What are South Carolina motorcycle insurance requirements?

South Carolina requires all motorcyclists to carry insurance that meets certain minimum coverage limits. At the bare minimum, you'll need both liability coverage that pays for damage you cause others and uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you from uninsured drivers.

South Carolina motorcycle insurance

Q: How much is motorcycle insurance in South Carolina?

Insurance prices are based on many factors, like your age, your location, your riding habits, the bike you have, and the coverages, limits, and other details of the policy you choose. Based on Progressive’s pricing, South Carolina is one of the more expensive states for motorcycle insurance, so customers in South Carolina can expect to pay a bit more than the national average. Learn more about how motorcycle insurance rates are calculated.

Q: What's the best motorcycle insurance in South Carolina?

One in three insured motorcycle riders choose Progressive. Whether you ride in Charleston, Columbia, Mount Pleasant, or anywhere else in South Carolina, the best motorcycle insurance features reliable and customized coverage at an affordable cost. Progressive offers cheap motorcycle insurance in South Carolina for bikers while not sacrificing the valuable protection you count on to ride with peace of mind.

South Carolina's warm weather gives motorcycle enthusiasts the full year to explore the Atlantic coastline, Blue Ridge Mountains, and historic towns of the Palmetto State. From Highway 28 to Savannah River Run, Progressive assists bikers in South Carolina with customized coverage and easy discounts for big savings. Find out everything you need to know about motorcycle insurance in South Carolina.

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What are the minimum requirements for motorcycle insurance in South Carolina?

South Carolina motorcycle laws require all riders to carry motorcycle liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage. Liability coverage won't cover damage to your own bike but may pay for injuries and damages you cause to others while riding, up to your policy's limits. You can increase the amount of liability coverage, if necessary, to more fully protect your assets.

Required coverage	What it covers	Minimum amount
Bodily injury liability	What it coversInjuries you cause to others in an accident	Minimum amount$25,000 per person $50,000 per accident
Property damage liability	What it coversDamage you cause to other people's property in an accident	Minimum amount$25,000 per accident
Uninsured motorist bodily injury	What it coversInjuries to you and your passengers caused by an at-fault motorist who has no insurance	Minimum amount$25,000 per person
Uninsured motorist property damage	What it coversDamage to your vehicle or property caused by an at-fault motorist who has no insurance	Minimum amount$25,000 per accident

The state of South Carolina also mandates underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage and underinsured property damage coverage, but you may reject or lower these coverages by submitting a signed form if you choose not to carry them.

Do you need comprehensive and collision coverage?

Comprehensive motorcycle coverage and collision motorcycle coverage are both optional unless you're financing or leasing your motorcycle. In those cases, your lender may require comprehensive and collision coverage. If your bike is paid in full, consider comprehensive and collision coverages as safeguards against physical damage to your motorcycle.

Comprehensive may cover your bike against events out of your control: motorcycle theft, vandalism, hitting an animal, fire, and weather-related issues. Collision can cover your motorcycle if it collides with another object or vehicle, regardless of who's at fault.

How much is motorcycle insurance in South Carolina?

In 2023, the annual cost for a Progressive motorcycle insurance policy in South Carolina with liability-only coverage was $271.49.^* Many factors influence your price for motorcycle insurance, including your age, driving history, location, type of bike, and coverage selection. Learn more about the cost of motorcycle insurance.

Pro tip:

Bundle and save with two or more Progressive insurance policies. Get a multi-policy discount when you combine motorcycle insurance with homeowners, renters, auto, RV, or boat insurance.

What's the best motorcycle insurance in South Carolina?

One in three insured motorcycle riders choose Progressive.^** Whether you ride in Charleston, Columbia, Mount Pleasant, or anywhere else in South Carolina, the best motorcycle insurance features reliable and customized coverage at an affordable cost. Progressive offers cheap motorcycle insurance in South Carolina for bikers while not sacrificing the valuable protection you count on to ride with peace of mind.

You can decrease the cost of motorcycle insurance in South Carolina with motorcycle insurance discounts, such as:

Multi-policy discount
Advance quote discount
Motorcycle license/endorsement
Prompt payment discount
Safety course

Find out more ways to lower the cost of motorcycle insurance.

Additional motorcycle insurance coverages available in South Carolina

For increased protection, the following optional coverages may be added to your Progressive motorcycle policy:

Motorcycle accessory coverage: Can pay for damage to upgrades you've made to your bike and equipment, including chrome pieces, electronics, handlebars, and custom paint and wheels
Medical payments: Can pay for injuries you or your passenger suffer, regardless of fault
Total loss coverage: May pay for the full value of your bike in the event of a total loss, protecting against depreciation (available only for bikes no more than one model year old on a new policy)
Carried contents and personal belongings: Can pay to replace any personal effects you're carrying when a covered loss occurs, including theft
Enhanced injury protection: May pay as much as $250 a week for two years if you can't work due to injuries sustained during a crash
Roadside assistance: Covers the cost of towing your bike to the nearest repair shop

Learn more about motorcycle insurance coverages.

Quick facts for riding in South Carolina

The helmet laws in South Carolina require operators and passengers under the age of 21 to wear a Department of Safety-approved helmet while riding.
Lane filtering and lane splitting are illegal in South Carolina. South Carolina law states that "no person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles."
If you're planning to cruise in the Palmetto State, check out the best motorcycle rides in South Carolina.