolling in automatic billing! Ask your agent how you can lower your premiums without adjusting your coverages or limits.
4. Bundle multiple policies. If you already pay for multiple insurance policies, be it home, condo, renters, life, or boat insurance, bundle them under the same provider. It pays to be loyal.

At-Fault System

South Carolina’s at-fault insurance system means the person at fault in an accident is responsible for the other party’s property damage and bodily injury losses. If they don’t feel they have been compensated fairly, the victim can sue the perpetrator for damages as long as they were less than 50 percent at fault. If the victim was any percentage at fault under 50, their payout would be reduced by their degree of fault, according to the state’s modified comparative negligence laws.

Uninsured Motorists

While South Carolina requires uninsured motorist coverage (UM), which covers accidents caused by drivers with no insurance, it doesn’t require underinsured motorist coverage, which applies to drivers with insufficient insurance. However, you can choose to get it if you’re worried about someone hitting your car with limits too low to cover your repairs.

If you have more than one car with UM, multiply your number of cars by your limit, and voíla – you have your new limit per car, as South Carolina allows stacking.

How to Register a Car in South Carolina

1. Gather the required documents.
   • Completed Title Application (Form 400): https://www.scdmvonline.com/-/media/Forms/400.ashx)=
   • Statement of Vehicle Operation (Form T1:006): https://www.scdmvonline.com/-/media/Forms/TI-006.ashx
   • First assignment on title completed
   • Paid property tax receipt in the new owner’s name if you’re requesting a new plate
   • Your current license plate number if you’re transferring plates
2. Gather the required fees. If you are paying by mail, make out the check to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.

3. Bring the documents and fees in person to the DMV. Find a location at https://www.scdmvonline.com/Locations.
4. If you are using snail mail, send the documents and fees to this address:
   • Titles and Registration
     P.O. Box 1498
     Blythewood, SC 29016-0024

DMV Contact Information

• Website: https://www.scdmvonline.com/Contact-Us
• Phone number: (803) 896-5000
• Mailing address:
  • SCDMV
    P.O. Box 1498
    Blythewood, SC 29016

• Street address:
  • 10311 Wilson Blvd.
    Building C
    Blythewood, SC 29016

How to Get a Duplicate Car Title

1. Fill out this form if you want to get a copy through the mail: https://cherokeecountysc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/400.pdf.
2. Get the form notarized.
3. Enclose the $15 fee.
4. Send the form and fee to this address:
   • SCDMV
     P.O. Box 1498
     10311 Wilson Blvd.
     Blythewood, SC 29016

You can also complete the process online at https://www.scdmvonline.com/SCTRNS/Public/Transactions/EZDupTitle/CustomerType.aspx.

Department of Insurance Contact Information

• URL: https://www.doi.sc.gov/FormCenter/Online-Contact-Form-3/Online-Contact-Form-38
• Phone number: 803-737-6160
• Email address: info@doi.sc.gov
• Mailing address:
  • 1201 Main St., Suite 1000
    Columbia, SC 29201

Car repairs in South Carolina cost an average of $393.40, 3 percent higher than the national average. Most of that cost, $239.82, is for parts, while $153.58 is for labor, according to CarMD.⁶

Auto Theft

South Carolina’s car theft rate is 13 percent higher than the national average, with 282 thefts per 100,000 residents. In more densely populated areas, the rates are even higher.

Motor Vehicle Deaths

Along with its higher-than-average vehicle theft rate, South Carolina has a high traffic fatality rate, with 1,001 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. That’s 29 percent higher than the U.S. average⁸, so drive with caution.

With handheld devices allowed, no inspections required, no SR-22s mandated, and no serious injury or monetary thresholds, South Carolina takes a relatively hands-off approach to driving. However, you could still face financial and legal penalties for breaking the law, so be sure to adhere to the state’s driving laws.