Cheap South Dakota Auto Insurance for 2024

All drivers in South Dakota must carry the required South Dakota auto insurance to drive. Luckily, auto insurance in South Dakota is cheaper than the national average, making it easier to find cheaper rates. 

Understanding auto insurance in South Dakota, from its required coverages to company rates, will help you buy a cheap policy with ease. We have covered everything you need to know about South Dakota auto insurance rates, laws, and coverage here.

Before you buy South Dakota auto insurance, make sure to compare rates. Enter your ZIP code for free South Dakota auto insurance quotes now.

South Dakota Auto Insurance Requirements

In South Dakota, the state auto liability insurance coverage minimums are:

• Bodily Injury Coverage – $25,000 per person
• Bodily Injury Coverage – $50,000 per accident
• Property Damage Coverage – $25,000 per accident

Take a look at how South Dakota’s minimum rates compare with surrounding states.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage minimums:

• Bodily Injury Coverage – $25,000 per person
• Bodily Injury Coverage – $50,000 per accident

Optional coverage choices in SD include:

• Comprehensive Coverage
• Collision Coverage
• Roadside Assistance / Towing Coverage
• Medical Payments Coverage
• Rental Car Reimbursement Coverage
• Custom Parts and Equipment Coverage

South Dakota drivers must have 25/50/25 coverage. This means that a driver must have a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per party along with $50,000 total coverage per accident. $25,000 in coverage must also be included in the policy for property damage liability insurance.

Drivers in South Dakota are also required to have coverage to protect against underinsured/uninsured motorists. Drivers are not required to have collision or comprehensive automobile insurance in South Dakota.

Bodily injury insurance protects drivers when they are involved in an accident and injure another person. South Dakota requires drivers to have this insurance to ensure financial responsibility when you are at fault in an accident. Drivers should consider purchasing more than the state minimum for bodily injury insurance as it may cost the driver more money down the road in legal fees and court costs.

Property damage liability insurance covers the cost of the other party’s vehicle and any other property damaged in the accident where you are at fault. As an example of how this policy works, if you were to hit a vehicle as well as a house, the damage to both would be covered by your property damage coverage.

South Dakota law requires that drivers have $25,000 minimum in property damage liability coverage. Drivers should strongly consider purchasing additional coverage to protect against the high cost of damages. Many accidents exceed $25,000 in property damage and may cost as much as $100,000 or $200,000 to have all claims paid out. Drivers who lack property damage liability insurance above the state minimums may be sued and forced to pay out the excess cost.

Collision coverage is another option for South Dakota auto insurance policies. While a collision policy is not required, drivers should strongly consider adding insurance coverage onto their vehicle if it is worth over $4,000. Having a vehicle worth over $4,000 often means that a collision policy will pay for itself.

Collision coverage carries a deductible that you can select when you buy your policy. Individuals can decide which level of coverage is right for them. A lower deductible does mean a higher monthly insurance payment. However, it means less money coming out of your pocket when you file a claim. Drivers should keep this in mind when deciding upon the deductible that is correct for them.

Personal injury protection insurance is another policy that is not required in South Dakota. However, drivers should strongly consider purchasing PIP protection. This policy protects a driver in case of personal injury during an auto accident. A personal injury protection policy will pay costs such as lost wages, medical expenses, and other costs for you and your passengers regardless of fault in an accident.

PIP often costs a few dollars extra per month and can provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra coverage for individuals. Many auto insurance companies offer different levels of coverage and drivers should carefully consider which level of coverage is appropriate for their needs.

Comprehensive insurance, also known as full coverage auto insurance,  is another optional insurance policy that many drivers choose to add to their policy. Comprehensive auto insurance protects a vehicle if it were to be involved in a fire, natural disaster, or is broken into. Drivers should look at the cost of the additional premium monthly versus the cost of replacing their car.

A driver who does not have a comprehensive auto insurance policy and has a vehicle stolen may realize that the additional coverage was well worth it. Comprehensive auto insurance policies often have a deductible option. Some drivers may choose a low deductible in order to be able to easily have their vehicle repaired. Other drivers choose to have a high deductible to lower their monthly premium.

Luckily the insurance rates in South Dakota are much cheaper in comparison to the other states in the nation.

The statewide average for auto insurance is just under $1,100 per year, which is less than $100 a month. Compared to the national average, this rate is more than $300 less. What’s even better is that the rate doesn’t change much when going from an average rural area to a big city.

We can also take a closer look at the ZIP codes within the state to see how rates changed based on different areas.

There are a lot of factors that auto insurance companies take into consideration when determining your rates. Take a look at our overview here.

While many of these factors are simply based on your own driving record, two things that affect even the safest of drivers are age and gender. As with most states, males typically pay higher auto insurance rates than females.

Learn about how age affects auto insurance rates. 

South Dakota Auto Insurance Rates by Company

Though the state boasts very cheap auto insurance rates overall, let’s take a look at how the best South Dakota auto insurance rates vary between some of the largest companies.

But which South Dakota auto insurance companies are the largest, holding the most market share percentage in the region?

South Dakota Auto Insurance Agents Directory

Additional Auto Insurance Resources In South Dakota

• South Dakota Division Of Motor Vehicles
• South Dakota Insurance Division
• South Dakota Motor Insurance Mandatory Coverage

Comparing Auto Insurance Quotes In South Dakota

Drivers in South Dakota should carefully review the different options available for cheap South Dakota auto insurance. There are a number of policies available, and drivers must ensure that the policy they select is right for their needs.

If you are a South Dakota driver, enter your ZIP code below to compare quotes from top South Dakota auto insurance companies.