South Carolina Car Insurance
South Carolina drivers must carry 25/50/25 liability under S.C. Code § 38-77-1401. UM is compulsory at 25/50/25 under S.C. Code § 38-77-1502; UIM is must-offer up to policy liability limits under § 38-77-1603. SCAIP is the state-mandated residual market under § 38-77-5904.
YesWeSure Bottom Line
UM required, UIM must-offer. UM at 25/50/25 is compulsory on every South Carolina policy, including $25,000 property damage. UIM is a different animal: it is must-offer up to the policy's liability limits and may be rejected in writing23.
SCAIP is a real safety valve. If no voluntary insurer will cover you, SCAIP assigns you to a licensed insurer under S.C. Code § 38-77-5904.
How to make a real decision. Treat 25/50/25 as a floor. For how to think about higher limits, see how to choose coverage limits.
State requirements at a glance
What South Carolina car insurance law requires
Minimum liability limits
25 / 50 / 251
$25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage per accident, under S.C. Code § 38-77-140.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Not required6
South Carolina is a traditional tort state. No PIP is required on personal auto. Medical Payments coverage is an optional first-party add-on insurers typically offer.
Uninsured Motorist (UM)
25 / 50 / 25 required2
S.C. Code § 38-77-150 requires UM coverage at 25/50 BI and $25,000 PD on every South Carolina personal auto policy. UM is compulsory, not merely must-offer.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM)
Must offer up to policy limits2
S.C. Code § 38-77-160 requires insurers to offer UIM up to the policy's bodily-injury and property-damage limits. The named insured may reject UIM in writing.
South Carolina Automobile Insurance Plan (SCAIP)
Residual market mechanism4
S.C. Code § 38-77-590 establishes SCAIP as the state-mandated residual market mechanism, assigning drivers unable to obtain coverage in the voluntary market to a licensed insurer.
Coverage verification
South Carolina DMV insurance verification5
The South Carolina DMV administers insurance verification. Confirmed lapse under S.C. Code § 56-10-240 can trigger registration suspension, reinstatement fees, and SR-22 filing requirements.
Rate approval regime
SCDOI oversight6
South Carolina does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age as personal-auto rating factors.
25/50/25 compulsory liability
S.C. Code § 38-77-140 compels every registered South Carolina vehicle to carry 25/50/25 liability1. Many South Carolina drivers carry higher limits.
PIP: not required in South Carolina
South Carolina does not require Personal Injury Protection. Medical Payments coverage is an optional first-party add-on that insurers typically offer. For how MedPay compares to PIP in states that require it, see our medical payments coverage guide.
UM required at 25/50/25; UIM must-offer
S.C. Code § 38-77-150 requires UM coverage at 25/50 BI and $25,000 PD on every South Carolina personal auto policy2. S.C. Code § 38-77-160 requires insurers to offer UIM up to the policy's bodily-injury and property-damage limits; the named insured may reject UIM in writing3.
DMV verification and lapse enforcement
The South Carolina DMV administers insurance verification5. A confirmed lapse under S.C. Code § 56-10-240 can trigger registration suspension, reinstatement fees, and SR-22 filing requirements. For a general lapse treatment, see our after-a-lapse guide.
Rating-factor landscape
South Carolina does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age6.
Where the South Carolina situation rules live on YesWeSure
This State Guide owns the South Carolina pricing and legal framework. Situation-specific mechanics live on the sibling Situation guides:
- After an accident. See our after-an-accident guide.
- After a DUI. South Carolina SR-22 and reinstatement mechanics are treated in our after-a-DUI guide.
- After a lapse. DMV consequences of a lapse are treated in our after-a-lapse guide.
- Moving into South Carolina. New-resident registration is treated in our moving-to-another-state guide.
What we verified for this page
- Strong25/50/25 minimum liability under S.C. Code § 38-77-140 verified against the statute.
- StrongUM compulsory at 25/50/25 under S.C. Code § 38-77-150 verified against the statute. UM is compulsory, not merely must-offer.
- StrongUIM must-offer up to policy liability limits under S.C. Code § 38-77-160 verified against the statute. UIM is not required at the floor; the named insured may reject it in writing.
- StrongSouth Carolina Automobile Insurance Plan (SCAIP) under S.C. Code § 38-77-590 verified against the statute. SCAIP is the state-mandated residual market mechanism.
- StrongSouth Carolina is a traditional tort state (no PIP) verified against the SCDOI consumer guide. Consistent with the frozen YesWeSure medical-payments guide; no conflict.
- StrongSouth Carolina DMV insurance verification under S.C. Code § 56-10-240 verified against the statute.
- LimitedDeliberately omitted from V1. A South Carolina modeled cost anchor; carrier-specific SC underwriting; the exact SR-22 duration (deferred to the after-a-DUI guide); and telematics program detail.
- LimitedNamed author and expert reviewer. V1 attributes to "YesWeSure Editorial." A South Carolina-licensed reviewer is tracked as a pre-launch YMYL item.
Ready to compare South Carolina quotes at or above the compulsory limits?
Compare South Carolina car insurance quotesYesWeSure may receive compensation when readers use quote-comparison links. Compensation does not influence the statutory or regulatory information on this page or the sources cited above. See our advertiser disclosure and editorial standards.
Common questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in South Carolina?
25/50/25 liability under S.C. Code § 38-77-1401, plus UM at 25/50 BI and $25,000 PD on every policy under S.C. Code § 38-77-1502.
Is South Carolina a no-fault state?
No. South Carolina is a traditional tort state and does not require PIP6.
Is UIM required in South Carolina?
No. UIM is must-offer up to the policy's liability limits under S.C. Code § 38-77-160 but not required at the floor. The named insured may reject UIM in writing3.
Sources & methodology
- S.C. Code § 38-77-140: compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance; 25/50/25 minimum limits. (South Carolina Legislature, TIER 1)
- S.C. Code § 38-77-150: Uninsured Motorist coverage compulsory at 25/50/25. (South Carolina Legislature, TIER 1)
- S.C. Code § 38-77-160: Underinsured Motorist must-offer up to policy liability limits; written rejection required. (South Carolina Legislature, TIER 1)
- S.C. Code § 38-77-590: South Carolina Automobile Insurance Plan (SCAIP) as residual market mechanism. (South Carolina Legislature, TIER 1)
- S.C. Code § 56-10-240: proof of insurance; registration suspension and reinstatement after lapse. (South Carolina Legislature, TIER 1)
- South Carolina Department of Insurance: Automobile Insurance consumer page. (South Carolina Department of Insurance, TIER 1)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after an accident (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a DUI (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a lapse in coverage (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance when moving to another state (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: What is medical payments coverage? (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How to choose coverage limits (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How insurers calculate rates (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
Evidence hierarchy on this page: Tier 1 (South Carolina Code of Laws, South Carolina Department of Insurance). Every legal number traces to a South Carolina primary source: S.C. Code §§ 38-77-140, 38-77-150, 38-77-160, 38-77-590, 56-10-240. This page is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or insurance advice. Last reviewed .