South Carolina Auto Coverage Requirements
This chapter covers the coverage rules a South Carolina producer must know to place personal auto correctly: the compulsory liability limits, the mandatory uninsured motorist coverage, and South Carolina's tort (at-fault) system.
Compulsory Liability Limits and Uninsured Motorist
South Carolina's financial-responsibility law requires every registered vehicle to carry liability insurance at the state minimum limits. Under South Carolina Code Section 38-77-140, the minimum limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 per accident for property damage (25/50/25). These figures were confirmed this session at scstatehouse.gov. South Carolina is also distinctive for requiring uninsured motorist (UM) coverage at least at the minimum liability limits under Code Section 38-77-150. Because statutory figures can change, verify the current numbers with the South Carolina Department of Insurance.
Tort System and the Right to Sue
South Carolina is a tort, or at-fault, state: it is not on the Insurance Information Institute's list of no-fault states, so an injured person keeps the right to sue the at-fault driver for economic and noneconomic damages. Compulsory liability coverage and the mandatory uninsured motorist coverage still apply under the state's financial-responsibility law. Confirm the current framework with the South Carolina Department of Insurance.