Owning a car is more than just a necessary convenience, it’s also a big responsibility. Your vehicle needs coverage to properly keep you safe on the road. But calculating the cost of South Carolina comprehensive car insurance can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the process. Luckily there are some tricks available to help you figure it out.

South Carolina independent insurance agents are also standing by to help you find the right comprehensive car insurance policy for your vehicle. They’ll help you determine the cost of your policy and tell you all the factors that went into it. But before we jump that far ahead, here’s a closer look at how comprehensive car insurance premiums are calculated.

How Much Does Comprehensive Car Insurance Cost in South Carolina?

The comprehensive coverage section of your South Carolina car insurance policy will be just a portion of your overall premium. It’s handy to know the average costs of car insurance that drivers in South Carolina pay vs. the national average. Check out a few stats to see how your state compares:

Your South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you find more exact car insurance cost figures for your specific area and vehicle.

How to Calculate Comprehensive Car Insurance Costs in South Carolina

When it comes to determining your comprehensive car insurance premium costs, several factors go into the mix. According to insurance expert Jeffery Green, a few of the key components of your comprehensive car insurance’s premium include:

• Vehicle type: Newer and fancier vehicles cost more to purchase, and as a result would cost more to replace. This also means the cost of insuring them is more than it would be for older, less valuable cars.
• Driver age: Younger drivers are considered much riskier to insure, and their premiums reflect this. Often car insurance premiums drop a good bit once a driver reaches age 25.
• Driver location: Your specific location influences car insurance premiums in a couple of ways. In a coastal state like South Carolina, you might pay more for your coverage than a driver who lives further inland, due to the increased risk of storms like hurricanes. Drivers in larger, more dangerous cities are also likely to pay more for their coverage.

A South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you find quotes for comprehensive car insurance coverage near you, as well as determine which exact factors make up your policy’s premium rate.

What Other Factors Can Affect Comprehensive Car Insurance Costs in South Carolina?

Beyond the more obvious factors influencing the cost of comprehensive car insurance, several factors may still be hiding inside your policy’s premium. Green adds a few more factors that can affect comprehensive car insurance costs in South Carolina, like:

• How often the vehicle is used: Many car insurance companies reward drivers who use their vehicles less often with cheaper premiums, since fewer miles driven means less time on the road. The more time your car spends safely parked at home, the less risky it is to insure.
• How the vehicle is used: If your vehicle is used for personal reasons, like errands and driving to work, your premiums will be different than if you’re driving a business vehicle for work-related reasons only. The comprehensive coverage portion of a commercial auto insurance policy is usually quite a bit more expensive than for personal car insurance policies, since businesses have more liability risks when operating vehicles.
• Claims history of the driver: If the driver has filed prior car insurance claims through their insurance company, their premiums are likely to spike. Just one claim of $2,000 or more can cause up to a 41% increase in your car insurance premiums.

Your South Carolina independent insurance agent can inform you of even more factors that may influence your comprehensive car insurance costs, and also help you find the best discounts on local coverage.

Reasons for Higher Comprehensive Car Insurance Premiums in South Carolina

A couple of factors still can specifically increase your comprehensive car insurance premiums, and it’s important to be familiar with what they are before you purchase coverage. Your comprehensive car insurance costs are likely to be higher due to the following:

• Poor credit score: Relationships have been shown between poor credit management and poor driving behaviors. The inverse has also been found to be true. As a result, drivers with poor credit scores often pay more for their coverage, since they’re considered to be more risky to insure.
• Coverage gaps: Relationships have also been found between continuous car insurance coverage and safe driving behaviors. Insurance companies reward drivers with no gaps in their previous car insurance coverage with lower premiums.
• Poor driving record: Drivers with prior traffic violations or accidents on their records are also thought of as a higher risk by insurance companies, and will pay more for their coverage.

As always, a South Carolina independent insurance agent is your number one ally to help you determine the cost of your comprehensive car insurance. With their assistance, you’ll find the coverage you need at the best possible rate.

Calculating Comprehensive Car Insurance Costs for a New Car in South Carolina

Newer vehicles are more expensive to insure not just in South Carolina, but across the map. Cars that are 10 years old cost an average of 35% less to insure than brand new vehicles. Newer cars hold much more of their replacement value, and would be much costlier for the insurance company in the event of an accident. If you want to save money on comprehensive car insurance, consider looking into getting an older vehicle.

Here’s How a South Carolina Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

When it comes to helping South Carolina drivers calculate the cost of their comprehensive car insurance, no one’s better equipped to help than an independent insurance agent. South Carolina independent insurance agents search through multiple carriers to find providers who specialize in comprehensive car insurance, deliver quotes from a number of different sources, and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.