South Carolina Auto Insurance Quotes and
Coverage Guide
South Carolina Motor Vehicle Insurance
Questions & AnswersQ: Is
auto insurance mandatory?
A: South Carolina’s official state game bird
is the Wild Turkey, which is fitting, considering
how some of these buzzards drive. Because of this,
vehicle owners are required to provide proof that
their vehicles being operated on the roads and
highways are insured. Current South Carolina law
requires that at the time a driver's license is
issued for the first time and a driver's license is
renewed, drivers must certify on the driver's
license application (DL 447) that they are insured
by an automobile liability policy. If an applicant
does not own a vehicle or a vehicle is not in the
household of the applicant, the applicant can check
off on the application accordingly. Although the
applicant declaring liability insurance may be a
turkey, he/she must certify personal automobile
liability insurance and not liability insurance of
an employer, nor that of a turkey or any other wild
animal.
Q: Is South Carolina a "tort" state?
A: Yes. In traditional tort liability states,
there are no restrictions on lawsuits. This means
the other driver and the other driver’s passengers
can sue your wattle right off for pain and suffering
as well as for out-of-pocket expenses such as
medical costs if you go gobbling down the road and
smack into them.
Q: What type of insurance is required to purchase
and maintain a South Carolina tag and registration?
A: You don’t need to show proof at
registration, but you must certify that you do have
at least the state’s minimum of 15/30/10. Talking
turkey, the first two figures refer to bodily injury
liability and the third figure to property damage
liability. For example, 15/30/10 means coverage up
to $30,000 for all persons injured in an accident,
subject to a limit of $15,000 for one individual,
and $10,000 coverage for property damage you may
cause when you were scarfing down that turkey
sandwich and hit the Wild Turkey hunter beside you.
Q: If I don’t need to show proof of insurance at
time of registration, how will the state know
whether or not I have insurance?
A: Although YOU may be dumb as a turkey
standing out in the rain, the state of North
Carolina isn’t. They have ways to ferret out the
most elusive turkeys:
-- At the time of an accident, South Carolina Law
requires that the investigating officer issue a
Notice of Requirement (Form FR-10) to verify that
liability insurance be in effect at the time of an
accident. When the investigating officer issues the
form, the owner is responsible for providing proof
(via insurance company) that the vehicle involved in
the accident was insured. Failure to provide
insurance verification to the department within
fifteen (15) days from the date of the accident will
result in suspension of the owner's driver’s
license, registration, and all gobbling privileges.
-- By law, your insurance company must notify the
department within ten (10) days when a liability
insurance policy is cancelled. The Notice of
Cancellation of Policy (Form FR-4) is forwarded to
the department and then forwarded to the owner. The
owner is required to update the department with
current insurance information or surrender the
vehicle plate, registration, and any turkeys he/she
may be hoarding within five (5) days.
Q: What if I fail to keep insurance on my vehicle
that I’ve registered in South Carolina?
A: If your liability insurance is cancelled
or expired, you must return your vehicle's license
plate and registration to DMV within five days or
reinstate your coverage. Otherwise, you will be
subject to a reinstatement fee of $200 and $5
penalty for each day the vehicle was uninsured or
plate(s) was not turned in. The maximum penalty for
the first offense is $400 per vehicle and turkey
feathers up your nose.
Q: What if I have insurance, but the officer
didn’t believe me and ticketed me anyway?
A: If issued a citation, you will be required
to provide proof within thirty (30) days that the
vehicle you were operating was insured to avoid an
indefinite suspension of your driver’s and gobbling
licenses.
Q: Does the insurance company have to notify you
when your renewal insurance premium is due?
A: Yes. The law requires 15 days prior
notice. Most companies mail renewal notices 30-45
days before the policy renewal effective date, if
you’ll send them a turkey around Thanksgiving.
Q: Does the automobile policy contain a grace
period for paying the renewal premium?
A. No. There is no required grace period for
the payment of a renewal premium, but do say grace
before you eat that turkey. Your policy actually
expires at the end of the policy period, if premium
is not received by that date.
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