South Carolina · Free GuideDo I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage in South Carolina?
Auto Insurance · 5 min read · South Carolina Law
Reviewed by Constantin Post, attorney licensed in Alabama and South Carolina · Last updated
The Short Answer
South Carolina makes uninsured motorist coverage mandatory on every auto policy, but only at the state minimum limits of 25/50/25 (S.C. Code §§ 38-77-140, 38-77-150). Higher UM limits, and all underinsured motorist coverage, are optional coverages the insurer must offer (S.C. Code § 38-77-160). You do not have to opt in to the basic UM; you already have it.
Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage in South Carolina
South Carolina makes uninsured motorist coverage mandatory on every auto policy, but only at the state minimum limits of 25/50/25 (S.C. Code §§ 38-77-140, 38-77-150). Higher UM limits, and all underinsured motorist coverage, are optional coverages the insurer must offer (S.C. Code § 38-77-160). You do not have to opt in to the basic UM; you already have it.
This is a real structural advantage over Alabama and Georgia. The practical questions in a South Carolina case become how much UM/UIM is available, whether UIM was purchased, and how coverage across vehicles and policies coordinates, which is exactly where careful claims handling protects recovery.
The South Carolina Filing Deadline
Most South Carolina personal injury lawsuits carry three years under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, a year longer than Alabama and Georgia. South Carolina also measures the clock differently: § 15-3-535 runs it from the date you knew, or by reasonable diligence should have known, that you had a claim, rather than strictly from the date of injury. For an ordinary collision that is usually the same day, but a late-surfacing injury or a responsible party you could not have identified can move it. Neither the extra year nor the discovery rule is a reason to wait: evidence, witnesses, and camera footage disappear on the same schedule everywhere.
Claims against South Carolina governments run through the South Carolina Tort Claims Act: generally two years to sue from when the loss was or should have been discovered, extended to three years if a verified claim was filed within one year of that date (S.C. Code §§ 15-78-80, 15-78-110), with caps on recoverable damages. The Act's procedures are technical enough that government-defendant claims should be in a lawyer's hands early.
Fault in South Carolina: Modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
South Carolina applies modified comparative negligence: as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%, you may recover, with damages reduced by your percentage of fault; if you are more at fault than the defendant, recovery is barred. The rule comes from the South Carolina Supreme Court's adoption of comparative fault in Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co. For causes of action accruing on or after January 1, 2026, the amended apportionment statute (S.C. Code § 15-38-15, under Act No. 42 of 2025) spreads fault across the plaintiff, the defendants, and nonparties, and a defendant found less than 50% at fault answers only for its own share rather than jointly for the whole; the greater-than-50% bar on the plaintiff is unchanged. Either way, disciplined fault development is the core of every contested claim.
A Worked Example Under South Carolina Law
A hit-and-run driver causes your injuries and is never found, leaving no at-fault policy to pursue.
In South Carolina, you likely have coverage, because UM coverage is mandatory on every auto policy (S.C. Code § 38-77-150). For an unknown driver, the statute adds conditions, such as a prompt police report and, where there was no contact, an independent witness (S.C. Code § 38-77-170). Even so, mandatory UM is a real structural advantage over Alabama and Georgia.
Illustration only, real cases turn on their specific facts.
Steps to Protect Your Claim
Get medical care immediately and follow through
See a doctor even if you feel 'mostly fine.' Adrenaline masks injuries, and gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers use to argue you were not really hurt.
Document everything while it exists
Photograph the scene, vehicles, hazards, and visible injuries. Get names and contact information for witnesses, and request any incident or police report number.
Do not give a recorded statement before getting advice
You are generally not obligated to give the other side's insurer a recorded statement. Under South Carolina's modified comparative negligence (51% bar), what you say can be used to put fault on you.
Mind the South Carolina clock
Three years (S.C. Code § 15-3-530) is the outer limit, and government-defendant claims run far shorter. Building a strong case takes months, so the practical deadline is always sooner.
Costly Mistakes to Avoid
Key South Carolina Terms Explained
Statute of Limitations
The deadline to file suit: in South Carolina, generally three years from the date of injury (S.C. Code § 15-3-530).
Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar)
South Carolina's fault rule: recovery is reduced by your share of fault and barred only when your share exceeds 50%.
Verified Claim (Tort Claims Act)
Under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, the suit deadline is two years from when the loss was or should have been discovered, extended to three if a verified claim is filed within one year of that date (S.C. Code §§ 15-78-80, 15-78-110).
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage
Coverage on your own auto policy that may pay when an at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your losses.
South Carolina Questions, Answered
How long do I have to act in South Carolina?
Most South Carolina personal injury lawsuits carry three years under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, a year longer than Alabama and Georgia. South Carolina also measures the clock differently: § 15-3-535 runs it from the date you knew, or by reasonable diligence should have known, that you had a claim, rather than strictly from the date of injury. For an ordinary collision that is usually the same day, but a late-surfacing injury or a responsible party you could not have identified can move it. Neither the extra year nor the discovery rule is a reason to wait: evidence, witnesses, and camera footage disappear on the same schedule everywhere.
What if I was partly at fault under South Carolina law?
South Carolina applies modified comparative negligence: as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%, you may recover, with damages reduced by your percentage of fault; if you are more at fault than the defendant, recovery is barred. The rule comes from the South Carolina Supreme Court's adoption of comparative fault in Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co. For causes of action accruing on or after January 1, 2026, the amended apportionment statute (S.C. Code § 15-38-15, under Act No. 42 of 2025) spreads fault across the plaintiff, the defendants, and nonparties, and a defendant found less than 50% at fault answers only for its own share rather than jointly for the whole; the greater-than-50% bar on the plaintiff is unchanged. Either way, disciplined fault development is the core of every contested claim.
Does UM coverage apply to hit-and-run accidents?
Yes, and because South Carolina requires uninsured motorist coverage on every policy, the coverage is there. What decides the claim is a three-part statutory gate on unknown-driver cases (S.C. Code § 38-77-170), not your policy language. You must have reported the accident to an appropriate police authority within a reasonable time. There must be physical contact with the unknown vehicle, or an independent witness, someone other than the owner or operator of your vehicle, who signs an affidavit or gives a deposition, or a recording of the accident showing the unknown vehicle caused it. And you must not have been negligent in failing to identify the other vehicle at the time. The recording alternative is recent enough that older write-ups still leave it out, and it is worth checking for nearby cameras early. The witness condition is the reason the first week matters more than any later step.
Do I already have UM/UIM coverage in South Carolina?
Uninsured motorist coverage, yes. South Carolina requires it on every auto liability policy at no less than the minimum limits (S.C. Code § 38-77-150), so you carry it whether or not you remember choosing it. Underinsured coverage is the separate question: insurers must offer it, but you may decline it, so check your declarations page to see whether you bought that second layer.
Will using my own UM coverage raise my rates?
That depends on your insurer and the facts. Concerns about rates should not stop you from understanding your coverage; an attorney can help you evaluate how best to pursue available coverage after a crash.
Does this guide replace advice about my specific South Carolina case?
No. This guide is educational and general. The rules described here have exceptions and fact-specific applications, which is exactly what a free, confidential consultation is for.
Can a Hoover, Alabama firm handle my South Carolina case?
Yes. Between them, our attorneys are licensed in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina and represent South Carolina clients by phone, video, and in person. What changes across the state line is the law that applies, and we practice under South Carolina's.
Reading for Another State?
The same question, answered under each state's law.
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This guide is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. South Carolina law and its application depend on the specific facts of your situation and can change over time. For advice about your matter, speak with an attorney licensed in South Carolina.