Best Motorcycle Insurance in South Carolina

From the Piedmont forests to the Coastal Plain, there are many scenic places to ride in South Carolina. To ensure you’re protected while riding, you need motorcycle insurance. Learn more about your options for motorcycle insurance in South Carolina. 

South Carolina Motorcycle Insurance: An Overview

• State minimum insurance requirements
  • Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $50,000
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
• Average annual rate with a clean driving record: $781

South Carolina Motorcycle Insurance Law Explained

South Carolina law requires you to carry 3 types of motorcycle insurance coverage:

• Bodily injury liability: When there’s an accident, someone is considered at fault or responsible. If you’re found to be at fault, you may be held responsible for the expenses of other parties, like medical bills. Bodily injury liability coverage helps to pay for those medical expenses, and it may also cover lost wages. 
• Property damage liability: This coverage helps to pay for the property damage others experience if you’re found to be at fault in an accident. 
• Uninsured motorist coverage: This coverage helps to cover your costs if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist. 

South Carolina also requires insurance companies to offer underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage helps with your costs if you’re in an accident with an underinsured driver. While companies are required to offer this coverage, you’re not required to buy it. 

If you want full coverage for your bike, consider adding additional options, including:

• Medical payments or personal injury protection: This coverage helps to pay for medical care related to injuries to yourself or your passengers. It may also cover lost wages. 
• Collision: This covers your bike if you’re involved in an accident. Insurance companies typically pay for the book value of your motorcycle up to your policy limits. 
• Comprehensive: Lots of things can happen besides an accident, including theft, fires and vandalism. This coverage pays for those damages up to the book value of your bike, subject to your policy limits. 
• Custom parts: Since insurance companies pay based on book value, you may not be paid what your bike is worth if you’ve customized it. This coverage will pay for those upgrades. 

South Carolina Motorcycle Insurance Rates per Bike

Insurance companies determine your rate for motorcycle insurance based on several factors. One of the most important is the type of bike you have. Sportbikes are typically the most expensive. Cruisers and touring bikes are less expensive, followed by standard and dual sportbikes. 

The size of your engine also affects your insurance costs. A larger engine is more powerful, which means you can ride faster, making you more of a risk to insurance companies. You’ll typically pay more for a larger engine than a smaller one. 

Other factors that influence your rate include:

• Where you live: If you live in an area with mild winter weather, you’ll likely ride more than someone who lives somewhere with harsh winters. Some areas are more prone to theft than others. Insurers consider this information when deciding on your rate. 
• Your age: In general, as you get older, your rates will go down. 
• Your riding experience: Experienced riders will pay less than novice riders. 
• Why you ride: If you just ride on the weekends, you’ll likely pay less than someone who bikes daily to commute to work. 
• Your driving record: Speeding tickets and other traffic violations increase your rates. These typically will fall off your record after 3 years. 
• Your claims history: If you have a recent accident or other claims, you’ll pay more than someone who hasn’t had any claims. This applies whether or not you were at fault in the accident. You’ll usually be charged more if you were at fault, but you’ll pay more even if you weren’t at fault. 
• Your credit: Insurance companies may use your credit-based insurance score to determine your rate. This isn’t exactly the same as your credit score, but it looks at many of the same factors, including the amount of debt you have, late payments, accounts in collections and bankruptcies. 

The coverage you choose also affects your rates. The more types of coverage you have, the more you will pay. Your deductible and policy limits will also influence your rates. 

Your deductible is the amount you pay before your insurance coverage starts. The higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premiums will be. You need to be prepared to cover more out-of-pocket costs, though. 

Your policy limits are the most your insurance company will pay for a claim. You’re responsible for any costs beyond your policy limits. Lowering your limits can lower your insurance costs, but this can also leave you vulnerable to out-of-pocket expenses.  

Discounts

Discounts can help you save significantly on your motorcycle insurance. Here are discounts you might find with South Carolina insurance companies. 

• Multi-policy: Also known as a bundling discount, many insurance companies offer a discount if you purchase multiple types of insurance. For example, you might get a break for buying motorcycle and homeowners insurance together. 
• Multi-vehicle: You may also receive a discount for having multiple vehicles insured with the same company. 
• Paid in full: Many insurance companies offer a discount if you pay your annual or semi-annual premium in full. 
• Homeownership: If you own a home, you could get a discount.
• Riding association: If you belong to a riding group like the Harley Owners Group, you may be eligible for a discount. 
• Affinity memberships: Many alumni organizations, professional groups and other organizations work with insurance companies to offer discounts to their members. 
• Motorcycle safety course: Taking a safety course can help you prepare for the unexpected. It can also score you a discount on your motorcycle insurance. 
• Theft-recovery device: Having a professionally installed theft-recovery device can also earn you a discount. 
• Anti-lock brakes: These brakes improve safety, which is why you can earn a discount as long as they were factory installed. 

Motorcycle Insurance Quotes in South Carolina

How much will motorcycle insurance cost in South Carolina? Here are quotes from several motorcycle insurance companies. 

Motorcycle Insurance Discounts

Motorcycle insurance discounts vary by company. Here are the discounts offered by several South Carolina insurance providers. 

Best Motorcycle Insurance Providers in South Carolina

Who are the best motorcycle insurance companies in SC? Here are our picks. 

Choosing the Right Motorcycle Insurance Policy

The right insurance policy for you depends on several factors. For example, if you have an expensive bike or a significant amount of assets to protect, you’ll want full coverage with high policy limits. If you have a less expensive bike that you only ride occasionally, you may not want collision and comprehensive coverage. 

To find the best coverage, talk to several insurance companies. Discuss your situation and find out what they recommend. Get quotes and compare the types of coverage, deductibles and policy limits. Choose a policy that fits your budget while providing the protection that’s important for you. 

Keep in mind that higher deductibles and lower policy limits mean that you could have more out-of-pocket costs. Set some money aside to ensure you can at least meet your deductible if an accident occurs. Take the time to look at reviews of the insurers you’re considering. It might be worth paying a little more to have a company with excellent service.