Residents of the Palmetto State have a lot to deal with when it comes to protecting their homes — from hurricanes to pests to crime. Thankfully, there are several high-quality homeowners insurance companies available to choose from in the state.
Some of our highest-scoring include Allstate, Auto-Owners, Cincinnati Insurance, USAA, and State Farm. We selected these companies by looking at factors like discounts, premium costs, coverage, company reputation, and more.
The 5 Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in South Carolina
- Allstate
- Auto-Owners
- Cincinnati Insurance
- USAA
- State Farm
Compare South Carolina’s top insurance companies
| Average Annual Premium* | AM Best Financial Strength Rating | J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Rating** | |
| Allstate | $1,567 | A+ | 829 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,479 | A++ | 831 |
| Cincinnati Insurance | $1,618 | A+ | NA |
| USAA | $809 | A++ | 882 |
| State Farm | $1,747 | A++ | 835 |
*Rates pulled from Coverage.com
**J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Home Insurance Study, based on a 1,000-point scale
Best South Carolina Homeowners Insurance Companies
Allstate
Allstate’s strength is in the diversity of its offerings and discounts, which allow you to pick and choose the coverage that works best for your circumstances. It has a great website with tons of useful information.
Best Discount Options
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Above-average customer service
- Convenient mobile app
- Diverse discounts opportunities
- Informative website and digital tools
Cons
- AM Best financial strength ratings are good, but not great
- Higher than average complaint ratio on NAIC complaint index
- Some standard coverage isn’t included
Discounts available
- Early signing discount
- Hail-resistant roof discount
- Homebuyer discount
Unique features
Allstate also has a mobile app for its customers’ convenience. You can use it to get quotes, access resources, and more. The company’s coverage isn’t as comprehensive as what some other homeowners insurance companies offer. For example, you may need to purchase extended coverage for items like jewelry.
*J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Home Insurance Study, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on Allstate:
Auto-Owners Insurance
If you prefer doing your insurance business in person or by phone rather than digitally, Auto-Owners could be a good fit for you. Auto-Owners doesn’t have an online quote tool, nor can you report a claim online.
Best Claims Satisfaction
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Excellent customer service
- Strong AM Best financial strength rating
- High claims satisfaction
- Several possible discounts and unique add-ons
Cons
- Few online capabilities
- Not rated by all credit agencies
- Poor digital experience
Discounts available
- Green discount
- Multi-policy discount
- Paid-in-full discount
Unique features
Auto-Owners offers some unique coverage options with Homeowners Plus. This can include damage from appliance leaks and coverage for food spoilage during a power outage.
*J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Home Insurance Study, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on Auto-Owners:
Cincinnati Insurance Co.
Cincinnati Insurance writes business and individual insurance policies and is based in Ohio, though it has a strong presence in South Carolina. It positions itself toward high-net-worth individuals, but it sells policies for homes of any value.
Best for High-Value Homes
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Good for high-value homes
- Homeowners Plus endorsement
- Option for flexible increased coverage
- Strong customer service
Cons
- More expensive than average coverage
- No online quotes or claims
Discounts available
- Bundle discounts
- Good claim history discounts
- Home alarm discount
Unique features
The Executive Homeowner Plus endorsement offers uncommon coverage, including personal property replacement without a deduction for depreciation.
USAA
USAA appears at the top of rating lists for its excellent customer service marks, comprehensive policies and competitive prices. The only catch is you must be a current or former member of the military or an immediate family member to purchase a policy — but if you are, the company could be a strong consideration for you.
Best for Military Members
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Option for flexible increased coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Policies tailored to military family needs
- Strong financial rating from AM Best
Cons
- Limited discounts
- Only available to current and former military members and their families
Discounts available
- Claims-free discount up to 10%
- Home security system discount
- Save up to 10% if you bundle home insurance with auto insurance
Unique features
USAA’s policies are written with service men and women in mind. This means they have details that anyone in the military can appreciate, such as full coverage for uniforms for active duty or deployed members.
*J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Home Insurance Study, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on USAA:
State Farm
Based on our research, State Farm offers above-average customer support along with competitive pricing and solid coverage options. For those new to homeownership, their Simple Insights blog can tell you a lot you need to know about homeownership in general.
