Best car insurance in South Carolina for 2025
Geico, State Farm and Travelers are among the best car insurance companies in South Carolina according to Bankrate’s proprietary research method.
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Best car insurance companies in South Carolina
Bankrate’s insurance editorial team researched dozens of major car insurance companies in South Carolina to determine the best carriers in the state. To compile this ranking, we compared each carrier’s average rates against the state average in South Carolina, which is $1,999 per year for full coverage and $635 per year for minimum coverage.
We also reviewed third-party scores and ratings from agencies like AM Best for financial strength and J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for customer satisfaction in the Southeast region. If you’re looking for South Carolina’s best car insurance, consider starting with Geico, State Farm, Travelers, Nationwide or Allstate to see if one of these companies might fit your needs.
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|
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|---|---|---|---|
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4.3
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$2,011
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$664
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|
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4.3
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$2,625
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$1,052
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|
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4.1
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$1,467
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$654
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4.0
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N/A
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N/A
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3.9
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$2,296
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$496
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Geico
Best for low average rates
4.3
Avg. full coverage premium
$168/mo
Avg. full coverage premium
$2,011/yr
Customer satisfaction
651/1,000
-
Why Geico made our list: Geico offers competitive average rates with the opportunity to save even more through numerous discounts, such as insuring multiple vehicles on the same policy, maintaining customer loyalty and being a good student. Geico has advanced digital tools, but scored below average on J.D. Power’s U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study for service, so you may want to speak with existing customers about their online policy management experience. The carrier also landed below the segment average for the Southeast region of the J.D. Power study on customer satisfaction.
Who Geico may be good for: Geico's low average rates may make it a good choice for young drivers just starting out or anyone hoping to save money on their car insurance. Geico also extends potential discounts to certain occupations, professional organizations and alumni groups, so it may be a cheap option for eligible members.
Read full Geico Insurance review
State Farm
Best for local agents
4.3
Avg. full coverage premium
$219/mo
Avg. full coverage premium
$2,625/yr
Customer satisfaction
673/1,000
-
Why State Farm made our list: State Farm’s mobile app boasts an impressive 4.8 out of 5.0 rating from the App Store and 4.6 on Google Play. The insurer was also rated above average in the 2024 J.D. Power Insurance Digital Experience Study in the service category. In addition to its helpful online and mobile tools, State Farm has local agents in South Carolina who may be able to help you personalize your policy with one-on-one service. Although the company’s average full coverage premium is one of the highest on our list, it offers several potential opportunities to save with generous discounts, including good student discounts, vehicle discounts and its Drive Safe and Save telematics program.
Who State Farm may be good for: State Farm may be the best option for drivers who value convenient service. The carrier has a robust set of digital tools for policy management, but if you prefer to develop a relationship with an in-person agent, you can probably find an office near your home.
Read full State Farm Insurance review
Travelers
Best for discounts
4.1
Avg. full coverage premium
$122/mo
Avg. full coverage premium
$1,467/yr
Customer satisfaction
642/1,000
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Why Travelers made our list: Travelers' average rates are fairly competitive, plus you may be able to score a lower rate by taking advantage of a discount — or two. Travelers offers a broad selection of discounts, like new car, paid in full, early quote, safe driver, continuous insurance and more. Travelers also offers a potential discount for drivers with hybrid or electric vehicles. Although Travelers came in below the segment average in the J.D. Power Study, it does have local agents available for policyholders who prefer to conduct their insurance business in person.
Who Travelers may be good for: Travelers may be appealing to customers looking for an affordable full coverage policy, as well as numerous optional endorsements, including gap insurance and rental car coverage.
Read full Travelers Insurance review
Nationwide
Best for coverage add-ons
4.0
Avg. full coverage premium
Not available
Avg. full coverage premium
Not available
Customer satisfaction
669/1,000
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Why Nationwide made our list: In addition to standard coverage types, Nationwide has a robust list of endorsements, including gap insurance, accident forgiveness, vanishing deductible and coverage for classic cars. Roadside assistance, towing and labor coverage and rental car expense coverage are also available to South Carolina drivers. In J.D. Power’s Insurance Digital Experience Study, Nationwide scored above average in the service category. Additionally, of the carriers on this list, Nationwide scored the highest on J.D Power’s U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Despite its name, however, Nationwide is not actually available in all states, which may make it a poor choice for drivers who move frequently.
Who Nationwide may be good for: Nationwide may be a good carrier for you if you're interested in building a customized policy that meets your unique insurance needs. The company also has 10 advertised discounts which may help you save on those coverage add-ons.
