South Carolina Car Insurance Requirements
South Carolina requires every registered vehicle to carry at least 25/50/25 liability insurance: 25,000 dollars bodily injury per person, 50,000 dollars bodily injury per accident, and 25,000 dollars property damage per accident. The state also mandates uninsured motorist (UM) coverage at those same limits, making South Carolina one of the few states where UM protection is not optional.
South Carolina Minimum Liability Limits Explained
South Carolina law sets a floor of 25/50/25 for auto liability insurance. Those three numbers stand for the maximum your policy will pay in a covered at-fault accident: $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for total bodily injury when more than one person is hurt in the same crash, and $25,000 for property damage to another party per accident. Liability coverage pays the other people you injure or whose property you damage; it never pays for your own injuries or your own vehicle. The South Carolina Department of Insurance and the SC Department of Motor Vehicles both publish these figures as the legal minimum to register and operate a vehicle. These limits have held steady, but they are widely viewed as thin for a serious wreck.
A single emergency-room visit, a totaled late-model truck, or a multi-car pileup can blow past $25,000 in minutes, and once your policy limit is exhausted, the injured party can come after your personal assets for the difference.
South Carolina Is an At-Fault (Tort) State
South Carolina follows a traditional at-fault, or tort, liability system. That means the driver who causes a crash (and that driver's insurer) is financially responsible for the resulting injuries and damage. Unlike no-fault states such as Minnesota or Kentucky, South Carolina does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and there is no PIP mandate anywhere in Title 38, Chapter 77 of the state code. After an accident, an injured party can file a claim with the at-fault driver's liability insurer, file with their own insurer, or sue in civil court. South Carolina also applies a modified comparative negligence rule: an injured person can recover damages only if they are 50 percent or less at fault, and any award is reduced by their share of blame.
Because compensation depends on proving fault and on the at-fault driver actually carrying adequate limits, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage plays an outsized role in protecting South Carolina drivers.
Key data
| Factor | Filed value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum bodily injury and property damage liability limits | 25/50/25 | South Carolina Department of Insurance · Jul 2026 |
| Minimum property damage liability per accident | $25,000 | Insurance Information Institute (III) · Jul 2026 |
| Uninsured motorist property damage deductible (hit-and-run) | $200 | South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 38, Chapter 77 · Jul 2026 |
Required Coverages: Liability Plus Mandatory Uninsured Motorist
Two coverages are legally required on every South Carolina auto policy. First is bodily injury and property damage liability at 25/50/25. Second, and unusually, is uninsured motorist (UM) coverage at the same 25/50/25 limits. South Carolina is one of a small group of states where UM cannot be waived: it pays when you are hit by an at-fault driver who has no insurance or who flees the scene (a hit-and-run). UM includes both bodily injury and property damage components, and the UM property damage portion carries a $200 deductible when the vehicle is a hit-and-run. Insurers must also offer underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, which steps in when the at-fault driver has some insurance but not enough to cover your losses. UIM is optional, but because so many drivers carry only the bare minimum, the Department of Insurance and consumer advocates strongly encourage adding it.
There is no state PIP or medical-payments mandate, though MedPay can be purchased voluntarily.
Penalties for Driving Uninsured in South Carolina
Driving without the required coverage in South Carolina carries real consequences. Because insurers electronically report policy cancellations to the DMV, a lapse is flagged quickly. Penalties can include suspension of your driver's license and vehicle registration, license plate confiscation, and reinstatement fees. To restore driving privileges, an uninsured driver generally must pay a reinstatement fee, file proof of insurance, and may be ordered to maintain an SR-22 for a period of years. Fines and possible jail time apply to knowingly operating an uninsured vehicle, and penalties escalate for repeat offenses.
South Carolina does offer a narrow, legal alternative: certain long-licensed drivers may pay an annual uninsured motorist fee to the DMV for the privilege of operating an uninsured vehicle, but this fee buys no coverage whatsoever, leaves the driver personally exposed to every dollar of an accident, and is not available to anyone currently required to file an SR-22.
When South Carolina Requires an SR-22
An SR-22 is not an insurance policy; it is a certificate your insurer files with the SC DMV proving you carry at least the state-minimum liability coverage. South Carolina requires an SR-22 after high-risk events such as a DUI or DUAC conviction, driving without insurance, causing an accident while uninsured, accumulating too many points, or a suspension for failing to maintain financial responsibility. Once ordered, the SR-22 typically must stay on file for about three years of continuous coverage; if the policy lapses, the insurer notifies the DMV and your license can be suspended again, restarting the clock. SR-22 policies usually cost more because they signal higher risk to insurers, but rates vary widely between carriers, so shopping around matters. Importantly, a driver who is required to carry an SR-22 is not eligible for the state's uninsured-motorist-fee program and must maintain genuine liability insurance to stay legal.
