Full of natural beauty and Southern charm, it’s no wonder more than five million people call South Carolina home. But if you own a house here, you’ll also want to make sure you’re prepared for the state’s natural disasters, including hurricanes, tropical storms and tornadoes. Having the best home insurance in South Carolina means getting the right coverage at a price you can afford.
NerdWallet analyzed rates from insurers across the state to find the best South Carolina homeowners insurance options.
Note: Due to underwriting practices and market volatility, some companies in this article may no longer write new policies in your area.
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Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate inaccuracies in pricing data and may update rates for accuracy as new information becomes available.
We include rates from every locale in the country where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.
Our sample homeowner had good credit, $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.
The best homeowners insurance in South Carolina
If you’re looking to buy homeowners insurance from a well-rated national brand, consider one of these insurers from NerdWallet’s list of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies.
More about the best home insurance companies in South Carolina
See more details about each company to help you decide which one is best for you.
Chubb
Perks and high coverage limits for affluent homeowners.
Coverage options
About average
Great set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Chubb
Perks and high coverage limits for affluent homeowners.
Coverage options
About average
Great set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Chubb generally serves affluent policyholders with high-value homes, offering lofty coverage limits and plenty of perks. For example, the company covers water damage from backed-up sewers and drains, and pays to bring your home up to the latest building codes during reconstruction after a claim. (Many insurers charge more for these types of coverage.)
South Carolina homeowners can also sign up for free Wildfire Defense Services. These services include personalized recommendations for protecting your home and deployment of firefighters to your house if a wildfire is approaching.
State Farm
Well-established insurer with a lengthy list of coverage options.
Coverage options
More than average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
State Farm
Well-established insurer with a lengthy list of coverage options.
Coverage options
More than average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
As America’s largest insurer, State Farm stands out for its long list of coverage options. Its policies generally include extra dwelling coverage in case it costs more than expected to rebuild your home after a covered disaster. You may also be able to add coverage for things like identity theft, damage from backed-up drains and personal injury liability.
State Farm offers a free Ting device as a perk for home insurance policyholders. Ting is a smart plug that monitors your home’s electrical network to help prevent fires.
Cincinnati Insurance
Sells homeowners policies through local independent agents across the U.S.
Coverage options
More than average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Cincinnati Insurance
Sells homeowners policies through local independent agents across the U.S.
Coverage options
More than average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Cincinnati Insurance sells homeowners policies through independent agents, with various options for standard and high-value homes. You may be able to add coverage for things like identity theft, personal cyber attacks or certain types of water damage.
Cincinnati may offer you a discount for bundling home and auto insurance, having a newer home, installing a centrally monitored alarm system or going a certain amount of time without filing a claim.
Travelers
Travelers offers strong coverage and decent discounts.
Coverage options
About average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Travelers
Travelers offers strong coverage and decent discounts.
Coverage options
About average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Travelers offers a robust online experience. You can use the website to get a homeowners insurance quote, file and track claims, make payments and learn about insurance basics.
Its coverage offerings are similarly strong. For example, you may be able to add extra coverage in case the dwelling limit on your home isn’t enough to rebuild your house after a disaster. One unique option is Travelers’ green home coverage, which pays extra if you want to use eco-friendly materials when repairing or rebuilding your home after a covered claim.
Kin
Homeowners insurance policies with lots of extras available.
Coverage options
About average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Kin
Homeowners insurance policies with lots of extras available.
Coverage options
About average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Founded in 2016, Kin is an insurance startup that sells policies directly to consumers. Its South Carolina policies generally have three separate deductibles — one for hurricanes, one for wind and hail and one for all other claims. A deductible is the amount of a claim you’re responsible for.
Kin offers discounts for things like windproofing your home, having a home security system and going for a certain period of time without filing a claim.
USAA
Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community.
Coverage options
Below average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
USAA
Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community.
Coverage options
Below average
Average set of discounts
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military members and their families. If that description fits you, you may want to consider a USAA policy. That’s because the company’s homeowners insurance has certain features that other insurers may charge extra for.
For example, USAA automatically covers your personal belongings on a “replacement cost” basis. Many companies pay out only what your items are worth at the time of the claim, which means you may not get much for older items. USAA pays enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for your stuff.
