CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — You can add car insurance premiums to the growing list of items and services with a higher price tag.

Industry forecasts expect the cost of full coverage car insurance to increase by at least four percent in the second half of the year. That’s before factoring in President DonaldTrump’s tariff policy, which experts say could make things worse.

A study by Insurify says consumers could see a 7 percent increase in car insurance costs by the end of 2025 if tariffs remain in place. That’s almost $2,500 annually for a fully insured vehicle.

“They’ve been going up for four years now,” said Kathy McKay, the president of McKay Insurance Company. “If they continue to go up, absolutely, it will continue to affect your rate.”

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Insurance experts believe that tariffs may drive up the cost of repairs, which, in turn, may drive up premiums.

“If they can’t get the parts and they’re waiting on them, and your car is sitting in a lot, they’re renting you a car for an extra period of time,” McKay added. “And that also drives the cost up.”

Between 2022 and 2024, insurance costs have gone up 40 percent, Insurify said.

“We’ve seen a couple of companies leave the market here locally,” McKay said. “The premium increase, though, here is lower than the national average, more like 12 to 17%.”

But there are other factors based on the individual driver.

“Where you drive is important,” McKay said. “Your driving record is extremely important. Who’s driving your cars is extremely important. Do you have teenage children or older members of the family driving your vehicles? Is it a car that’s really expensive to fix? All those factors come into play.”

Most companies have begun to use trackers to determine insurance rates

“Let us watch you drive, and we’ll discount your policy according to your driving habits,” McKay said. “Do you slam on the brakes when you’re doing the telematics? Are you a quick stopper? They do take into account how much you’re driving.”

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There are steps you can take to lower your insurance costs, McKay said.

Some methods include paying in full for six months or a year. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to check their motor vehicle records themselves.

Families can earn discounts for young drivers by procuring driver’s training. They can also seek training for older people now, with multiple policies with the same company, which will discount all insurance as a result.