Does car insurance in South Carolina cover theft? 

I know that my South Carolina car insurance helps me pay if I cause a car accident, but what if my car is stolen? Does car insurance in South Carolina cover theft of my car? What about my possessions inside of my car? Will making a theft claim increase my car insurance rates?

Answer:

Car insurance in South Carolina will cover theft if you have comprehensive coverage included in your policy. 

Comprehensive coverage is an optional auto insurance coverage that pays for losses that result from incidents other than a collision, including theft, fire, vandalism or malicious mischief, weather, birds or animals, glass breakage, falling objects, explosion or earthquake, windstorm, hail, and more. 

Like collision coverage, which covers physical damage to your vehicle after a collision, it is not required by law in South Carolina, but your lender or leaseholder may require it.

Is Comprehensive Coverage Subject to A Deductible in South Carolina? 

A: Comprehensive coverage is usually subject to a deductible. 

If you have comprehensive coverage on your South Carolina auto insurance policy, it can help pay for your stolen vehicle if it is not recovered. If you get your vehicle back, it will cover the damage that has been done to it. (Keep in mind that you may need additional coverage for custom parts, paint, rims, and other aftermarket additions.)

Will my valuables be replaced if they’re stolen from my car in South Carolina?

A: Any personal property or valuables (cell phones, laptops, tools, etc.) stolen out of your car or stolen with your car won’t be covered by auto insurance in South Carolina, but you’ll likely have coverage under your homeowners, renters, or condominium insurance. 

Comprehensive coverage only covers the components and features that are permanent, preinstalled parts of the car. If your car were stolen with personal items inside, you would need to file one claim with your auto insurance policy and another with your homeowners insurance policy.

How does a theft claim affect my car insurance rates in South Carolina?

A: Rules vary by insurance company, but typically, comprehensive claims do not impact your car insurance rates in South Carolina. Your rates may go up if you file multiple (e.g., more than three) comprehensive claims in a year, and the rate increase would likely be minimal (e.g., 2 percent or less).

In most cases, filing a comprehensive claim doesn’t affect your insurance rates because comprehensive claims are usually classified as non-fault losses.