South Carolina Department of Insurance

South Carolina is one of the premier onshore captive domiciles. The South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) has a dedicated captive division of extremely talented professionals focused solely on captives. The mission of the South Carolina captive division is to promote quality captives by applying a proportional approach to regulation while appreciating the strategic objectives for which captives are created.

In the 23 years since the captive law was signed into effect, South Carolina has gained significant experience with captives of all kinds and sizes, representing a diverse mix of industries and exposures.  Parent organizations range from small to midsized privately held firms, to some of the world's largest and most successful multinationals.  The risk management and risk financing programs of these companies are among the most sophisticated and successful anywhere and make full use of the versatility and flexibility their South Carolina captives offer.

South Carolina has expertise in all types of alternative risk programs. Our team is professional, responsive, and business-minded, with a focus on execution and results.  These are just a few of the reasons that South Carolina is set apart as world-class in the captive space.  With South Carolina as your captive domicile, you can be assured of an impeccable reputation, exceptional service, plus unmatched understanding of the business of risk.

Find out more by visiting our website: SC Captives

Company Contacts

Audits Director, Traditional Company Analysis
(803) 737–6114

Mailing Address:
145 King St., Ste. 228
Charleston, SC 29401

Captive Domicile Summary

Since passing its captive insurance law in 2000, South Carolina has enjoyed steady growth as a captive domicile.

At the end of 2023, South Carolina had 221 active captives, including cell captves.

Captive managers and others say a key driver fueling that growth has been a highly talented regulatory staff.

Regulators in South Carolina are thoughtful, innovative, and committed to the industry, "and are always willing to reach out, answer questions, and work towards informed solutions," said Mike Coulter, deputy managing director in the Charleston office of Aon Captive & Insurance Management, one of the world's leading captive managers.

Regulators say accessibility is a key part of their job. "We want to be accessible and easy to work with because our captive owners have made a major investment in our state. We want them to maximize the benefit of their captive company within the bounds of reasonable regulation.  If it makes good business sense, we want it in South Carolina," said Joe McDonald, director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance's Captive Insurance Division.

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The South Carolina Captive Insurance Association (SCCIA) holds its Executive Educational Conference annually in Charleston. Session topics include captive regulatory updates, tax issues, case studies, and important industry issues and trends.

For more information about this and other SCCIA events, contact the SCCIA at (803) 779–6677.

Captive Domicile Statistics

Total Captive Count* South Carolina
Year Captives
2023 221
2022 208
2021 182
2020 175
2019 179
*Includes active and inactive captives and cell captives.
Captives' Gross Written Premiums South Carolina
Year Premium Volume
2023 $3.5 billion
2022 $3.2 billion
2021 $3.1 billion
2020 $2.9 billion
2019 $2.9 billion