The Best Cheap Motorcycle Insurance in South Carolina
Progressive offers the cheapest motorcycle insurance in South Carolina, at an average rate of $17 per month.
Compare Motorcycle Insurance Quotes in South Carolina
Best cheap motorcycle insurance in SC
ValuePenguin collected hundreds of quotes from seven of the largest insurance companies in the country to find the cheapest coverage for you. The right motorcycle insurance company will balance prices and good coverage.
Picks for top South Carolina motorcycle insurance companies are based on rates, customer service and coverage options.
Our experts used full coverage quotes to find the cheapest companies in SC. Rates are for higher liability limits than the state minimum, plus collision and comprehensive coverage. See the full methodology.
Cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in South Carolina
The cheapest motorcycle insurance company in South Carolina is Progressive, which sells policies for $17 per month.
On the other hand, the most expensive company is Nationwide, where coverage costs an average of $100 per month. Motorcycle insurance costs an average of $44 per month in South Carolina.
Compare Motorcycle Insurance Quotes in South Carolina
In South Carolina, coverage for your motorcycle is 31% more expensive than the national average of $33 per month.
Cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in South Carolina
Company | Monthly rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $17 | |
| Harley-Davidson | $30 | |
| Allstate | $32 | |
| Dairyland | $35 | |
| Geico | $37 | |
Best motorcycle insurance for most people: Progressive
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Editor rating
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Monthly rate
$17 ?
Pros and cons
Progressive is the best motorcycle insurance company for most people in South Carolina. Its combination of affordability and policy features is unmatched by other large companies in the state. For example, full coverage motorcycle insurance from Progressive comes with replacement cost coverage and $3,000 of custom parts protection.
Additionally, you can supplement your motorcycle insurance with other add-ons that Progressive offers.
- Total loss protection for motorcycles less than 1 year old or 2 years old upon renewal
- Enhanced injury protection that pays $250 per week for up to two years if you're injured while riding
- A payment of up to $25,000 to your family if you're killed while riding your bike
- Roadside assistance, including $500 for food and other expenses if you're stranded
The average cost of motorcycle insurance from Progressive is $17 per month, which is 62% cheaper than the average rate in South Carolina.
You can also save money with Progressive through the insurer's discounts, which are easy for many riders to qualify for. For instance, you could lower your motorcycle rates by requesting a quote ahead of time, scheduling automatic payments or simply having a motorcycle endorsement.
One key drawback is that Progressive doesn't offer rental reimbursement. So if your bike is in the shop after an accident, you won't get help with the costs of a temporary vehicle.
Best for daily riders: Harley-Davidson
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Editor rating
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Monthly rate
$30 ?
Pros and cons
Harley-Davidson is a top option for South Carolina riders who use their bike as their main vehicle.
You can add roadside assistance and rental reimbursement to your policy with Harley-Davidson. Both can help you get back on the road and minimize disruption if something happens to your bike.
- Roadside assistance includes towing at any time of day, as well as roadside help for flat tires, battery issues, and if you are locked out and running out of gas or oil.
- Rental reimbursement will help pay for a rental or other types of transportation if an accident puts your bike in the shop.
Harley's average rate of $30 per month is 32% less expensive than the state average but still $13 more expensive per month than Progressive.
The biggest downside of Harley-Davidson insurance is that you can't pair it with coverage for a car or home. The company only covers bikes, so you can't get the benefits of bundling coverage.
Best motorcycle insurance for riders with military ties: USAA
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Editor rating
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Monthly rate
$16 ?
Pros and cons
The best motorcycle insurance company for the thousands of military service members who call South Carolina home is USAA.
Coverage is available to active, reserve or retired military members and their families. Only these people can get quotes and detailed policy details from USAA.
USAA is often the cheapest option you can get if you qualify. The company partners with Progressive to offer coverage at a 5% discount.
Unlike other providers, USAA doesn't require you to purchase roadside assistance as an add-on to your policy. USAA policies include this protection as a standard feature.
USAA motorcycle insurance comes with highly regarded customer service, too. The company receives considerably fewer complaints about its coverage than an average company its size.
South Carolina motorcycle insurance: Costs by city
Aiken and North Augusta have the cheapest motorcycle coverage among South Carolina's larger cities, with average rates of $40 per month.
The state capital, Columbia, and two of its suburbs, Cayce and West Columbia, have the highest rates, at $48 per month.
Average cost of motorcycle insurance in South Carolina by city
City | Monthly cost | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Aiken | $40 | -7% |
| Anderson | $45 | 3% |
| Beaufort | $41 | -5% |
| Bluffton | $41 | -7% |
| Cayce | $48 | 10% |
South Carolina doesn't have too much range in rates, with only $8 per month separating the cheapest and most expensive cities.
More traffic and higher crime rates tend to mean motorcycle coverage will cost more. Insurance companies believe these make it more likely for riders to make a claim in the future.
South Carolina motorcycle insurance requirements
South Carolina's motorcyclists must get the same amount of minimum coverage as other drivers. The coverage is often written as 25/50/25.
Nearly all states require motorists to purchase liability insurance, but South Carolina also calls for its drivers to purchase uninsured motorist insurance — which covers injuries and damage caused by an uninsured driver.
Coverage type | Required minimums |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per individual and $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per incident |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury | $25,000 per individual and $50,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist property damage | $25,000 per incident |
How do you get a motorcycle license in South Carolina?
Getting a motorcycle license, or Class M endorsement, is straightforward in South Carolina. If you don't already have a regular driver's license, you must get a motorcycle learner's permit before you can get a motorcycle license. Learner's permits have to be carried for at least 180 days before you can qualify for a full license.
If you already have a driver’s license, you can bypass the process of getting a motorcycle learner's permit. Instead, you’ll need to take a motorcycle skills test at a South Carolina DMV branch. You can take the test up to three times, but after too many failed attempts, you must enroll in a motorcycle safety course before you can get a license.
Frequently asked questions
How much is motorcycle insurance in SC?
Motorcycle insurance in South Carolina costs an average of $44 per month or $523 per year. But you can find cheaper rates at Progressive or Harley-Davidson.
Who has the lowest price on motorcycle insurance in SC?
Progressive offers the lowest price for motorcycle insurance in SC, at just $17 per month. That's 62% less than the state average.
Do you need motorcycle insurance in SC?
You are required to get motorcycle insurance in SC. You'll need at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 per accident, $25,000 of property damage liability per accident, and the same amounts for uninsured motorist coverage.
Compare motorcycle insurance in South Carolina vs other states
Methodology
ValuePenguin collected more than 200 motorcycle insurance quotes from across the largest cities in South Carolina to find the average rates in the state. Quotes are for a 45-year-old single man who owns a 2018 Honda CMX500 Rebel.
Average rates are for full coverage, which includes comprehensive and collision coverage and more liability than the state minimum.
- Bodily injury liability coverage: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability coverage: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist property damage: $25,000 per accident
- Collision coverage: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive coverage: $500 deductible
- All other coverages: Not included
ValuePenguin editor's ratings use a proprietary formula that includes customer service scores, coverage options, cost and the overall value a company provides its customers.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.