South Carolina Auto Insurance

South Carolina insurance companies do not have to cover members of your household if they are not listed on the policy.  In fact, insurance companies may refuse to cover household members if they have a legitimate reason for doing so.  You may also request an individual from your household be excluded from the insurance policy.  Any exclusion will be listed in the exclusion section of your policy along with other conditions which will release the insurance company from the responsibility of paying a claim.  If the insurance company requires you to list all household members on the policy, failure on your part to do so may result in that individual having no insurance coverage.  If you do not comply with the company’s request, they can deny the claims on any persons not included on the policy.  You will still be liable for any damages or injuries caused by an accident the individual is responsible for.

The state of South Carolina is a Tort state.  Persons responsible for an accident will be required to pay all the damages which result from the accident they caused.  This will include all medical bills and vehicle repairs.  Your insurance company may encourage you to purchase more than the minimum auto liability insurance required by the state of South Carolina.  If a car is financed, you will most likely be required by the lending entity to carry comprehensive and collision coverage on the vehicle in order to protect their investment. 

Your personal credit history will play a part in determining your premium rates, and insurance services you are offered.  Your credit history may also be a factor in how you make your payments such as monthly or yearly.  Your credit history will also help the insurance company establish an insurance risk score which will in turn affect your premium rates.  Other things the insurance company will take into consideration is your driving record, age, marital status, the age and condition of your vehicle, and the area where you live.  Maintaining a good driving record and paying your bills on time may reduce your premiums.

The average insurance premium in South Carolina was about $756.00 as of 2006.  South Carolina was ranked as having the 24th highest premium average in the United States.  There are 21 state approved insurance companies doing business in the state of South Carolina.  The following companies may sell auto insurance in South Carolina:  AIG National Insurance Company, Inc., Allstate Indemnity Company, Assurance America Insurance Company, Bristol West Insurance Company, Direct General Insurance Company, Esurance Insurance Company,  First Acceptance Insurance Company, GEICO Indemnity, Infinity Assurance Insurance Company, Infinity Auto Insurance Company, Infinity Indemnity Insurance Company, MGA Insurance Company, Inc., Nationwide Assurance Company, Northbrook Indemnity Company, Omni Insurance Company, Peak Property and Casualty Insurance Corporation, Progressive Max Insurance Company, Progressive Northern Insurance Company, Safe Auto Insurance Company, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, and Victoria Fire & Casualty Company.

South Carolina has recently passed laws against texting while operating a vehicle on South Carolina roads.  The law applies to all individuals while operating a motorized vehicle.  The South Caroline legislature is considering other legislation which will make it illegal to operate a motorized vehicle while using any type of wireless communication device unless it is a hands free device.

Things that can help you reduce the cost of your insurance premiums include a clean driving record, the type of vehicle you choose to drive as well as the number of miles you drive per year.  The fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the lower your chances are of being involved in an accident.  The reduction in accident risk can translate into a reduction in premiums.  Furthermore, a clean driving record reduces your risk of an accident. 

It will be more expensive to insure a luxury car or a sports car.  You should also keep in mind that insurance premiums will be higher on vehicles which are a high priority for thieves.  The cars that made the top 10 stolen vehicles in South Carolina are:

1. 1995 Honda Accord
2. 1989 Chevrolet Caprice
3. 1997 Ford Explorer
4. 1997 Ford F150
5. 1988n Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup (full size)
6. 1994 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
7. 1999 Ford Taurus
8. 1994 Toyota Camry
9. 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass
10. 1994 Ford Ranger

Safety devices such as anti-lock brakes side air bags, automatic seat belts and daytime running lights may also reduce your premiums along with anti theft devices like an alarm system and global positioning systems.  The area where you live will affect your insurance rates.  Things such as weather extremes, crime rates, and traffic patterns will have an effect on your premiums.  Don’t forget to maintain a good credit record as the insurance company looks at this to determine how likely you are to pay your premiums on time.  Prior accident claims will also be a red flag to insurance companies especially if there are several claims on your past record.  The amount of your deductible is also a key factor when determining insurance rates.  The higher your deductible is, the lower your insurance rates will be.