Insurance
Car Insurance in South Carolina
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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Is car insurance mandatory in South Carolina?
Yes. Every South Carolina policy must include two coverages, each at 25/50/25:
| Required coverage | What it pays for |
|---|---|
| Liability ($25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash for injuries, $25,000 for property) | Injuries and damage you cause to others |
| Uninsured motorist (same limits) | Your injuries and damage when a driver with no insurance hits you |
The $200 catch: uninsured motorist claims for damage come with a $200 deductible. If your insurer later collects from the uninsured driver, you should get that $200 back.
The underinsured motorist form: don't skip it
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your bills. It's optional in South Carolina, but insurers must offer it.
Here's the part people miss. Your insurer needs a signed form showing you were offered UIM and whether you want it. If you don't return the form, the company adds UIM to your policy and charges you for it.
Either choice can be fine. Just make it on purpose. The same form may also let you raise your liability and uninsured motorist limits.
When to buy car insurance in South Carolina
Before you register the car and before you drive it. After that, keep coverage continuous. If your policy ends while the car is still registered, you must either get new insurance right away or turn in your plate and registration.
What a lapse costs
When your insurer reports a cancellation, the SCDMV suspends your license, plate, and registration. To clear it:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Lapse fine | $5 a day, up to $200 per vehicle for a first offense |
| Reinstatement fee | $200 |
The fine and fee can be waived if the car wasn't driven and the lapse was due to military service or a documented illness.
If you're caught driving uninsured, it's a misdemeanor:
- First offense: a $100 to $200 fine, or 30 days in jail
- Second offense: a $200 fine, 30 days in jail, or both
- Third or later: 45 days to 6 months in jail
The SCDMV also suspends the owner's license, registrations, and plates until a separate reinstatement fee is paid. That fee is set at $600 and can be adjusted each year.
The old "uninsured motor vehicle fee" is gone. South Carolina once let owners pay a fee to register a car without insurance. That option ended on July 1, 2024. If you read about it elsewhere, it's out of date.
Your rights when you file a claim
The SC Department of Insurance spells these out:
- You choose the body shop. Your insurer can recommend one, but you don't have to use it. It will pay based on local market rates for parts and labor.
- A totaled car is paid at actual cash value, meaning what your car was worth just before the crash. That's not the same as the Blue Book number. Look up sales of similar cars in your area so you know what's fair.
- A rental car: if the other driver was at fault, their insurer must pay reasonable costs for your loss of use.
- If you're sued, your insurer must provide a lawyer and pays up to your limits. Anything above your limits is on you.
How much is car insurance in South Carolina?
It depends on where you live, your record, your car, and your coverage. One way to compare states: in 2021, South Carolina households spent about 1.82% of their income on car insurance. That made it the 11th least affordable state, above the U.S. average of 1.50%.
About 10.3% of South Carolina drivers were uninsured in 2023, lower than in many states. That helps. But because uninsured motorist coverage is required, you're already paying for that protection.
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Sources
- SC Department of Insurance, Auto insurance FAQs
- SC Department of Insurance, Is underinsured motorist coverage required?
- South Carolina Code, Title 56, Chapter 10 (registration and financial security)
- Insurance Information Institute, Auto insurance affordability (IRC)
- Insurance Information Institute, Uninsured motorists (IRC 2023 data)