South Carolina motorcycle insurance

To make the most of your Palmetto State riding experience, review the rules of the road and motorcycle insurance requirements. South Carolina boasts a strong motorcycle riding community—and with its winding roads, historic cities, and quick access to both coasts and mountains, you’ll want your insurance in order so you can focus on the ride.

What’s required of all motorcycle riders in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) requires you to have a valid motorcycle (class M) driver’s license before cruising the state’s public roads on your bike. If you’ve never had a driver’s license before, you’ll first need to apply for a learner’s permit and hold it for at least 180 days. Here are some conditions you need to meet before getting your license:

Be at least 15 years old
Have parental consent if you’re under 18 years
Pass vision and road skills tests or complete a motorcycle safety course
Have valid motorcycle insurance

Once you get your license, follow these road safety regulations:

Helmets: All riders and passengers under 21 years old must wear a helmet approved by the Department of Public Safety.
Eye and face protection: If you’re under 21 years old, you must wear goggles or a face shield unless your motorcycle has a windscreen.
Headlights: Turn your headlights on whenever you ride, even during daylight.
Passenger seat and footrest: Your bike must have a passenger seat and foot pegs if you carry passengers.
Exhaust noise restriction: Your bike must have a muffler; cut-outs and bypasses are illegal in South Carolina.
Lane splitting: Lane splitting is illegal, as are any other maneuvers that involve weaving in and out of traffic.

What are the motorcycle insurance requirements in South Carolina?

The minimum motorcycle insurance coverage amounts in South Carolina are:

$25,000 for bodily injury liability or death of one person
$50,000 for bodily injury liability or death per accident
$25,000 for property damage liability
$25,000 for uninsured motorist coverage per person
$50,000 for uninsured motorist coverage per accident
$25,000 for uninsured motorist property damage liability

Insurers are also required to provide underinsured motorist coverage in South Carolina, but you can opt to reject it.

With Dairyland®, you can expand your bodily injury liability coverage to a maximum of $500,000 per person and $500,000 per accident.

Are optional motorcycle insurance coverages available in South Carolina?

Yes—several, in fact. Purchasing additional coverages beyond the standard required motorcycle coverages can help protect you in a range of incident types. We offer the following optional coverages in South Carolina:

Collision coverage

A motorcycle wreck can leave your bike with dents and gouges that need your mechanic’s attention—and in a major accident, your motorcycle could be damaged beyond repair. This coverage helps pay for your motorcycle repair or replacement costs.

Comprehensive coverage

Collisions aren’t the only threats your bike faces. South Carolina ranks in the top five in the nation for annual motorcycle thefts, with 1,601 cases reported in 2019, according to a National Insurance Claim Bureau (NICB) report. If your bike is stolen, this coverage will compensate you. It also covers repair costs from vandalism and natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes.

Medical payments coverage

A trip to the ER or a night in the ICU can burden you with costly, unplanned medical bills. This coverage pays for treatment and funeral expenses after an accident.
Additional optional coverages available in South Carolina include:

Optional equipment
Roadside assistance
Rental reimbursement
Physical damage plus
Trip interruption

If you’re unsure which motorcycle insurance coverages are right for you, we can help. Give us a call at 800-334-0090.

Motorcycle insurance discounts available in South Carolina

At Dairyland, we want to help you save money on our already-affordable rates. That’s why we offer a range of motorcycle insurance discounts. Check out these available discounts—you could qualify for several, depending on your situation.

Multi-vehicle
Loyalty
Transfer
Homeownership
Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) member
Rider group
Operator safety course

Sites to see in South Carolina

Caesars Head State Park

If you’re looking for a short but thrilling ride up the mountain, head to Caesars Head State Park. Start your ride on Highway 276 in Cleveland, then head north and branch into Highway 11. The twisty roads—featuring sharp turns, tight hairpins, and views of the lush surrounding forests—make the steep five-mile ascent to the summit a fun challenge.

The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway

This route is popular among natives and tourists for a good reason. You can experience everything nature has to offer in upstate South Carolina—scenic views of mountains, beautiful waterfalls, lakes, forests, and wildlife.

The 117-mile route starts in Gaffney on Route 11, heading west to the Georgian border. You can make many detours along the way as you pass by several state parks, including Caesars Head, Table Rock, Keowee-Toxaway, and Devil’s Fork.

Ashley River Road Scenic Byway

Experience South Carolina’s history with this quick 11-mile ride from Church Creek to Bacons Bridge Road. You’ll want to visit the enshrined Middleton Place, Magnolia, and Drayton Plantations or stop by the state’s oldest church—Old St. Andrew’s Parish Church. Between these historic landmarks, enjoy the serenity provided by canopies of hickory and oak trees along the road.

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