The Palmetto State, just as the majority of states in the country, requires motorists to carry Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability in order to operate a vehicle legally; also required is Uninsured Motorist coverage. The current SC car insurance liability limits required are $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident and $25,000 for property damage. Higher limits may be purchased to help cover losses that exceed these amounts and may help a motorist avoid having to pay for expenses due to another party on one’s own.
Failure to maintain South Carolina auto insurance can result in stiff penalties and there are many instances when the state will require a resident to prove that a policy is in effect. At the time that a resident obtains a driver’s license and at renewal, proof of coverage must be submitted prior to issuance. This may be waived if the applicant does not own an automobile or there is no vehicle at the household of the resident. Proof of vehicle coverage will also be needed when an automobile is being registered or registration is being renewed. Once provided to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the department will verify coverage electronically and if policies cannot be verified, the resident’s driver’s license and registration may be suspended.
Individuals that are stopped by South Carolina law enforcement may also be required to provide proof of car insurance at the request of the officer. Inability to furnish the necessary documentation may result in the issuance of a citation and be subject to a fine or imprisonment. If a citation has been issued, the motorist will need to prove that the vehicle was insured at the time that it was being driven to avoid the suspension of driving privileges. Proof will need to be provided within 30 days of the time the citation was issued.
Additionally, at the scene of an accident, the state’s laws require the investigating officer to issue a Notice of Requirement (Form FR-10). Issuance of this form will require that the motorists involved provide proof that a liability policy was in effect when the traffic accident occurred. This form must be submitted within 15 days and failure to comply can result in suspension of driving and/or registration privileges.
The state also requires that South Carolina insurers report to the DMV as well. If a liability car insurance policy has be canceled, the provider must submit a Notice of Cancellation of Policy (Form FR-4) to the department of motor vehicles. Once this from is received by the department it is then forwarded to the owner, at which point there are two options; either update coverage information or surrender vehicle plates and registration. Failing not to provide the requested documentation will result in the suspension of a driver’s license and vehicle plate/registration. In order to have these privileges reinstated, a reinstatement of up to $400 will need to be paid and proof of coverage will need to be submitted.
Residents of SC have an option other than purchasing the required coverage. According to the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs eligible motorists may be able to pay an annual $550 Uninsured Motorist Fee to the Department of Public Safety at the time of registration. Although this option is available, one must be aware that this is not a form of auto insurance and will not pay for any expenses arising from a traffic accident and as an uninsured motorist, being at fault may leave the responsible driver for compensating the other party for any bodily injury and/or property damage that has been caused as a result of the accident. It may be wise to carefully consider this option prior to making the decision to drive uninsured.
Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/south-carolina/
