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What Happens If I Drive Without Car Insurance in SC?

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In South Carolina, all drivers must either carry auto insurance or pay a $550 uninsured motorist fee annually. The minimum liability limits—along with uninsured motorist coverage—must be $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. 

You need to provide proof of insurance to receive your driver’s license and register your vehicle. You also need to always maintain such proof, especially if you are pulled over by the police. 

Failure to carry insurance or pay the yearly uninsured motorist fee can result in a misdemeanor offense, which carries driver’s license suspension, fines, and even jail time. 

The following are the penalties for driving uninsured in South Carolina: 

  • First offense – Uninsured motorist fee of $550, a fine of up to $200, a $5 fine per day for lapse in required coverage, driver’s license suspension, $200 reinstatement fee (SR-22), and/or a maximum jail sentence of 30 days. 

  • Second offense – Uninsured motorist fee of $550, a $200 fine with an addition $5 for every day without insurance, a $5 fine per day for lapse in required coverage, driver’s license suspension, $200 reinstatement fee (SR-22) and must obtain proper proof of insurance, and a jail term of up to 30 days. 

  • Third or subsequent offense – Uninsured motorist fee of $550, a $200 fine with an addition $5 for every day without insurance, a $5 fine per day for a lapse in required coverage, driver’s license suspension, $200 reinstatement fee (SR-22) and must obtain proper proof of insurance, and a jail term between 45 days and six months. 

Remember, a misdemeanor conviction will stay on your driving record permanently. If you are labeled a high-risk driver, insurance companies will either charge you premiums at significantly high rates or avoid selling you a policy. 

If you have been arrested or cited for a traffic offense in Columbia or Lexington, contact the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC today at (803) 359-3301 for a free case review. Serving clients throughout South Carolina since 2004!