Auto Insurance In South Carolina

Most states either require or at least highly motivate their residents to purchase car insurance, and South Carolina is no different. Technically, you’re not legally required to purchase auto insurance in South Carolina, but you do have to pay a $550 fee to the state if you don’t. In many cases, this can be more than the annual premium for car insurance, not to mention the fact that you could be left out to dry financially if you ever are in a vehicle accident.

Minimum Requirements for Auto Insurance in South Carolina

A South Carolina resident must have at least a 15/30/10 coverage in order to legally drive, avoid the $550 fee, and purchase their own insurance. The minimum requirement for auto insurance in South Carolina is $15,000 for bodily injury liability per person, a $30,000 total bodily injury liability, and $10,000 in property damage if a wreck occurs. Some believe that the monthly premiums for auto insurance in South Carolina will go down or at least stay steady, a belief based on supply and demand. South Carolina’s minimum requirements also help keep the minimum amounts low. Premiums in 2003 averaged $866 in South Carolina, slightly lower than the $914 national average. The average amount rose for a few years, then began dropping in 2003.

Get the Cheapest Auto Insurance in South Carolina Available

If you want the cheapest car insurance available, keep in mind that you do not want to lease your vehicle. Not only will this be expensive in many other areas outside of car insurance, you’ll also be legally required to have both comprehensive and collision coverage. Otherwise, you can opt to have only liability coverage for auto insurance in South Carolina, which only covers for the damages the other vehicle sustains if you are at fault. Keep in mind, however, that you may wish that you had paid the higher premium if you are in a wreck and your own car is damaged. The longer you have the car, the less you should pay for collision and comprehensive, since your vehicle will be losing value quickly. Also, you can get rid of medical coverage if you already have health insurance separately. Keep in mind that the way you drive will also affect your car insurance rates for auto insurance in South Carolina. If you have a lead foot and a police officer or state trooper takes notice, then your insurance rates could spike for a while. Law enforcement can be especially likely to pull over a suspicious looking vehicle or a sporty one, so you may want to consider what type of car you drive next time you visit the dealership. Try to be a responsible person overall — students under 25 who maintain good grades can reduce their premiums.Also consider the theft rate of the type of car you drive. For example, a Honda Accord is recognized as a very reliable vehicle, but it’s also the most commonly stolen vehicle in the Palmetto State.