How Much Car Insurance You Really Need
Meeting the 25/50/25 minimum keeps you legal, but it rarely keeps you financially safe. Modern vehicles are expensive, and medical bills after a serious injury routinely exceed $25,000 or $50,000. If you cause a crash that exhausts your limits, you are personally on the hook for the remainder, and a court can garnish wages or place liens on assets. Most insurance professionals suggest liability limits of at least 100/300/100 for drivers with meaningful assets or income to protect, along with matching or higher uninsured/underinsured motorist limits so you are covered when the other driver is not. Consider adding collision and comprehensive coverage to repair or replace your own vehicle, especially if it is financed or leased (lenders typically require it), plus MedPay for out-of-pocket medical costs regardless of fault. An umbrella policy can layer an extra $1 million or more of liability protection cheaply.
The right amount balances your budget against the assets and future earnings you would need to shield.
How to Compare South Carolina Car Insurance Quotes
Rates for identical coverage can differ by hundreds or even thousands of dollars between carriers, so comparison shopping is the single most effective way to lower your premium without cutting protection. When you compare, hold the coverage limits and deductibles constant across every quote so you are comparing apples to apples, and always quote above the state minimum to see how little extra real protection costs. Ask each insurer about discounts you may qualify for: safe-driver, multi-policy (bundling home or renters), multi-car, good-student, defensive-driving course, low-mileage, and telematics or usage-based programs. Review each company's complaint record and financial strength before buying; the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) publishes complaint data, and the SC Department of Insurance handles consumer complaints against licensed carriers.
Re-shop your policy at every renewal and after major life changes such as moving, buying a car, adding a driver, or improving your credit, since South Carolina permits credit-based insurance scoring. A few minutes of comparison each year can meaningfully cut what you pay.
Optional Coverages Worth Considering
Beyond the mandatory liability and UM coverage, several optional coverages fill important gaps. Underinsured motorist (UIM) protects you when an at-fault driver's limits run out and is strongly recommended given how many South Carolina motorists carry only 25/50/25. Collision pays to repair your car after a crash regardless of fault, while comprehensive covers non-collision losses like theft, vandalism, fire, flooding, and hurricane or hail damage, which matters in a coastal state prone to storms. Rental reimbursement keeps you mobile while your vehicle is repaired, and roadside assistance covers towing and lockouts. Gap insurance covers the difference between what you owe on a financed vehicle and its actual cash value if it is totaled. Medical payments (MedPay) helps with injury costs for you and your passengers no matter who caused the accident.
None of these are required by South Carolina law, but each can prevent a large out-of-pocket loss, and many add only modestly to your premium.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in South Carolina?
South Carolina requires at least 25/50/25 in liability coverage: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident. The state also mandates uninsured motorist (UM) coverage at those same 25/50/25 limits, so every policy must include UM as well as liability.
Is South Carolina a no-fault state?
No. South Carolina is an at-fault (tort) state, meaning the driver who causes a crash is financially responsible for the resulting injuries and damage. The state does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP). South Carolina applies modified comparative negligence, so an injured party can recover only if they are 50 percent or less at fault.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in South Carolina?
Yes. Unlike most states, South Carolina makes uninsured motorist (UM) coverage mandatory and non-waivable, at minimum limits of 25/50/25. UM pays when you are hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver. The UM property damage portion carries a $200 deductible for hit-and-run claims. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage must be offered but is optional.
What happens if I drive without insurance in South Carolina?
Driving uninsured can lead to suspension of your license and vehicle registration, license plate confiscation, fines, possible jail time, reinstatement fees, and an order to carry an SR-22. Insurers report lapses electronically to the DMV, so gaps are detected quickly. Certain long-licensed drivers may instead pay an annual uninsured motorist fee to the DMV, but it provides no coverage.
When do I need an SR-22 in South Carolina?
South Carolina requires an SR-22 after high-risk events such as a DUI or DUAC conviction, driving without insurance, causing an accident while uninsured, too many points, or a suspension for failure to maintain financial responsibility. Your insurer files it with the DMV to prove you carry at least minimum coverage, and it typically must stay on file for about three years.
How much car insurance should I actually buy in South Carolina?
The 25/50/25 minimum keeps you legal but often falls short in a serious crash, leaving your personal assets exposed once limits are exhausted. Many experts recommend liability limits of at least 100/300/100, matching uninsured/underinsured motorist limits, and adding collision, comprehensive, and possibly an umbrella policy if you have assets or income to protect.
Sources cited
- South Carolina Department of Insurance — captured Jul 2026
- Insurance Information Institute (III) — captured Jul 2026
- South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 38, Chapter 77 — captured Jul 2026
- South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles — captured Jul 2026
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) — captured Jul 2026
