# South Carolina car insurance: liability, required uninsured motorist coverage and costs

> South Carolina car insurance requires liability plus uninsured motorist coverage. See the minimum limits, how SCDMV checks coverage and average costs.

Canonical page: https://statecover-guide.com/location/south-carolina/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

South Carolina car insurance must include two things: liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, and uninsured motorist coverage at those same amounts. South Carolina is an at-fault state, and drivers here spent an average of $1,367.39 a year per insured vehicle in 2023, above the national average of $1,281.

## Key facts

| Fact | South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Liability minimum | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident bodily injury, $25,000 property damage |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Required: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Must be offered; optional |
| PIP | Not required |
| Medical payments | Not required |
| Fault system | At-fault |
| Average spent per insured vehicle (2023) | $1,367.39 a year, about $114 a month (US: $1,281) |
| Average liability + collision + comprehensive premium (2023) | $1,516.71 (US: $1,438) |
| Estimated uninsured drivers (2023) | 10.3% (US: 15.4%) |
| Regulator | [South Carolina Department of Insurance](https://doi.sc.gov/588/Automobile-Insurance), 800-768-3467 (toll-free); 803-737-6180 |
| Registration and insurance checks | [South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV)](https://dmv.sc.gov/vehicle-owners/insurance-requirements) |

## Two coverages every South Carolina policy needs

The South Carolina Department of Insurance says state law requires two coverages to drive legally: liability and uninsured motorist.

**Liability** pays other people when you cause a crash. The bodily injury part covers their medical bills and related losses, up to $25,000 for one person and $50,000 for everyone hurt in one accident. The property damage part pays for their car or other property, up to $25,000. Our [liability coverage guide](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/liability/) explains how split limits work.

**Uninsured motorist** works the other way around. It pays you and your passengers when a driver with no insurance causes the crash. In South Carolina the required amount matches the liability minimum. The Department notes that UM claims typically carry a $200 deductible, which applies to the property damage side.

> South Carolina does not require PIP or medical payments coverage. Your own medical bills after a crash you cause are not paid by the required coverages unless you add something.

## Underinsured motorist coverage is your choice

Insurers in South Carolina must offer you underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, but you do not have to buy it. UIM pays when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough to cover your injuries. For example, if another driver carries a $25,000 per-person limit and your medical bills and lost wages come to $90,000, their policy stops at its limit. UIM can fill part or all of the gap, up to the UIM limit you chose.

The [uninsured motorist coverage guide](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/) compares UM and UIM in more detail, and the [coverage checklist](https://statecover-guide.com/tools/coverage-checklist/) helps you see which optional coverages fit your car and budget.

## How SCDMV knows whether you are insured

South Carolina checks liability insurance electronically. Licensed insurers send policy changes straight to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV), so a canceled or lapsed policy shows up in the state's records. If coverage cannot be verified, both your vehicle registration and your driver's license can be suspended.

If you get a ticket for driving uninsured, SCDMV gives you 30 days from the ticket to show proof of insurance and avoid a suspended license. A suspended license carries a $100 reinstatement fee. The simplest protection is to avoid any gap: set the new policy to start the same day the old one ends, and keep the card in the car. Our page on [what happens after a car insurance lapse](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/car-insurance-lapse/) covers how insurers price a gap.

## What South Carolina drivers pay

| Measure (2023) | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Average spent per insured vehicle | $1,367.39 | $1,281 |
| Average liability + collision + comprehensive premium | $1,516.71 | $1,438 |

Both NAIC measures put South Carolina above the national average. The first is the average spent per insured vehicle across all policies, including liability-only ones. The second is closer to what a "full coverage" policy with collision and comprehensive costs on average. Your own price depends on your ZIP code, age, record, car and the limits you pick; see [how ZIP code affects car insurance](https://statecover-guide.com/costs/zip-code/) and [how your driving record affects rates](https://statecover-guide.com/costs/driving-record/).

The state's uninsured rate, estimated at 10.3% in 2023, is below the national estimate of 15.4%.

## Road risk behind the prices

Crash costs drive insurance costs. IIHS data for 2024 show South Carolina well above the national rate on both common measures:

| Measure (2024) | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Crash deaths | 1,038 | 39,254 |
| Deaths per 100,000 people | 18.9 | 11.5 |
| Deaths per 100 million miles driven | 1.67 | 1.19 |
| Share of deaths that were speeding-related | 38% | 29% |
| Killed drivers over the legal alcohol limit (IIHS estimate) | 41% | 31% |

Serious injury crashes are exactly where minimum limits run out fastest. That is one reason to price higher bodily injury limits and UIM alongside the minimum.

## When a car is totaled in South Carolina

The Department of Insurance says a vehicle is treated as a total loss when repair costs reach 75% of its actual cash value. At that point the insurer pays the car's value, minus your deductible, rather than fixing it. If you still owe more on a loan than the car is worth, [gap insurance](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/gap-insurance/), if you carry it, covers the difference. Our [total loss guide](https://statecover-guide.com/claims/total-loss/) explains how actual cash value is set and how to dispute an offer.

## FAQ

### Is uninsured motorist coverage required in South Carolina?

Yes. South Carolina law requires uninsured motorist coverage on every policy, at least equal to the liability minimum: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, plus $25,000 for property damage. A deductible of $200 typically applies to UM property damage claims.

### Do I have to buy underinsured motorist coverage in South Carolina?

No. Insurers must offer it, but buying it is optional. It is worth comparing the extra premium with your own health insurance, savings and the limits you carry, because UIM is what pays when the other driver's policy is too small.

### Is South Carolina a no-fault state?

No. South Carolina uses a tort, or at-fault, system. The driver who causes a crash, and that driver's liability insurer, pays for the other people's injuries and damage. See [no-fault vs at-fault states](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/no-fault-vs-at-fault-states/) for how the systems differ.

### What happens if my car insurance lapses in South Carolina?

Insurers report policy changes to SCDMV electronically, so a lapse can lead to suspension of your registration and driver's license. After an uninsured ticket you have 30 days to show proof of insurance, and reinstating a suspended license costs $100.

### Is car insurance in South Carolina more expensive than average?

On NAIC figures for 2023, yes. The average spent per insured vehicle was $1,367.39 against $1,281 nationally. Comparing quotes at renewal and checking [discounts](https://statecover-guide.com/saving/discounts/) are the main levers you control.

## Sources

- [South Carolina Department of Insurance, Automobile Insurance](https://doi.sc.gov/588/Automobile-Insurance) — required coverages, UM deductible, tort system, total loss threshold
- [South Carolina Legislature, S.C. Code Title 38 Chapter 77](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t38c077.php) — liability, UM and UIM rules
- [South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, Insurance Requirements](https://dmv.sc.gov/vehicle-owners/insurance-requirements) — electronic insurance checks, proof deadline, reinstatement fee
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf) — average expenditure and combined premium
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists) — Insurance Research Council uninsured estimates
- [IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state) — crash death data
- [South Carolina Department of Insurance, Consumer Services](https://doi.sc.gov/8/Consumers), as of October 28, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-20222023-auto-insurance-database-report), as of February 13, 2026
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025