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Average car insurance cost in South Carolina

Drivers in South Carolina pay about $2,280 a year for full-coverage car insurance on average. Your own rate depends on your car, driving record, coverage limits and ZIP code — but the state average sets the baseline, and it feeds directly into the real cost of owning a car here.

Fold it into your total cost to own

The calculator below starts with South Carolina’s average insurance and taxes. Adjust the car and your mileage to see your five-year cost.

The car & the loan
$
$
$
%
%
months
yrs
Running costs
MPG
$/gal
$
$
$

5-year true cost to own

$61,703

$12,341 per year · $0.91 per mile

Per month

$1,028

Loan payment

$951

Resale value

$26,950

Depreciation

$22,050

Amount financed

$47,450

Total miles

67,500

Where your money goes over the years

  • Depreciation$22,050 · 36%
  • Fuel / energy$10,004 · 16%
  • Insurance$11,400 · 18%
  • Maintenance & repairs$6,000 · 10%
  • Loan interest$9,598 · 16%
  • Taxes & fees$2,650 · 4%

Defaults use national averages (AAA, EIA, FHWA); change any field to match your situation. Depreciation is an estimate — a specific model can hold value better or worse.

The numbers behind this estimate

Sourced figures last verified 2026-11-07
FigureValueSource · verified
Vehicle tax (IMF)Infrastructure Maintenance Fee: 5% of price, capped at $500 (SC Code §12-36-2647; secondary). New residents flat $250.5%Tax Foundation — State & Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 · 2026-07-06
Avg. full-coverage insurance$2,280/yrValuePenguin — Car Insurance Rates by State 2026 · 2026-07-08
Registration feeRegistration $40 every 2 years (biennial); title $15.$40South Carolina DMV — Fees · 2026-11-07

Car insurance cost by state