Read full Nationwide Insurance review
Allstate
Best for added perks
3.9
Avg. full coverage premium
$191/mo
Avg. full coverage premium
$2,296/yr
Customer satisfaction
634/1,000
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Why Allstate made our list: Allstate car insurance could be a great fit for drivers who want to earn extra rewards and bonuses based on their driving habits. These include Deductible Rewards, which reduces a policy’s collision deductible for every year of safe driving (up to $500) and even offers a Safe Driving Bonus for every six months without an accident. Drivers can also enroll in Drivewise, a telematics program where real-time driving behavior is tracked to earn even more potential discounts. In J.D. Power’s Insurance Digital Experience Study, Allstate was ranked above average in both the service and shopping categories.
Who Allstate may be good for: Safe drivers who value digital tools and personalized coverage over low rates may want to explore Allstate as their carrier of choice.
Read full Allstate Insurance review
How Bankrate chose the best car insurance companies in South Carolina
To help you find the best auto insurance in South Carolina, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team took a systematic approach. Part of our process includes assigning each carrier a Bankrate Score that takes into account quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services as well as available coverage types, discounts, third-party reviews and other metrics. We take these factors and assign each carrier a Bankrate score out of 5.0. The higher the rating, the higher a company ranked in the individual rating categories. Each of the best car insurance companies on our list offers a balance of competitive rates, reputable financial strength, user-friendly digital tools and functional customer service.
Why you can trust Bankrate
Read our full methodologyThe insurance market can be complicated, but Bankrate's insurance editorial team used our unique perspective to bring readers the information they need to make educated decisions when shopping for a policy.
78
years of industry experience
9
licensed staff
34.5K
ZIP codes examined
120
carriers reviewed
How to find the best car insurance in South Carolina
Every driver may have different insurance needs depending on their driving record, vehicle type and budget, meaning the process for finding the best auto insurance in South Carolina may look different for each person. The following steps could be used as guidance during your insurance-buying journey.
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How much is car insurance in South Carolina?
When it comes to car insurance, South Carolina drivers tend to pay less than the national average. While South Carolina drivers pay, on average, $1,999 annually for full coverage, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in the U.S. is $2,692 per year, according to Bankrate’s 2024 study of quoted annual premiums. Average minimum coverage premiums in South Carolina are also lower than the rest of the country. The national annual average for minimum coverage is $808, compared to $635 in South Carolina. This difference may be attributed, in part, to South Carolina's rural counties, which may experience a lower rate of incidents from congested traffic.
Car insurance in South Carolina is comparable to its neighbor North Carolina, which has averages of $1,957 for full coverage and $595 for minimum coverage. Neighboring Georgia's rates, on the other hand, are considerably higher than South Carolina's, coming in at $2,901 for full coverage and $1,013 for minimum coverage. This could be because Georgia is a no-fault state, and therefore requires drivers to carry more coverage.
These rates are averages and may be a helpful point of comparison during your car insurance search. However, your exact rates may vary based on the provider you choose and your personal characteristics.
Sorry, we don't have enough data yet on this city yet!
But these other cities in the state may give you some insight.
| City | Avg. annual full coverage premium | Avg. savings vs. state average |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $2,129 | +6% |
| Cordesville | $2,197 | +9% |
| Saint George | $2,213 | +10% |
| Summerville | $2,137 | +7% |
| Dillon | $2,205 | +10% |
| Gresham | $2,244 | +12% |
| Little River | $1,988 | -1% |
| Charleston | $2,129 | +6% |
| Cordesville | $2,197 | +9% |
| Saint George | $2,213 | +10% |
| Summerville | $2,137 | +7% |
| Dillon | $2,205 | +10% |
| Gresham | $2,244 | +12% |
| Little River | $1,988 | -1% |
Estimate your car insurance cost in South Carolina
Looking at average statewide rates can give you a ballpark estimate of what drivers in South Carolina pay for their car insurance coverage. But your personal rates may vary substantially based on your driving record, vehicle type, location and more. With the calculator tool below, you can enter a few basic pieces of information and get a more accurate picture of what you could expect your car insurance to cost.
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Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze May 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Bankrate Score
Our 2025 Bankrate Score for auto insurance considers key variables that our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These factors include a robust assessment of each company’s cost of coverage, product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We grouped these factors into three essential categories — cost and ratings, coverage and savings, and support — which we then weighted in a tiered approach.
Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.
- Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto insurance companies satisfy these priorities, our team analyzed quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
- Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated the discount options listed on each company’s website.
- Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored in a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.
Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.
