Getting South Carolina Car Insurance or Driving Uninsured: The Palmetto State is one of few that offer drivers the chance to opt out of driving with automobile coverage by paying an uninsured motorist fee of $550 when they register their vehicle. Because this is allowed, there are some people who may be tempted to simply pay the fine instead of searching for an affordable policy. There are, however, a number of pitfalls associated with driving without the proper amount of protection. In the event of an accident, an uninsured motorist may end up paying a considerable amount of money out of pocket.

If a driver chooses to pay the uninsured motorist fee it means that they have chosen to forgo any South Carolina auto insurance which means that they do not have any form of liability in place. Essentially, if a person strikes another vehicle and is at fault then they may be forced to pay for the cost of repairs to the other party’s automobile, as well as for medical expenses in the event that the person struck or their passengers were injured. Accidents greatly differ in severity, but more often then not they are fairly expensive, particularly if injuries occur. If a motorist suffers from broken bones or any long term injuries, then costs can quickly jump into the thousands.

Cost of Insurance Versus Driving Uninsured in South Carolina

The potential pitfalls of forgoing coverage often outweigh the costs of a simple policy. The state liability requirements are relatively low in SC and an average premium may be similar to the uninsured motorist fee and is generally paid through payments over the course of a year. When a resident chooses to pay for the uninsured motorist fee, it means that they must do so when they register their vehicle and must be paid up front on a yearly basis. This means that in addition to one’s registration costs, they are also paying the full $550 in a single payment. Although a driver may feel that they would be saving money by not having to pay for vehicle coverage, the overall savings are relatively small and the payments must be made in one lump sum. For only a few dollars extra a month a driver would be able to traverse through The Palmetto State with the reassurance of knowing that they are being properly protected.

According to the South Carolina Code of Laws the amount that an uninsured motorist pays at the time of their registration is not a set amount. The fee to drive without coverage is set by the director of the State Department of Insurance on an annual basis and may change yearly. Because of these immediate costs, their potential to change, and the lack of protection in the event of an accident, choosing to waive any automobile coverage could prove to be potentially disastrous for drivers. Should a motorist choose to remain covered they would be required to maintain an amount of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident; relatively low requirements which amount to small monthly payments. The advantage of choosing coverage, however, tremendously outweighs the hazards of choosing to be an uninsured motorist.