What Used Cars Are the Cheapest to Insure in South Carolina?
Want to know the cheapest pre-owned vehicle to insure in South Carolina? We researched insurance quotes in the state to save you the effort!
This article covers insurance basics for the state of South Carolina and tips to save money on premiums. We also found the best insurance companies and answered frequently asked questions!
South Carolina Cheapest Used Cars to Insure
We reviewed 45 vehicles produced in 2021 and 2022. With a basic driver profile and a South Carolina address, we used an insurance quote generator to determine which were the cheapest used vehicles to insure in South Carolina. These are the top three cheapest used cars to insure in the state.
1. 2021 XC60 by Volvo
The 2021 Volvo XC60 is the cheapest used vehicle to insure in South Carolina. A full-coverage insurance policy for this mid-size luxury SUV costs $76 per month, cheaper than the average full-coverage policy is $116.36 per month. A liability-only policy costs $41 per month.
The Volvo XC60 is a 2021 Top Safety Pick+ winner that received a “Good” rating for all its crash worthiness tests, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It gets 22 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 29 on the highway.
2. 2021 Bronco Sport by Ford
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is the second cheapest used vehicle to insure in South Carolina. This small four-door SUV costs $88 per month for full-coverage insurance, $28.36 cheaper than the average used-car policy in the state. It is $41 per month for liability-only coverage.
The 2021 Ford Bronco begins the sixth generation of the Bronco, released 25 years after the end of the fifth generation in 1996. It is a Top Safety Pick+ winner that gets 26 combined mpg.
3. 2021 CX-30 by Mazda
The 2021 Mazda CX-30 is the third cheapest used vehicle to insure in South Carolina. A full-coverage insurance policy for this small SUV costs $92 monthly, cheaper than the state average of $116.36 per month. Liability-only insurance is $45 per month.
The Mazda CX-30 gets 25 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway. It is a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle that has a 5-star safety rating, according to NHTSA.gov.
The 45 Cheapest Used Vehicles to Insure in South Carolina
We analyzed the list of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2021 Top Safety Pick+ vehicles and chose 45 from a variety of types. We listed them in ascending order below based on the cost of a full-coverage policy in South Carolina.
| Year | Make | Model | Full Coverage | Liability Only |
| 2021 | Volvo | XC60 | $76 | $41 |
| 2021 | Ford | Bronco Sport | $88 | $41 |
| 2021 | Mazda | CX-30 | $92 | $45 |
| 2021 | Hyundai | Palisade | $92 | $45 |
| 2021 | Honda | Odyssey | $98 | $50 |
| 2021 | Honda | Accord | $98 | $51 |
| 2021 | Volvo | XC40 | $100 | $47 |
| 2021 | Volvo | XC90 | $101 | $40 |
| 2021 | Mazda | CX-3 | $101 | $57 |
| 2022 | Honda | Civic | $101 | $52 |
| 2022 | Hyundai | Santa Fe | $103 | $59 |
| 2022 | Hyundai | Tucson | $103 | $51 |
| 2021 | Subaru | Outback | $103 | $50 |
| 2021 | Subaru | Forester | $103 | $47 |
| 2021 | Mazda | CX-5 | $104 | $56 |
| 2021 | Toyota | Highlander | $106 | $54 |
| 2021 | Nissan | Rogue | $106 | $57 |
| 2021 | Nissan | Murano | $106 | $55 |
| 2021 | Cadillac | XT6 | $107 | $52 |
| 2021 | Ford | Explorer | $109 | $58 |
| 2021 | Honda | Insight | $109 | $61 |
| 2021 | Chevrolet | Trailblazer | $109 | $61 |
| 2021 | Mazda | CX-9 | $109 | $47 |
| 2021 | Chrysler | Pacifica | $110 | $54 |
| 2021 | Acura | RDX | $112 | $45 |
| 2021 | Subaru | Legacy | $112 | $56 |
| 2021 | Toyota | Sienna | $113 | $59 |
| 2021 | Volkswagen | ID.4 | $113 | $56 |
| 2021 | Lexus | NX | $118 | $57 |
| 2022 | Mitsubishi | Outlander | $121 | $62 |
| 2021 | Toyota | Camry | $121 | $62 |
| 2021 | Mazda | 3 | $122 | $60 |
| 2021 | Mazda | 6 | $122 | $59 |
| 2021 | Kia | K5 | $123 | $67 |
| 2021 | Subaru | Ascent | $123 | $58 |
| 2021 | Nissan | Altima | $131 | $68 |
| 2021 | Volvo | V60 | $140 | $65 |
| 2022 | Kia | Stinger | $140 | $63 |
| 2021 | Volvo | S60 | $143 | $56 |
| 2021 | Acura | TLX | $144 | $74 |
| 2021 | Volvo | S90 | $155 | $51 |
| 2021 | Lexus | ES 350 | $156 | $59 |
| 2022 | Lexus | ES 350 | $161 | $58 |
| 2021 | Nissan | Maxima | $164 | $66 |
| 2021 | Volvo | V90 | $173 | $51 |
Full Coverage vs. Liability Insurance Costs
A liability-only insurance policy is cheaper than full-coverage insurance because it only covers people or property you might damage in an accident.
