Non-owner car insurance in South Carolina: Best and cheapest companies

Cheapest non-owner car insurance companies in South Carolina

Auto-Owners is the cheapest non-owner car insurance in South Carolina, with rates averaging $126. The second most affordable option in South Carolina is Geico, with an average rate of $270.

The table below shows the most affordable non-owner car insurance companies in South Carolina.

Company	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
Auto-Owners	$126	$11
Geico	$270	$23
State Farm	$397	$33
Progressive	$457	$38
Travelers	$489	$41
Sentry Insurance	$581	$48
USAA	$256	$21

Data updated in 2024

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Best non-owner car insurance in South Carolina

Although Auto-Owners came out on top, Geico and State Farm are also excellent choices for providing non-owner coverage.

To find the best non-owner car insurance companies in South Carolina, we looked at several factors, including how many complaints each company receives, financial stability and average rates. We used rate data from Quadrant Information Services as well as third-party ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

The table below compares the top non-owner car insurance companies in South Carolina.

Company	Average annual premium	J.D. Power	NAIC	AM Best	Overall score
Auto-Owners	$126	859	0.50	A++	3.99
Geico	$270	847	0.91	A++	3.00
State Farm	$397	807	0.70	A++	2.96
Travelers	$489	851	0.49	A++	2.85
Progressive	$457	828	0.65	A+	2.61

Data updated in 2024

Read our methodology

Insurance.com's top choices for non-owner car insurance

Take a closer look at our top picks for non-owner car insurance in South Carolina

Auto-Owners

Our number one pick for non-owner car insurance in South Carolina is Auto-Owners. The average rate for liability coverage is $126. Auto-Owners has an AM Best score of A++ and an NAIC complaint ratio of 0.5.

Geico

Geico is another great option for non-owner car insurance in South Carolina, with average rates of $270 per year. It has an AM Best rating of A++ and a low NAIC complaint ratio of 0.91.

State Farm

Our third choice is State Farm, with an average rate of $397. It has an NAIC complaint ratio of 0.7 and an AM Best rating of A++.

PEOPLE ASK:

Do I need South Carolina non-owner car insurance to drive a friend's car?

Probably not, unless you drive it frequently. Occasional use of a friend's car is covered by their insurance as permissive use, usually as long as it's less than 12 times a year. Still, it's always best to check with your friend's insurance company.

Average cost of non-owner car insurance in South Carolina

The average cost of non-owner car insurance in South Carolina is $368, but rates may vary based on factors such as your driving record, age, and coverage level.

Non-owner car insurance in South Carolina by age and gender

Whether you're looking for non-owner or standard car insurance, age and gender affect your rates in South Carolina.

Age is one of the most important factors that impacts car insurance rates. Younger drivers lack experience and are more likely to be in accidents. That means car insurance companies charge higher rates to offset claims.

Gender also plays a part in determining car insurance rates in most states. Males tend to be riskier drivers and have more injuries, leading to higher premiums.

Below are the average South Carolina rates for non-owner car insurance based on age and gender.

Age group	Female	Male
Teens (16-19)	$974	$905
Young Adults (20-24)	$527	$511
Adults (25-60)	$371	$371
Seniors (65-75)	$385	$370

Data updated in 2024

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Non-owner vs. traditional car insurance

Non-owner car insurance is typically cheaper than standard car insurance since coverage is minimal. Non-owner car insurance only includes liability coverage, while owner car insurance can include a lot more coverage.

For example, non-owner car insurance in South Carolina doesn't pay for damages to the car you're driving or any injuries you sustain. Owner car insurance can include collision and comprehensive coverage to pay for vehicle damages.

Insurance companies assume that people without a car drive less often, and because non-owner car insurance works as a backup to the owner's policy, the risk of 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. is much lower.

The table below shows a comparison of average yearly rates for non-owner and standard car insurance.

Non-owners state minimum policy	$368
Traditional state minimum policy	$720
State minimum car insurance limits	25/50/25

Data updated in 2024

Read our methodology

What does South Carolina non-owner car insurance cover?

A South Carolina non-owner car insurance policy only gives you the basic coverage you need to drive legally. It meets all the minimum car insurance requirements in South Carolina. But it won't pay for any damage to the car itself.

Non-owner car insurance is secondary, so it will only apply after the car owner's policy limits are exceeded.

The bottom line: Non-owner car insurance in South Carolina

South Carolina drivers may need non-owner car insurance for various reasons, such as renting or borrowing a car. However, this type of coverage typically only offers liability coverage to pay for property damage or bodily injuries you cause to others. Coverage does not extend to you or the vehicle you're driving.

Non-owners car insurance averages $368 in South Carolina, and Auto-Owners offers the lowest rates. In our analysis, Auto-Owners was the top pick overall. Remember that your age, gender, and driving record significantly impact insurance rates.

Shop around to find the best South Carolina non-owner car insurance available. Use the tool above to compare non-owner insurers in your area.

Methodology

Insurance.com analyzed non-owner car insurance companies in 2023 to find the cheapest and the best overall based on rates and third-party ratings.

Non-owner car insurance rates were fielded by Quadrant Data Services for a sample policy based on a 40-year-old driver with a clean record and good credit for a state minimum liability policy. These rates were one of the factors used to rank the best companies.

For additional data points in the ranking, customer complaints ratios were pulled from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaints database, where a score of 1.00 is considered the baseline and anything below is a low complaint volume while anything above is considered a high volume. Overall customer satisfaction ratings were drawn from J.D. Power's U.S. Auto Insurance Study, where companies are scored out of 1,000. Finally, AM Best financial ratings were used to indicate financial stability, where the best possible score is A++.