Car insurance · South Carolina
Car insurance requirements in South Carolina
Liability 25/50/25 plus uninsured motorist. Claims system: fault-based claims.
Verified summaryAll South Carolina insurance topics
Requirements
Minimum car insurance requirements in South Carolina
| Coverage | Requirement in South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Injury protection | Not listed as required |
| Uninsured / underinsured motorist | Required. The Department lists limits of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage |
What the law requires you to carry
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist coverage at the limits the Department lists: $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000
Uninsured drivers
Uninsured motorist coverage in South Carolina
Required. The Department lists limits of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
- Underinsured motorist coverage is not mandatory. The insurer must have a signed form from you confirming whether you want it. If you do not return the form, the company will add underinsured motorist coverage to your policy and rate you for it.
- Uninsured motorist coverage carries a $200 deductible for property damage. If your carrier collects its payout back from the uninsured motorist, your deductible should be refunded.
- The Department of Insurance publishes an annual order adjusting the reinstatement fee for uninsured motorists (Order 2025-006 for the most recent one we saw).
Optional coverage
Coverage you can add in South Carolina
- Underinsured motorist (optional)
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Medical payments
Penalties
Penalties for driving without insurance in South Carolina
South Carolina law sets a reinstatement fee for operating an uninsured vehicle (section 56-10-520), which the Department of Insurance adjusts by order. Confirm the current fee and the consequences with the SCDMV and the Department's orders.
Good to know
Other things to know in South Carolina
- Insurers in South Carolina are not required to write automobile insurance. If you cannot find a company to insure you, the Department points to the South Carolina Joint Underwriting Association.
General information only. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the official sources listed below.
Contacts
Who to contact in South Carolina
- South Carolina Department of Insurance
- Website: doi.sc.gov
- Contact page
- Phone: 803-737-6160 (Department of Insurance, Columbia)
- NAIC directory of state insurance departments
Sources
Where this summary comes from
Reviewed 2026-10. Check each source for the current rule.
Keep reading
Guides that explain these coverages
- Minimum car insurance requirements by state
- Which States Require Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
- No-Fault vs. At-Fault Car Insurance: Which States Use Which
- States That Raised Minimum Car Insurance Limits Since 2018
- Liability coverage explained
- Collision vs. comprehensive coverage
- What affects your car insurance rate
- After an accident: what to do and what to expect
More about South Carolina.
Home insurance resources and the health marketplace for South Carolina are on its overview page.