Best for Fast Claim Payments
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Excellent web presence
- Strong AM Best financial strength rating
- Informative blog
- Over 19,000 agents nationally
Cons
- Higher than average premiums
- Limited discounts
Discounts available
- Fire, smoke, or burglar alarms discount
- Impact-resistant roof discount
- Multiple policy discount
Unique features
State Farm’s comprehensive website makes it easy to get a detailed quote in minutes. You can also pay your bill, file and manage a claim, and handle most maintenance tasks either online or via the company’s app.
*J.D. Power 2021 Home Insurance Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on State Farm:
Average Cost of Homeowners Insurance in South Carolina
The average cost of homeowners insurance in South Carolina is $1,516 per year for $200,000 in dwelling coverage. Your actual home insurance costs will depend on many factors, such as the proximity of your home to flood plains or coastal areas. Insurers also evaluate standard elements such as home size and age, crime rates, your claims history, and more.
Home Insurance Add-Ons That Will Further Protect You
In South Carolina, it’s important to consider adding flood coverage to your policy. Flooding can be caused by many things, from a spring thaw to a hurricane, and flood insurance is not part of a standard homeowners insurance policy. South Carolina is vulnerable to flooding, so protecting your home and belongings is a good option to consider. You might also want to consider windstorm or hurricane coverage. South Carolina has a long history of hurricanes and tornadoes, and it’s important to protect your finances from the risk of loss.
The Cheapest Homeowner Insurance Companies in South Carolina
| Largest Companies by Market Share in South Carolina | Average Annual Premium for $200K Dwelling Coverage |
| Lighthouse Prop Ins Corp | $717 |
| Bankers Ins Grp | $758 |
| UNIVERSAL Ins CO Grp | $776 |
| USAA | $809 |
| Homeowners of Amer Ins Co | $1,167 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,479 |
| Allstate | $1,567 |
| Cincinnati Insurance | $1,618 |
| State Farm | $1,747 |
| Southern Farm Bureau | $1,772 |
| ASI Progressive | $2,161 |
| Travelers | $2,469 |
Cost of Homeowners Insurance by Age of Home
| Age of Home (years) | Sample Annual Premium |
| 5 | $1,279 |
| 20 | $1,755 |
| 35 | $1,846 |
| 50 | $1,851 |
| Average Across Ages | $1,683 |
Top 3 Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Companies in South Carolina
- Lighthouse Property Insurance Corporation: $717
- Bankers Insurance Group: $758
- Universal Insurance Company Group: $776
Top 3 Most Expensive Homeowners Insurance Companies in South Carolina
- Travelers: $2,469
- ASI Progressive: $2,161
- South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company: $1,772
Helpful Resources for South Carolina Homeowners
The South Carolina Department of Insurance provides insurance advice in easily digestible articles and more thorough brochures. While there, you can also look into the South Carolina Safe Home Mitigation Grant Program. If your home is on coastal property, these funds can help you with weatherproofing your home. The next grant cycle is in December 2021. You can sign up on the website to be notified when applications are open.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website also has a variety of resources for South Carolina homeowners. It can walk you through every step, whether you’re just getting started or already maintaining a homestead.
Homeowners Insurance FAQ
Methodology
All rates are pulled from Coverage.com. We evaluated the companies based on their customer rating and experience, financial stability, and coverage to determine the best providers. To compare home insurance companies across the board, we then calculated a Reviews.com score based on the following:
- Customer Ratings — Customer ratings are an indication of satisfaction with the process of filing a claim. We measured this using J.D. Power Homeowners Satisfaction ratings.
- Coverage — As there isn’t one company to fit everyone’s needs, we evaluated companies by the amount of coverage options and add-ons available.
- Confidence — It is extremely important for insurance companies to fulfill customers’ claims. Companies with sound financial strength will not have issues paying out claims, regardless of the amount. However, companies with weak financial strength might not be able to pay out claims. We measured this using AM Best’s ratings, which specializes in assessing the financial strength of insurance companies.
- Customer Experience — The amount of complaints a company receives is an indicator of the overall customer experience as it expresses dissatisfaction. We have based this measure on the NAIC National Complaint Index.
About the Authors
Lorraine Roberte is a South Florida-based personal finance writer. Her work has been published on sites such as Thrive Global, Elephant Journal, Red Tricycle and Tweak Your Biz.