How much does homeowners insurance cost in South Carolina?
The average annual cost of home insurance in South Carolina is $2,055. That’s 13% more than the national average of $1,820.
In most U.S. states, including South Carolina, many insurers use your credit-based insurance score to help set rates. Your insurance score is similar but not identical to your traditional credit score.
In South Carolina, those with poor credit pay an average of $3,840 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 87% more than those with good credit.
Average cost of homeowners insurance in South Carolina by city
How much you pay for home insurance in South Carolina depends on where you live. For example, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Charleston is $3,270 per year. Meanwhile, in Columbia, homeowners insurance costs about $1,690 per year, on average.
Average annual rate |
Average monthly rate |
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Charleston |
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Goose Creek |
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Greenville |
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Mount Pleasant |
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Myrtle Beach |
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North Augusta |
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North Charleston |
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Simpsonville |
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Spartanburg |
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Summerville |
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West Columbia |
The cheapest home insurance in South Carolina
Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the South Carolina average of $2,055.
What to know about South Carolina homeowners insurance
Every state has factors that will influence homeowners’ decisions about the type of insurance they buy. South Carolina has seen many natural disasters, including often-devastating hurricanes. Here’s how to check whether your homeowners insurance has the right coverage.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricanes and other tropical storms can cause massive damage with their potent combination of wind and water. South Carolina is particularly susceptible with its 200 miles of coastline. Unfortunately, standard homeowners insurance policies may not cover all damage from hurricanes.
Most homeowners insurance policies pay for damage from wind but not flooding. However, a separate deductible may apply to wind or hurricane claims. A homeowners insurance deductible is the amount of a claim you’re responsible for.
For example, your policy may have a $1,000 deductible for most claims and a 1% deductible for wind or hail claims. So if your house has $250,000 worth of dwelling coverage, you’d have to pay for the first $2,500 of wind or hail damage yourself.
If your house is in a high-risk coastal location, your insurance carrier may not include wind coverage in your homeowners policy. You can buy separate wind coverage through private insurance companies or the South Carolina Wind Pool.
Flooding
It doesn’t always take a hurricane to cause flooding in South Carolina. Heavy rain can also lead to problems in your home if it causes a creek to overflow or it comes down too quickly to drain properly. Standard homeowners insurance generally won’t cover this type of damage.
If you’re at risk, consider buying separate flood insurance. (Your lender may even require you to do so if you live in a flood plain.)
To find out your home’s risk of flooding, put your address into the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood maps or visit RiskFactor.com, a website from the nonprofit First Street Foundation. With extreme weather growing more common due to climate change, even homeowners in less risky areas may want to consider buying flood insurance to protect their properties.
Tornadoes
South Carolina gets almost a dozen tornadoes per year. While these fierce storms are relatively rare, they can cause major destruction to your home. As long as your policy covers wind damage — and most homeowners policies do, unless you live on the coast — you have coverage for tornado damage.
South Carolina insurance department
In South Carolina, the Department of Insurance oversees the insurance industry. Its website is a valuable resource for shopping for home insurance or filing complaints against your insurance company. You can reach the agency by emailing [email protected] or calling 800-768-3467.
Is home insurance required in South Carolina?
Home insurance is not required by state law, but your mortgage lender will likely require you to purchase homeowners insurance in South Carolina.
How can I save money on South Carolina home insurance?
Here are three ways to save money on homeowners insurance in South Carolina:
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Shop around to make sure you’re getting the best rate.
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Choose a higher deductible. In case of any claims, you’ll pay more out of pocket, but your annual rates will be lower.
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Bundle your home and auto insurance for an overall lower rate.
Some insurers will provide discounts if you invest in safety enhancements, such as storm shutters to prevent wind damage. Reach out to your insurer to ask if such discounts are available.
Does South Carolina home insurance cover hurricanes?
Most South Carolina homeowners insurance policies cover damage from wind but not flooding, so you’ll likely need a separate flood policy or add-on to cover the full risk of hurricane damage. If you live on the coast, your homeowners policy may not cover wind either. Check with your agent or insurance company to see whether you need additional coverage.
Amanda Shapland contributed to this story.