State guide
Car Insurance in South Carolina
Updated August 2026
South Carolina is an at-fault state with 25/50/25 minimum liability limits — $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage — but the minimum policy doesn't stop at liability. State law also requires uninsured motorist coverage at the same 25/50/25 limits on every policy, and it cannot be waived.
That built-in UM layer exists for a reason: nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023, per the Insurance Research Council — and South Carolina even lets some vehicle owners legally register without insurance by paying an annual fee. Between the mandatory UM coverage and that quirk, carriers price the South Carolina bundle differently enough that comparing quotes shows a real spread.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 |
| PIP / medical | Not required (at-fault state) |
| Additional requirements | Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury + $25,000 property damage (required, cannot be waived) |
| No-fault state | No |
| SR-22 used | Yes |
Source: S.C. Code §38-77-140 (liability), §38-77-150 (UM); South Carolina Department of Insurance
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in South Carolina was $1,205 in 2022. (NAIC average expenditure data, via the Insurance Information Institute)
Mandatory uninsured motorist coverage
Under S.C. Code §38-77-150, every auto policy issued in the state must include uninsured motorist coverage matching the liability minimums: 25/50 for bodily injury plus $25,000 for property damage, the latter typically carrying a $200 deductible. If an uninsured driver hits you, this coverage stands in for the liability policy they should have had.
Underinsured motorist coverage — for at-fault drivers who carry the minimum but cause more damage than it covers — is a separate, optional layer. Because both UM and UIM are priced per carrier, the same Columbia or Charleston driver can see meaningfully different totals for the identical coverage stack.
The uninsured motorist fee — South Carolina's unusual opt-out
South Carolina is one of the few states where a qualifying vehicle owner can legally register without insurance by paying the SCDMV an annual uninsured motorist fee — currently $600, per the SCDMV. Qualification generally requires that every driver in the household has been licensed for three or more years, with no SR-22 requirement and no disqualifying recent violations.
The fee buys no coverage of any kind: an uninsured owner who causes a crash remains personally liable for all of it. For everyone else on the road, this legal opt-out is exactly why the state makes UM coverage mandatory on every policy.
SR-22s and the FR-10
South Carolina uses SR-22 filings: after serious violations or suspensions, your insurer certifies coverage electronically to the SCDMV, and the filing must be maintained without a lapse. Separately, the FR-10 is South Carolina's post-accident form — drivers involved in a crash use it to verify to the SCDMV, within 15 days, that they carried liability insurance at the time.
A violation that triggers an SR-22 also reprices the policy itself, and carriers surcharge the same record very differently. Comparing several quotes matters most for exactly these drivers.
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Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in South Carolina?+
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage (S.C. Code §38-77-140), plus uninsured motorist coverage at the same 25/50/25 limits (§38-77-150), which cannot be waived. South Carolina does not require PIP.
Is South Carolina a no-fault state?+
No. South Carolina is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes an accident is responsible for the resulting injuries and damage, paid through their liability coverage.
Can you legally drive without insurance in South Carolina?+
In limited cases, yes — a qualifying owner can pay the SCDMV an annual uninsured motorist fee (currently $600) to register without insurance. The fee is not insurance: an uninsured driver who causes a crash is personally liable for all resulting damage.
Does South Carolina use SR-22s?+
Yes. The SCDMV requires SR-22 filings after certain violations and suspensions, filed electronically by your insurer. South Carolina also uses the FR-10 form, which verifies insurance to the SCDMV after an accident.
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