Non-owner car insurance is designed for individuals who often drive vehicles they don’t own. It provides liability coverage, which pays for property damage or bodily injuries you cause while driving someone else’s car. It offers financial protection and peace of mind, helping you avoid substantial, unexpected expenses should an accident occur.
Non-owner car insurance generally costs less than standard car insurance because it doesn’t cover the vehicle you’re driving. However, insurance rates vary based on your age, driving history and location.
- Non-owner car insurance costs an average of $31 a month in South Carolina for the coverage limit of 25/50/25.
- The non-owner car insurance rate is $368 per year—lower than liability-only coverage of $925 for South Carolina drivers.
- Auto-Owners offers the cheapest non-owner car insurance rates in South Carolina at an average cost of $11 per month.
Do I need non-owner car insurance in South Carolina?
Non-owner car insurance in South Carolina is essential for those who often rent or borrow vehicles. It offers liability coverage in the event that you cause an accident while driving a car you rented or borrowed, helping protect you from costly out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, it can act as supplementary coverage alongside the car owner’s existing insurance.
Non-owner car insurance often benefits people who frequently rent cars for personal or business use. Instead of opting for expensive coverage through the rental company, you can consider getting non-owner insurance that offers the same level of protection at a more affordable rate.
Furthermore, maintaining continuous insurance coverage, including non-owner insurance when you’re between cars, can help keep your insurance rates low in the future. It can protect you if you’re involved in an accident and are found to be at fault. However, it doesn’t provide coverage for the vehicle you’re driving.
Average non-owner car insurance cost in South Carolina
South Carolina drivers can expect to pay an average of $31 per month or $368 annually for non-owner car insurance with a coverage limit of 25/50/25.
This rate can vary depending on factors such as your driving history, age, location and the insurance company.
Cheapest non-owner car insurance companies in South Carolina
Auto-Owners offers the cheapest non-owner car insurance rates in South Carolina at an average cost of $11 per month, based on CarInsurance.com’s analysis. Other than Auto-Owners, Geico and State Farm also have cheap non-owner insurance premiums.
Your non-owner auto insurance rate may vary based on your driving history, ZIP code and coverage limits. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers can help you find the best insurance policy at affordable rates.
The table below highlights the cheapest non-owner car insurance companies in South Carolina.
| Company | Annual full coverage rates | Monthly full coverage rates |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $126 | $11 |
| Geico | $270 | $23 |
| State Farm | $397 | $33 |
| Progressive | $457 | $38 |
| Travelers | $489 | $41 |
| Sentry Insurance | $581 | $48 |
| USAA* | $256 | $21 |
Note: *USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
Non-owner car insurance in South Carolina, by age and gender
In South Carolina, non-owner car insurance rates differ based on age and gender. For example, if you add a male teen driver to your car insurance, you’ll pay an average of $1,195 a month for insurance, whereas adding a 16-year-old female would cost you around $1,086 monthly.
Young drivers, both male and female, typically pay higher insurance rates. Inexperienced drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents, which increases the risk for insurance companies. As drivers age, they gain more experience behind the wheel and thus pay lower rates compared to teen drivers in South Carolina.
See how much you’ll pay for non-owner car insurance by age and gender in the table below.
| Driver age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Teens (16-19) | $974 | $905 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | $527 | $511 |
| Adults (25-60) | $371 | $371 |
| Seniors (65-75) | $385 | $370 |
Compare non-owner car insurance rates in neighboring states
Non-owner auto insurance in the biggest South Carolina cities
In Greenville the average cost of non-owner auto insurance is $30 per month or $363 per year, and Mount Pleasant drivers pay $30 a month for the same coverage.
Insurance rates vary by city in South Carolina. Car insurance companies consider the rate of accidents, theft, and vandalism in a particular area when determining the premiums for non-owner car insurance.
The cost of living is another factor that influences non-owner car insurance rates. Cities with higher costs of living in South Carolina generally pay higher insurance premiums, including non-owner car insurance.
See the table below for the cost of non-owner car insurance in your city.
| City | Annual full coverage rates | Monthly full coverage rates |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville | $363 | $30 |
| Mount Pleasant | $365 | $30 |
| Rock Hill | $384 | $32 |
| Sumter | $397 | $33 |
| Columbia | $401 | $33 |
| Charleston | $411 | $34 |
| Florence | $417 | $35 |
| Summerville | $431 | $36 |
| Goose Creek | $440 | $37 |
| North Charleston | $473 | $39 |
Affordable non-owner insurance in South Carolina, by ZIP code
A 40-year-old South Carolina driver living in ZIP 29676 pays $282 a year or $23 per month for non-owner car insurance, whereas insurance rates in the ZIP code 29664 is $286 a year or $24 per month for a driver age with a clean driving record.
When should you consider buying non-owner car insurance in South Carolina?
Non-owner car insurance is designed for individuals who do not own a vehicle but still need coverage for the times they drive a car that is not their own. This type of insurance typically provides liability coverage, which means it will cover any damages or injuries that you may cause to others while driving someone else’s vehicle.
Aside from providing coverage for accidents, non-owner car insurance can also supplement any existing coverage the car owner may have. It can offer peace of mind to the car owner, as they will not have to worry about their own insurance rates increasing due to an accident caused by someone else.
For instance, if you’re driving a friend’s car and their insurance only includes minimum liability coverage, your non-owner policy can help cover any extra costs if the accident exceeds their policy’s limits.
Keeping continuous insurance coverage is key to securing lower rates in the future. This includes having non-owner car insurance when you don’t own a vehicle. Insurance companies often see gaps in coverage as a sign of high risk, which could lead to higher premiums.
Maintaining non-owner car insurance during this time proves your commitment to continuous coverage, helping to keep your insurance rates more affordable in the long run.
Final thoughts on non-owner car insurance in South Carolina
Non-owner car insurance is an excellent choice in South Carolina if you occasionally rent or borrow vehicles, use a car-sharing service or need to file an SR-22 form.
It is a good option for those who often rent or borrow vehicles as it offers liability coverage when driving someone else’s car and can supplement the car owner’s existing insurance policy.
By maintaining continuous coverage with a non-owner car insurance policy, you can keep your rates lower in the future. If you regularly use rented or borrowed vehicles, get quotes from multiple insurance companies to ensure you get the best deal.
Resources & Methodology
Methodology
CarInsurance.com gathered data on non-owner car insurance rates from Quadrant Information Services. The rates are for non-owner state minimum liability only and the coverage limit varies by state.
To determine non-owner car insurance rates for different companies, CarInsurance.com used a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driver who owns a Honda Accord LX with no traffic violations on his record. We compared 53,409,632 insurance quotes across 34,588 ZIP codes from 170 insurance companies in the U.S.
Insurance company: Based on the analysis, we have created lists of the companies that offer non-owner insurance.
Age group: Non-owner car insurance rates are calculated by evaluating the sample profile for different age groups.
- Teens: Age 16-19
- Young adults: Age 20-24
- Adult drivers: Age 25-60
- Senior drivers: Age 65-75
To get non-owner car insurance rates for different cities and age groups we have compared 53,409,632 car insurance quotes across 34,588 ZIP codes from 75 company groups nationwide. These are sample rates and should only be used for comparison purposes.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparison purposes.
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