For Spartanburg drivers, where you live determines car insurance rate

Jun. 16--In the Upstate, where you live can make a difference in how much you pay for car insurance.

For example, you may live in Union and pay $1,342 a year while a friend lives in Woodruff and pays $1,246 a year -- $94 less.

[NATIONAL STORY: Auto insurance varies by zip code]

While most insurers use other demographics to determine rates, such as age, sex and driving record, many use ZIP codes as well to determine if the driver lives in a riskier area based on accident rates.

"We have had cases where somebody moved from ZIP code to another and their premiums changed," said Bob Walker of Landrum Insurance.

He said how much you drive and where are also factors.

"If you drive everyday to Greenville, you'll pay more than somebody who lives and drives in Landrum," he said.

A Landrum driver pays $1,267 a year compared to a Greenville driver who pays $1,292 based on a recent report by the website The Zebra, which examined more than 61 million rates across the country for its 2019 State of the Auto Insurance Report.

Rates even vary for those who live in Spartanburg, because of the different ZIP codes.

For instance, a driver in ZIP code 29301 who pays $1,268 a year will pay $20 more -- $1,288 a year -- if they move to ZIP code 29306.

Walker, an independent agent, said many companies look at accident data in each ZIP code.

"The biggest thing we're seeing is accidents -- even when you're not at fault," he said. "Overall, you're looking at the driving record and how much you use your car."

Boiling Springs Allstate agent Jack Mabry said companies are also looking at credit reports of drivers.

"I've got some who have poor credit scores, but are better drivers," Mabry said.

In South Carolina, a motorist with "exceptional" credit -- a score of 800 to 850, will pay an average rate of $1,225.83 a year. A driver with a "very poor" credit report of 300 to 579 will pay an average of $2,760.99, according to The Zebra.

That's a difference of $1,535.16 a year.

According to The Zebra's rankings, the most expensive place for a driver to live in South Carolina is Allendale's ZIP code of 29810 -- $1,669 a year for car insurance.

The cheapest place for car insurance is Clemson's ZIP code 29361 at $1,134 a year.

Age plays a big role in rates as well.

A 16-year-old driver in South Carolina faces an average yearly premium of $6,372.08.

Yet a driver in their 50s will pay only $1,246 a year. Young drivers and teens are seen as greater accident risks.

Driving violations also drive up a motorist's car insurance bill.

In South Carolina, your first minor at-fault accident leads to a penalty of $633.77 a year in premiums, according to The Zebra. A DUI offense may jack up your rates by as much as $704 a year.

And yes, males are greater risks too. The average male driver in South Carolina pays $1,367.34 a year, compared to the average female, at $1,325.27.

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