It’s easy for your car to be damaged. You could get dinged by a shopping cart at the grocery store or caught in a hailstorm. Worse yet, your car could be left outside during a severe storm, a tornado, or even a flood.

If your car needed repairs after any of these kinds of events, would your car insurance in South Carolina pay for repairs? Are there circumstances where your repairs would not be covered?

A South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you get the right coverage to cover repairs to your own car.

Disasters in South Carolina

Disasters and natural catastrophes in the United States cost billions of dollars in property losses every year.

In South Carolina, hurricanes, tropical storms, fires, and flooding are among the most common types risks for residents and vehicle owners.

Top 5 risks for South Carolina residents

1. Hurricanes and tropical storms 
2. Ice storms and freezing 
3. Burglary and other property crimes 
4. Wildfires and residential fires 
5. Flooding and water damage

Since 1953, there have been 38 federally declared disasters in South Carolina, with hurricanes being the most common cause. What’s more, South Carolina averages around 27 tornadoes

While you might think of these disasters as most dangerous to homes and businesses, they cause billions of dollars in losses to automobiles and other vehicles as well.

What Does Car Insurance in South Carolina Cover?

Car insurance in South Carolina covers repairs only under certain circumstances. You need to purchase two types of optional coverage to make sure that repairs to your own car are covered, whether you’re in an accident or your car is damaged by some other type of incident (e.g., a fire or a flood).

All South Carolina drivers are required to have a minimum amount of auto insurance that covers personal injury liability and property damage liability. This protects other people and their property if you’re at fault in an accident. 

In order to comply with the law, you must have:

• $25,000 per person bodily injury liability coverage
• $50,000 per accident bodily injury liability coverage

Claims for bodily injury liability may include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Your policy must also include:

• $25,000 per accident property damage liability coverage

You’re liability insurance never covers physical damage to your own vehicle. It only covers damage to other vehicles or injuries to other drivers if you cause an accident.

If you’re in an accident where the other driver is at fault, their South Carolina property damage liability insurance may cover some of your repair costs. If you’re at fault, or if your damage occurs in some other way, you’ll need to have purchased optional comprehensive and collision coverage on your own policy. These cover repairs to your vehicle under certain circumstances.

What Doesn't Car Insurance in South Carolina Cover?

Car insurance in South Carolina covers a lot of scenarios in which your car is damaged or you cause an accident. But most policies also have numerous exclusions that you need to be aware of. Here are some typical items that are not covered by car insurance in South Carolina:

• Damage to your own car under your liability coverage. Your South Carolina bodily injury and property damage liability insurance never covers you or your own vehicle. The only way to cover physical damage to your own vehicle is with comprehensive or collision coverage.
• Driving for business purposes. If you regularly drive your personal vehicle for business purposes, like if you deliver pizzas with your own car, you may have to secure additional coverage. Your car insurance in South Carolina is likely to exclude coverage for incidents that happen while driving for business purposes.
• Certain specific causes of loss. Even if you have comprehensive coverage, your South Carolina car insurance won’t cover damage to your own vehicle caused by:
  • Normal wear and tear
  • Damage resulting from racing
  • Broken glass
  • Mechanical failure
  • Non-permanent electronics or unapproved vehicle modifications
• Personal possessions inside your car. Damaged, stolen, or vandalized personal possessions that are inside your car are not covered by car insurance in South Carolina. These items may be covered, however, by your homeowners or renters insurance policy.
• Accidents and damage caused while engaging in illegal activity. If your car is damaged while you’re engaged in some type of illegal activity, it won’t be covered by your car insurance in South Carolina.
• Vehicle damage that is caused intentionally. If you purposely damage your vehicle, don’t expect your South Carolina insurance policy to cover the damage.
• Accidents or damage that occur outside the United States. If you drive outside the US, your South Carolina auto insurance policy isn't likely to cover any problems that arise. But you may be able to extend your coverage to driving in Canada and Mexico, in some cases.

Be sure to read your South Carolina car insurance policy carefully so you understand exactly what is covered and what is not. If you need special coverage, talk to your independent insurance agent about your options.

Does South Carolina Car Insurance Cover Damage Caused by Disasters?

If you want your South Carolina auto insurance policy to cover repairs to damage caused by disasters like tornadoes, floods, fires, or hurricanes, you’ll need to purchase optional comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car if it is damaged in some type of “other than collision event.” It pays for damage caused by disasters such as:

It also covers vehicle damage that results from riots and civil unrest, theft, and vandalism, as well as damage caused by animals (e.g., hitting a deer) and falling objects (e.g., tree limbs, rocks, other debris).

Comprehensive coverage may be required by your lender if you have an auto loan, and it’s likely that your leaseholder will require it if you lease your car.

Auto insurance in South Carolina usually won’t cover damage caused by a few specific “disasters,” including:

• Nuclear exposure or explosions
• Bio-chemical attacks
• War

How Much Does Car Insurance in South Carolina Pay Out for Repairs?

Car insurance in South Carolina pays out for repairs according to the specifics of your policy.

If you have to make a comprehensive or collision claim, you’ll have to pay the deductible that you chose when you purchased your policy. Your repairs will then be covered up to the car’s actual cash value (ACV) amount. The ACV is the fair market value of your vehicle at the moment before the accident occurred.

Let’s say your comprehensive deductible is $500, and your repairs after damage from a tornado cost $2,500. You’d be responsible for paying the $500 deductible out of pocket.

Deductibles are per incident, so each time you make a collision or comprehensive claim, you’ll have to pay your deductible. Remember that choosing a higher deductible can help you save money on your car insurance premium in South Carolina, but it can also make getting repairs difficult if you don’t have the cash when you need it.

If your repair bill is not much higher than your deductible (e.g., a $700 repair bill with a $500 deductible), it might not make sense to file a claim if you can afford to pay the full bill out of pocket. If you file a lot of claims, or even a single, very expensive claim, your insurance company may raise your rates at renewal time. It always makes sense to weigh all of the financial implications of filing a claim for repairs.

How a South Carolina Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

Car insurance in South Carolina is important to help you recover after an accident and even after a natural disaster. But you need the right policy to make sure you’ll be covered when you need it.

Independent insurance agents in South Carolina aren’t tied to a single insurance company. They can get multiple quotes and help you choose the one that best meets your needs and budget.