Top 7 Ways to Lower Your South Carolina Home Insurance Premiums

By Brad Davis, CIC (July 28, 2025)

If you’re a homeowner in South Carolina, you’ve probably noticed that home insurance costs have gone up—especially along the coast. The good news? You can take steps to lower your premium without giving up the coverage you need. At Davis Insurance Associates, we help homeowners across the Grand Strand and throughout South Carolina find smart ways to save. Here are seven proven strategies that can help reduce your homeowners insurance premium.

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1. Increase Your Deductible

One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your annual premium is by raising your deductible.

In South Carolina, homeowners policies usually offer flat deductibles ranging from $500 to $2,500. But wind and hail deductibles are often percentage-based—usually between 2% and 5% of your dwelling coverage.

✅ Why it works:
Raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 or $2,500 could save you 10%–25% each year.

⚠️ Just keep in mind: You’ll need to have emergency savings in place in case you need to file a claim.

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2. Bundle Your Home and Auto Insurance

Most insurance companies offer a discount when you bundle your homeowners and auto insurance with the same provider.

✅ South Carolina bundling tip:
In many cases, bundling can save you between 5% and 20%, depending on the carrier and coverage.

👉 Talk to a local independent agent (like us!) who can compare bundling options across multiple carriers and find the most cost-effective plan for your situation.

PREVIOUS BLOG ABOUT BUNDLING

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3. Install Safety and Security Features

Insurance companies reward homes with risk-reducing features—especially those that help prevent fire, theft, or major damage.

🚨 Examples of features that may qualify for discounts:

• Monitored burglar alarms
• Monitored fire alarms or sprinkler systems
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Deadbolt locks and security cameras

In many cases, you can receive 5% to 15% in premium discounts just by adding these safety upgrades.

Bonus Tip for SC Homeowners: Adding storm shutters, reinforced doors, or water-leak detection systems may help with wind/hail discounts or flood prevention in coastal areas.

PREVIOUS BLOG ABOUT SECURITY FEATURES

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4. Make Hurricane-Resistant Upgrades

South Carolina is no stranger to hurricanes. Fortunately, many home upgrades can both protect your home and earn insurance discounts—especially for wind and hail coverage.

🏠 Consider these upgrades:

• Impact-rated shingles
• Roof tie-downs and hurricane straps
• Hip-style roof framing
• Gable bracing
• Impact-resistant windows and doors

✅ Wind Mitigation Credits:
Homes built or renovated to meet SC Safe Home or IBHS Fortified standards may qualify for significant discounts. However, not many homes currently qualify for this.

📋 Pro Tip:
Consider scheduling a wind mitigation inspection. It typically costs less than $250 and may help unlock thousands in future savings.

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5. Maintain a Claims-Free Record

📉 Insurance premiums often go up after a claim is filed—especially for non-weather-related losses. Many carriers offer a claims-free discount after three years with no claims.

⚠️ Even just calling your carrier to inquire about filing a claim can be logged into your CLUE report. Always speak with your agent first to see whether filing is worth it.

*We do not discourage filing a claim. When in doubt, it is usually better to file a claim and let the company determine coverage.

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6. Maintain Excellent Credit

In South Carolina, insurance companies are allowed to use your credit-based insurance score when determining your rates. Homeowners with good or excellent credit often receive noticeably lower premiums.

✅ Ways to improve your score:

• Pay bills on time
• Keep credit balances low
• Check your credit report regularly and fix any errors

A strong credit profile can result in long-term insurance savings.

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7. Shop Around (and Use an Independent Agent)

Not all insurance companies rate risks the same way—and pricing can vary significantly from one company to the next.

✅ Best way to save:
Work with an independent insurance agency (like Davis Insurance Associates!) that represents multiple carriers. We shop the market for you and help identify:

• The most competitive rates
• Available discounts
• The best coverage for your needs

Don’t stay with the same carrier out of loyalty alone. While loyalty discounts exist, they often don’t beat the savings you could find by switching every few years.

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Quick Recap: 7 Ways to Lower Your Home Insurance in SC

• Raise your deductible (especially for wind/hail coverage)
• Bundle your home and auto insurance policies
• Install safety/security devices like alarms and detectors
• Make wind-resistant upgrades to your roof, windows, and structure
• Avoid filing small claims to maintain a claims-free discount
• Maintain excellent credit to qualify for better rates
• Shop around with an independent agent every few years

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Real-World SC Examples

We’ve seen real savings from local homeowners:

• One client in Conway raised their deductible and saved over $500 per year—while avoiding small claims that would’ve triggered a rate increase.
• A coastal Myrtle Beach homeowner installed impact-resistant windows and a fortified roof system. They not only improved their storm protection—they also received SC Safe Home credits and a wind mitigation discount.

These strategies work. They just need to be tailored to your home and your policy.

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Ready to Save on Your SC Home Insurance?

At Davis Insurance Associates, we help homeowners all across the Grand Strand—Myrtle Beach, Conway, Surfside Beach, North Myrtle, and beyond—find affordable, reliable coverage that fits their needs and their budget.

Reach out to us today for a personalized review. We’ll help you explore discount options, compare carriers, and make sure your coverage works for your home—not against your wallet.

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