- Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for a bad driving record
- How much is high-risk car insurance in South Carolina?
- Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina with a DUI
- Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina with multiple tickets
- Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina with a reckless driving conviction
- Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina with bad credit
- Cheapest car insurance after an accident in South Carolina
- Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina by city
- How to reduce car insurance rates in South Carolina for a bad driving record
- South Carolina car insurance laws for high-risk drivers
- Compare South Carolina high-risk driver car insurance rates with other states
Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina for a bad driving record
Progressive, Auto-Owners, Travelers offers affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers with bad driving record in South Carolina.
Having accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, will make you pay more for insurance. Most tickets will affect your rates for three to five years. A DUI can affect your rates for up to 10 years and can stay on your record for life.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for high-risk driver |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,816 | $2,542 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,475 | $2,854 |
| Travelers | $1,949 | $2,884 |
| State Farm | $2,106 | $3,219 |
| Allstate | $2,336 | $3,220 |
| Geico | $2,054 | $4,445 |
| USAA | $1,451 | $2,076 |
How much is high-risk car insurance in South Carolina?
A bad driving record or low credit score can significantly increase rates. While high-risk car insurance averages $3,019 in South Carolina, you can find rates as low as $2,542 from Progressive.
Although you may be labeled high-risk for many reasons, some factors raise rates more than others. For example, multiple speeding tickets may significantly raise car insurance rates, but so can a single ticket for excessive speed in a school zone.
Keep reading as we break down high-risk car insurance factors and rates.
Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.
| Company | Annual premium for clean record | Annual premium after violation |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $1,475 | $1,974 |
| USAA | $1,451 | $2,176 |
| State Farm | $2,106 | $2,504 |
| Travelers | $1,949 | $2,723 |
| Geico | $2,054 | $2,981 |
| Progressive | $1,816 | $3,114 |
| Allstate | $2,336 | $3,828 |
PEOPLE ASK:
Who is considered high-risk for insurance in South Carolina?
Each insurance company has its own rules for deciding who is a high-risk driver. But usually, things like a DUI, several tickets or accidents, or serious violations like reckless driving will put you in the high-risk category.
Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina with a DUI
While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, Progressive provides the average cheapest coverage for $2,247.
A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations to have on your record. Not only do you have to pay fines, but you'll also see vastly higher car insurance rates for up to 10 years. Multiple DUIs will cause your premiums to skyrocket.
The table below compares average car insurance rates with a clean driving record and rates after a DUI in South Carolina.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for a DUI |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,816 | $2,247 |
| State Farm | $2,106 | $2,265 |
| Travelers | $1,949 | $2,875 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,475 | $2,918 |
| Allstate | $2,336 | $3,195 |
| Geico | $2,054 | $4,943 |
| USAA | $1,451 | $2,692 |
Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina with multiple tickets
Auto-Owners is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with multiple traffic tickets, with an average rate of $2,064 or $172.
While one traffic ticket can affect car insurance rates, multiple tickets can significantly increase those rates. Failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws leads insurers to believe they will eventually have to pay claims due to risky driving.
This table shows South Carolina drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium with a speeding ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $1,475 | $2,064 |
| State Farm | $2,106 | $2,265 |
| Progressive | $1,816 | $2,441 |
| Travelers | $1,949 | $2,754 |
| Allstate | $2,336 | $3,031 |
| USAA | $1,451 | $1,788 |
Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina with a reckless driving conviction
State Farm offers the cheapest rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions at $2,265.
If you engage in hazardous driving behaviors that endanger others, you may be charged with reckless driving. A reckless driving conviction will increase your car insurance rates.
The table below shows car insurance rates for drivers with a clean record vs. drivers with a reckless driving conviction.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for reckless driving |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $2,106 | $2,265 |
| Progressive | $1,816 | $2,660 |
| Travelers | $1,949 | $2,875 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,475 | $2,918 |
| Allstate | $2,336 | $3,195 |
| Geico | $2,054 | $3,873 |
| USAA | $1,451 | $2,151 |
Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina with bad credit
Based on our research, Progressive is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with poor credit, averaging $3,020 or $252. Fortunately, drivers with bad credit can still find affordable auto insurance.
Your credit score may not be related to your driving skills, but it can affect your car insurance rates and put you in a higher-risk category. From an insurer's perspective, higher risk means an increased chance of filing a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing., and statistics show that drivers with lower credit scores are in this category.
Check the table below to see how your credit score affects South Carolina car insurance.
| Company | Annual premium for good credit | Annual premium for bad credit |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,816 | $3,020 |
| Travelers | $1,949 | $3,290 |
| Allstate | $2,336 | $3,834 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,475 | $4,306 |
| Geico | $2,054 | $4,521 |
| State Farm | $2,106 | $7,989 |
| USAA | $1,451 | $2,245 |
Cheapest car insurance after an accident in South Carolina
Auto-Owners and State Farm have the lowest car insurance rates after an accident at $1,974 and $2,504, respectively.
Drivers with accidents on their record typically pay higher insurance rates than those with a clean record. While car insurance rates may increase after one accident, multiple accidents can increase rates even more.
This table shows rates for drivers with a clean record, one at-fault accident and multiple accidents.
| Company | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for one at-fault accident | Annual premium for multiple accident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $1,475 | $1,974 | $2,406 |
| State Farm | $2,106 | $2,504 | $2,504 |
| Travelers | $1,949 | $2,658 | $3,262 |
| Geico | $2,054 | $2,981 | $3,873 |
| Progressive | $1,816 | $3,114 | $4,199 |
| Allstate | $2,336 | $3,828 | $4,933 |
| USAA | $1,451 | $2,176 | $3,500 |
Cheapest car insurance in South Carolina by city
Westminster has the cheapest car insurance rates in South Carolina at $2,612. But the most expensive city is Eastover with rates of $3,112.
Your location in South Carolina also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.
| City | Average annual premium for clean record | Annual premium for high-risk driver |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster | $1,739 | $2,612 |
| Seneca | $1,744 | $2,642 |
| Hardeeville | $1,920 | $2,886 |
| York | $1,920 | $2,900 |
| Anderson | $1,931 | $2,921 |
| Spartanburg | $1,945 | $2,936 |
| Manning | $2,012 | $2,988 |
| Myrtle Beach | $2,042 | $3,057 |
| Johnsonville | $2,055 | $3,085 |
| Eastover | $2,065 | $3,112 |
How to reduce car insurance rates in South Carolina for a bad driving record
Finding affordable car insurance in South Carolina is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:
- Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
- Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
- Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
- Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
- Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.
PEOPLE ASK:
How long are you considered a high-risk driver in South Carolina?
Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in South Carolina depends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.
South Carolina car insurance laws for high-risk drivers
If you're a high-risk driver in South Carolina, you might need to file an SR-22. This is a form that your car insurance company sends in to show you have the required minimum insurance coverage. The court will let you know how long you need to keep the SR-22.
An SR-22 isn't a type of insurance; it's just a form. You don't need special coverage, but your rates might be higher because you're considered high-risk. Also, not all insurance companies offer coverage for high-risk drivers or handle SR-22 filings.
Compare South Carolina high-risk driver car insurance rates with other states
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