South Carolina is an at-fault (tort) state with 25/50/25 minimum liability. Here's exactly what the law demands, what it costs to ignore it, and how SR-22 filings work — with statutes cited.
| Coverage SC law requires | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability — per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability — per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 |
| UM/UIM | Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in every policy at limits no less than 25/50 for |
Effective January 1, 2007 (2006 Act No. 395 raised limits for policies issued or renewed on or after that date). Source: S.C. Code of Laws, Title 38, Chapter 77 (§§ 38-77-140, -150, -160) · S.C. Code §§ 38-77-140, 38-77-150; §§ 56-10-520, 56-10-510 (reserved eff. July 1, 2024)
First offense: Operating an uninsured vehicle is a misdemeanor: first offense carries a fine of $100 to $200 or 30 days imprisonment, and the SCDMV suspends the owner's license, registration, and plates until a reinstatement fee is paid (S.C. Code § 56-10-520). A per-day lapse fine of $5 (capped at $200 per vehicle for a first offense) also applies under § 56-10-245.
Repeat offenses: Second offense: $200 fine or 30 days imprisonment, or both; third or subsequent offense: 45 days to 6 months imprisonment (convictions within five years count as priors).
License impact: Driver's license, registration certificates, and plates are suspended; the owner reinstatement fee is set by statute at $600 and adjusted annually by the Department of Insurance (the SCDMV currently lists it at $700), and a 3-year SR-22 filing is required. Non-owner operators face a 30-day suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee. (source: S.C. Code §§ 56-10-520, 56-10-245; South Carolina DMV)
The SCDMV requires an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance to be maintained for three years from the suspension start date after an uninsured-operation violation; SR-22s are also required after DUI and related suspensions, and non-owner filings are available.
Typically required after: driving an uninsured vehicle, DUI conviction, certain license suspensions. Filing period: 3 years in most cases. Non-owner option: available — you can file without owning a car.
Need one filed? Our SR-22 service page explains the process; a licensed professional at (866) 370-6395 can usually file the same day.
South Carolina is a tort (at-fault) state; personal injury protection is not required, and medical payments coverage is optional.
Uninsured motorist coverage of 25/50/25 is mandatory and cannot be waived; underinsured motorist coverage and additional UM limits up to your liability limits must be offered at your option (S.C. Code §§ 38-77-150, 38-77-160).
The SCDMV monitors coverage electronically; an unresolved lapse can lead to suspension of the license, plates, and registration plus per-day fines even without a traffic stop (SCDMV).
License and registration consequences: Driver's license, registration certificates, and plates are suspended; the owner reinstatement fee is set by statute at $600 and adjusted annually by the Department of Insurance (the SCDMV currently lists it at $700), and a 3-year SR-22 filing is required. Non-owner operators face a 30-day suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee.
The SCDMV monitors coverage electronically; an unresolved lapse can lead to suspension of the license, plates, and registration plus per-day fines even without a traffic stop (SCDMV).
| City | Population | Median income | 30+ min commute | No-vehicle households |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 154,338 | $92,414 | 31.5% | 7.2% |
| Columbia | 139,643 | $55,529 | 16.3% | 11.5% |
| North Charleston | 119,913 | $62,956 | 35.6% | 7.2% |
| Mount Pleasant | 93,993 | $124,755 | 33.2% | 2.6% |
| Rock Hill | 75,259 | $68,771 | 34.5% | 6.9% |
| Greenville | 72,935 | $71,472 | 17.7% | 7.9% |
| Summerville | 51,654 | $81,046 | 49.3% | 4.6% |
| Goose Creek | 48,078 | $88,178 | 41.0% | 2.6% |
| Sumter | 43,053 | $55,592 | 18.2% | 10.7% |
| Greer | 41,536 | $82,626 | 32.7% | 3.7% |
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates.
Greenville anchors the Upstate's I-85 corridor, where through-freight to Atlanta and Charlotte shares lanes with booming local commutes, and everyone has an opinion about Woodruff Road — usually unprintable. I-385 delivers downtown traffic, the automotive plant near Greer moves to shift schedules, and growth has outpaced the road grid in ways locals feel daily. Weather here is Southern with a mountain edge: hard summer thunderstorms, the occasional ice storm that glazes bridges before anything else, and fog rolling off the Blue Ridge escarpment on Highway 25. Deer on Upstate two-lanes keep comprehensive coverage in play, and busy interstate merges make collision and UM choices worth a real conversation.
Lowcountry driving means the Ravenel Bridge's climb, the I-26 crawl from Summerville that locals plan whole lives around, Mark Clark's loop, and US-17 threading Mount Pleasant to the islands. Downtown Charleston floods at king tide even without a storm, and salt water is merciless to vehicles, squarely a comprehensive claim. Hurricane evacuations with I-26 lane reversals are practiced procedure here, not trivia. Myrtle Beach runs on seasonal surges along US-17 and its bypass, while Hilton Head funnels everything through US-278's bottleneck. Tourists in unfamiliar rentals add unpredictability worth countering with solid UM coverage. A local agent can walk through flood, wind, and deductible choices with coastal honesty.
154,338 residents
139,643 residents
119,913 residents
93,993 residents
75,259 residents
72,935 residents
51,654 residents
48,078 residents
43,053 residents
41,536 residents
40,408 residents
38,910 residents
38,371 residents
37,911 residents
33,157 residents
32,521 residents
30,775 residents
30,051 residents
27,263 residents
27,055 residents
26,144 residents
25,653 residents
Every legal claim on this page traces to:
Laws change. We refresh state pages on a rolling schedule and date-stamp every change; verify with your state before acting.