Minimum Coverage Requirements in South Carolina
South Carolina requires minimum liability coverage of 25/50/25 ($25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage). Drivers convicted of DUI, multiple violations, uninsured accidents, or license suspensions must file SR-22 with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles for 3 years. Once your SR-22 requirement ends, you're no longer legally required to carry SR-22, but your violation history remains on your driving record for 3–10 years depending on offense type. Most post-SR22 drivers see the steepest rate reductions between years 1 and 3 after filing ends.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in South Carolina?
Post-SR22 drivers in South Carolina pay elevated premiums for 3–5 years after their filing requirement ends, with the steepest rate reductions occurring in years 1–3. Violation type, time since SR-22 ended, and carrier selection drive the majority of rate variance — DUI violations typically carry surcharges 2–3 times higher than non-DUI suspensions. Shopping carriers every 6–12 months during the recovery period is critical, as different insurers weight post-SR22 history differently.
What Affects Your Rate
- Violation type — DUI surcharges remain 3–5 years; non-DUI suspensions typically 3 years
- Time since SR-22 ended — most carriers reduce surcharges by 20–40% per year for 3 years
- Whether you shopped carriers after SR-22 ended — non-standard vs standard carrier pricing shifts dramatically after year 2
- Continuous coverage — any new lapse or gap restarts surcharges even after SR-22 ends
- Location within South Carolina — Charleston and Columbia post-SR22 rates average 15–25% higher than Greenville or Spartanburg
- Vehicle type — higher-value or performance vehicles compound surcharges for post-SR22 drivers
Your SR-22 period is ending — you can access standard rates again
Most drivers see significant savings when they transition off SR-22. Compare current rates now.
Get Your Free QuoteCoverage Types
Liability Insurance
Covers injuries and property damage you cause to others. South Carolina requires 25/50/25 minimums, but post-SR22 drivers often increase limits to 50/100/50 or 100/300/100 to protect assets if they cause another accident.
Full Coverage
Liability, collision, and comprehensive combined — protects both your liability and physical damage to your own vehicle. Required by lenders and recommended if your car is worth more than $5,000.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Pays for your injuries if you're hit by a driver with no insurance or a hit-and-run. Not required in South Carolina, but highly recommended given the state's 13% uninsured driver rate.
SR-22 Insurance
SR-22 is a certificate filed by your insurer proving you carry liability coverage. Required for 3 years in South Carolina after DUI, uninsured accidents, or license suspensions.
Non-Standard Auto Insurance
Coverage from carriers specializing in high-risk drivers. Often the only option during active SR-22 filing, and frequently the cheapest option in the first 1–2 years after SR-22 ends.
Comprehensive Coverage
Pays for damage to your car from non-collision events — theft, vandalism, weather, fire, animal strikes. Required by lenders; optional once vehicle is paid off.