The table below provides monthly state averages for insurance in South Carolina.
|
Full-coverage policy
|
Liability-only policy
|
|
$116.36
|
$55.02
|
The Best South Carolina Car Insurance Companies
The three best automobile insurance companies in South Carolina are South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Company, State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Company, and Progressive Northern Insurance Company.
To determine the best South Carolina car insurance companies, we used the South Carolina complaint records and compared the market share and percentage of total complaints. We only covered insurance companies that have at least 2% of the market share.
Companies with lower Market-Share-to-Complaint Ratios indicate fewer complaints and happier claimants. You can see all of the rankings below.
| Insurance Company | Market Share | Percent of Total Complaints | Complaint Index |
| South Carolina Farm Bureau | 2% | 0% | 0.00 |
| State Farm Mutual Auto | 19% | 13% | 0.68 |
| Progressive Northern | 9% | 12% | 1.33 |
| Travelers | 4% | 6% | 1.50 |
| Progressive Direct | 7% | 13% | 1.86 |
| Allstate Fire & Casualty | 7% | 14% | 2.00 |
| Government Employees Ins Co (GEICO) | 8% | 20% | 2.50 |
| GEICO Indemnity | 5% | 13% | 2.60 |
| United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Casualty | 3% | 16% | 5.33 |
| USAA | 3% | 20% | 6.67 |
| USAA General Indemnity | 2% | 20% | 10.00 |
| State Farm Fire & Casualty | 2% | 20% | 10.00 |
| Owners Insurance Company | 2% | 22% | 11.00 |
| First National Insurance | 2% | 24% | 12.00 |
| Allstate | 2% | 32% | 16.00 |
Tips to Lower Insurance Premiums in South Carolina
Drivers in South Carolina can follow these tips to maximize discounts and minimize insurance premiums:
- Avoid unsafe driving that could result in citations
- Check often for discounts
- Raise your deductible
- Bundle your insurance policies
- Drive fewer miles in your vehicle
Research Methodology
To acquire the information in this report, we used an insurance quote generator to find the cheapest used cars to insure. We entered a basic driver profile and a South Carolina address to get estimates for full coverage and liability-only policies.
Basic Driver Profile
- 35-year-old male with a bachelor’s degree
- Single and employed full time
- Homeowner but did not bundle policies
- Owns the vehicle rather than leases or finances it
- Has been with the current insurance carrier for five or more years
We used vehicles on the IIHS 2021 Top Safety Pick+ 2021 list. The IIHS is an independent, nonprofit organization that collects safety data for cars on the market.
We used the following limits for liability-only quotes:
- $100,000/$300,000 liability limits
- $100,000 property damage limits
- $10,000 personal injury protection
For the full-coverage quotes, we included the following coverages with the liability selections:
- $1,000 deductible on collision coverage
- $1,000 deductible for comprehensive coverage
- $50/$1,500 rental reimbursement
- $100 roadside assistance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest SUV to insure in South Carolina?
The Volvo XC60 is the cheapest SUV to insure in South Carolina. Full coverage costs $76 per month, while liability costs $41.
Are older cars cheaper to insure?
An older car is cheaper to insure because its overall value is less than a new vehicle. Less financial risk for the insurance company is passed on to consumers in the form of cheaper premiums.
How much liability insurance is required in South Carolina?
According to the Department of Insurance, South Carolina requires liability insurance with a minimum of $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 for all persons injured in one accident. It also requires a minimum of $25,000 for property damage.
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in South Carolina?
South Carolina penalties for driving without insurance include suspension of your license and registration and a fee of $600. After paying the fee and acquiring insurance, an offender would have to have a Certificate of Insurance (SR-22) for three years.
What is the basic insurance for a car?
Liability insurance, which covers people or property you might damage in a potential accident, is the most basic insurance for a car. Many lenders may require or recommend comprehensive and collision policies to cover things like hail damage or single-car accidents.
What car has the highest insurance rates?
Every car is insured based on its specifications, but sports cars, luxury vehicles, and rare classic cars have the highest insurance rates. These cars are a bigger financial risk to insurance companies due to their value, and that risk is passed on to the consumer through higher premiums.
References
- (2021.) 2021 South Carolina Private Passenger Complaints Summary. South Carolina Department of Insurance. Retrieved May 8, 2023, from https://doi.sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14201/2021-PPA-Complaints-Summary–Final
- (2022.) 2021 Top Safety Picks. IIHS. Retrieved May 8, 2023, from https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks/2021
- (2022.) Model-specific information. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Retrieved May 8, 2023, from https://www.nhtsa.gov/
- (2022.) Automobile Insurance. South Carolina Department of Insurance. Retrieved May 8, 2023, from https://www.doi.sc.gov/588/Automobile-Insurance#:~:text=South%20Carolina%20requires%20you%20to,wages%2C%20and%20pain%20and%20suffering.
- (2022.) Facts About Driving Uninsured. South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved May 8, 2023, from https://www.scdmvonline.com/Driver-Services/Drivers-License/Insurance-Requirements/Facts-About-Driving-Uninsured#:~:text=%24100%20reinstatement%20fee.-,If%20you%20were%20found%20guilty%20and%20you%20were%20driving%20a,with%20the%
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
