car insurance in south carolina is expensive because drivers must have personal injury protection and some drivers can legally drive without insurance if they pay a fee to the state. In South Carolina, you can expect to pay approximately $2,192 per year for full coverage auto insurance or $817 per year for minimal coverage. Auto insurance in South Carolina is more expensive than the national average, which is around $2,000 a year for full coverage and around $700 a year for minimum coverage.
The cost of car insurance is also rising steadily, both in South Carolina and across the country. As the cost of providing insurance rises, so do the premiums charged by insurers. all insured drivers share in the rising cost of insurance. That’s why your rates tend to go up every time your policy renews, regardless of whether any individual factors, like your driving record or location, have changed.
There are several unique reasons why car insurance also increases each year in South Carolina, even if its details remain the same.
top reasons car insurance is expensive in south carolina
- People in South Carolina drive more. As a result, the number of accidents, claims and payments is also increasing. For example, there were approximately 922 fatal accidents in South Carolina in 2019, up from 911 fatal accidents in 2015.
- Auto repairs are becomingmore expensive. Today’s vehicles cost more to repair due to added technology and features. For example, a study by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found that the average cost of vehicle repairs was about 8% higher in 2018 than in 2014.
- people in south carolina driving without insurance. As the cost of car insurance continues to rise, more drivers are at risk of driving without car insurance. In 2019, 11% of drivers lacked even minimal liability insurance in South Carolina. the cost of uninsured drivers is passed on to consumers through higher premiums.
- health care in south carolina isincreasingly expensive. Auto insurance companies bear the brunt when paying claims related to medical bills, and it’s not getting any cheaper. spending on health care is increasing by an average of 6% each year in south carolina.
- south carolina is experiencing a climate more severe . In South Carolina, weather events such as severe storms, tropical cyclones, and severe winter weather are becoming more common. These weather events cause insurers to pay more claims, which tend to be more expensive and less predictable. as a result, they have to raise rates to keep up.
However, there could be other issues raising your rates.
If your driving record is clean and your rates are still high, your auto insurance could be expensive because of your:
age. Drivers under 25 and over 65 pay more for auto coverage because they are statistically more likely to be involved in serious and fatal accidents. In South Carolina, 16-year-old drivers pay an average of $3,689, 25-year-old drivers pay an average of $989, and seniors 65 and older pay an average of $880.
Location and driving patterns. Densely populated cities have higher premiums than rural areas because city life generally means more accidents, more property crimes, and more frequent claims. In South Carolina, the most expensive locations for insurance are North Charleston, Florence, and Goose Creek. You can also expect rates to change based on your driving patterns: long commutes or regular driving in high-risk areas can cost you dearly.
financial responsibility. in south carolina, drivers with no credit pay 80% more in premiums than drivers with excellent credit. You can also demonstrate financial responsibility by maintaining minimum auto insurance with no gaps in coverage. letting your coverage lapse could result in a higher rate when you get your next policy.
history of claims. numerous recent claims may increase your premiums. That’s one of the reasons it sometimes makes sense to pay out of pocket instead of filing a claim, especially if a claim won’t get you much more than your deductible.
how to get cheaper car insurance in south carolina
Multiple factors affect the cost of car insurance. some things you can’t control, but you have a say in most contributing factors. Driving safely, obeying traffic laws, and keeping a clean driving record are the best ways to keep your insurance costs down.
Other than that, the best way to lower your auto insurance costs is to compare rates from at least three insurance companies. Ideally, you should review your rates every 6-12 months, when you renew your policy. But at a minimum, be sure to check your record and look up rates every three to five years, as you may be able to get a lower rate if a traffic violation is not listed on your record.
in south carolina, the most expensive policies are about $1,621 and the least expensive coverage is about $304, when all driver profile information is the same. that means you could save up to $1,317 just by shopping. be sure to confirm that you also get all the discounts for which you are eligible.
