If you're the owner of one of the 560,000 boats registered in South Carolina, chances are good that you own a boat trailer. At any given time you could cause damage with your trailer or experience damage to your trailer. Your South Carolina car insurance might be able to help you in this situation if you're properly covered.

Not all car insurance will cover boat trailers, which is why an independent insurance agent in South Carolina can make sure you have the right mix of policies.  Here's what you should know about insuring a boat trailer.

What Does South Carolina Car Insurance Cover?

Car insurance is designed to protect you from any damage you cause with your car or help you pay for any damage done to your car. Through different liability and optional coverages, you can create a policy that will cover everything from third-party medical bills and lost wages to damage from unexpected weather or damage you do with your boat trailer.

In South Carolina, all drivers are required to have liability insurance as well as uninsured motorist insurance. 

• Bodily injury liability insurance: This coverage reimburses the other driver for medical care and lost wages as a result of your negligence. 
• Property damage liability insurance: This pays to repair or replace a third party's structure, vehicle, or other personal property if you're driving your car and cause damage to their property. 
• Uninsured motorist coverage: Did you know that 9.4% of South Carolina drivers are uninsured? If you were to get in an accident with an uninsured driver, you'd be responsible for any damage to your vehicle even if it's the other person's fault. Uninsured motorist coverage will pay for those repairs.

In addition to what's required, you can also purchase optional coverage. The most popular for drivers include:

• Collision: This coverage pays for damage to your vehicle that results from an accident where you are the driver. It will also pay for collisions with other objects like a fence or a tree. 
• Comprehensive: This covers damage to your vehicle due to natural disasters, storms, and other incidents that are out of your control. 

For drivers with a boat trailer, any incidents that result in a liability claim will be covered. South Carolina requires that drivers carry a minimum of $25,000 bodily injury liability, $50,000 property damage liability, and $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in South Carolina

The average American driver pays $1,311 per year for car insurance. In South Carolina, drivers pay an average of $1,210 each year. Take time to compare quotes to make sure you get the best deal on auto insurance in your area.

With South Carolina car insurance rates a bit lower than the average US rate, you can also see that they have a lower uninsured motorist rate at 9.4%.

What Isn't Covered by Car Insurance in South Carolina?

While your liability insurance might cover the medical bills, lost wages, or property repairs caused by your boat trailer to a third party, it will not cover other incidents. Insurance expert, Paul Martin, says "If your trailer is stolen, burned, or damaged it won't be covered under your car insurance, so you might want to consider purchasing add-on coverage for those instances."

Nearly 40% of all accidents are rear-end collisions. It's important to know that if you rear-end someone in your car, your auto policy will not cover it unless you have collision insurance. In general, your car insurance will also not cover wear and tear on the car, damage as a result of poor maintenance, or any malicious or intentional damage done to your vehicle. 

What Is South Carolina Boat Trailer Insurance?

If you're looking for coverage for your boat trailer beyond liability insurance, then you'll want to look into boat trailer insurance. This coverage is specifically designed for trailers that are built to transport a watercraft from your home to a body of water.

In most cases, boat trailer insurance can be added to a South Carolina homeowners insurance or car insurance policy as a rider, but you can also choose to get separate trailer coverage.

What Does South Carolina Boat Trailer Insurance Cover?

If you decide to purchase boat trailer insurance, it will cover any damage that is done to the trailer. This includes everything from theft or vandalism to collision with other objects or damage from natural disasters. Some boat trailer coverages will also include their own liability coverage in the event that your trailer causes damage to another vehicle, trailer, or boat, or injures another person.

What Does Boat Trailer Insurance Cost in South Carolina?

The cost of your boat trailer insurance will depend on the type of trailer you have, how large it is, your credit score, the value of the boat being transported, and some other factors. In general, you can expect to pay between $300 and $500 per year for insurance, but you could save money by bundling your boat insurance with other policies like your home or auto insurance. 

How Can an Independent Agent in South Carolina Help?

Most boat owners will not purchase boat trailer insurance because their trailer is covered under an auto insurance policy. However, you're still left financially exposed and at risk if your trailer experiences any damage outside of liability. A South Carolina independent agent can help you shop boat trailer policies and determine whether an add-on or separate policy is the best choice for you.