Paying for car insurance is just a part of owning a car. South Dakota has a slightly higher average rate for full insurance premiums, but is one of the most affordable states for minimum liability. Keep in mind that about 8% of all drivers in South Dakota do not have car insurance, which increases premiums for everyone.
We chose the best car insurance companies in South Dakota based on annual premium cost, consumer support and satisfaction, coverage options, and online resources. Some of the top picks for the state are also part of our national list of best car insurance companies.
The 5 Best Auto Insurance Companies in South Dakota
- Allstate: Best for wide coverage
- American Family: Best for customizable coverage
- Geico: Best for discounts
- State Farm: Best for customer service
- USAA: Best for military personnel and their families
Compare the Top Car Insurance Companies in South Dakota
The average price for car insurance will vary depending on a number of situations. Credit score, driving record, the city in South Dakota you live in, age of the car, and more all affect your premium in South Dakota.
| Full Coverage Annual Premium | State Minimum Annual Premium | Reviews.com Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options. | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Allstate | $1,957.91 | $495.06 | 4 | A+ | 825 | |
| Pin American Family | $1,527.79 | $635.93 | 4.6 | A | 839 | |
| Pin Geico | $3,052.91 | $510.23 | 4.6 | A++ | 845 | |
| Pin State Farm | $1,934.58 | $492.59 | 4.8 | A++ | 847 | |
| Pin USAA | $1,660.16 | $342.83 | 4.8 | A++ | 897 |
Information accurate as of June 2021
* Data provided by Coverage.com
J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study for the Central region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Allstate
Best for wide coverage
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Streamlined claims process
- Strong online policy management and learning materials
- 24/7 claims center
- Drivewise program
Cons
- Missing some common discounts
- Below average customer satisfaction
Types of Coverage Offered
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability
- Medical payments
- Personal injury protection
- Personal umbrella policy
- Rental reimbursement coverage
- Roadside coverage
- Sound system insurance
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
Discounts Available
- Anti-lock brake discount
- Anti-theft device discount
- Automatic withdrawal discount
- Early signing discount
- Full-pay discount
- Multi-policy discount
- New car discount
- Paperless discount
- Responsible payer discount
- Safe driver discount
- Smart student discount
More Allstate Insurance Reviews
American Family
Best for customizable coverage
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Wide variety of coverage types
- Unique discounts available
- Easy to file a claim
Cons
- Lowest financial strength rating on our picks
- Slow claim process
Types of Coverage Offered
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Medical expense
- Personal injury
- Gap insurance
- Underinsured
- Rental Reimbursement
- Emergency road service
- Accidental death
Discounts Available
- Bundling policies
- Multiple vehicle discount.
- Safe driver discount.
- “KnowYourDrive” app discount,
- Loyalty discount.
- Switching to American Family.
- Early-bird discount
- Discount for safety equipment
- Completing a driving course discount.
- Low-mileage discount
- Student discount.
- Away at school discount for students.
- Volunteer work
- Discount for family members
More American Family Insurance Reviews
Geico
Best for discounts
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Variety of discounts
- Strong financial ratings
- Fast and convenient auto repairs
Cons
- No discounts for hybrid/electric cars
- No gap insurance
Types of Coverage Offered
- Personal injury protection
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Mechanical breakdown coverage
- Medical coverage
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
Discounts Available
- Vehicle safety features (airbags, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft system and daytime lights)
- New vehicle
- Good driver
- Seat belt use
- Defensive driving course
- Driver education course
- Good student
- Emergency deployment
- Federal employee
- Employee membership
- Military
- Multi-vehicle
- Multi-policy
More Geico Insurance Reviews
State Farm
Best for customer service
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Impressive financial strength
- High claims satisfaction ratings
- Great discounts
Cons
- Fewer add-on coverages than competitors
- No accident forgiveness
Types of Coverage Offered
- Liability
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Medical expense
- Rideshare
- Emergency breakdown coverage
- Underinsured
- Car rental Reimbursement
- Emergency road service
Discounts Available
- Policy bundling
- Accident-free
- Defensive driving course
- Student away at school
- Good driver
- Driving training
- Good student
- Vehicle safety
- Passive restraint
- Anti-theft device
- Multi-vehicle
More State Farm Insurance Reviews
USAA
Best for military personnel and their families
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Personalized customer service
- Affordable policies
- Many discounts
Cons
- Only available to active and retired military members
- Very few branch locations
Types of Coverage Offered
- Personal injury protection
- Extended benefits coverage
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Accident forgiveness
Discounts Available
- Safe driver
- Defensive driving course
- Driver training course
- Good student
- New vehicle
- Multi-vehicle
- Annual mileage
- Vehicle storage
- Family discount
- Length of membership
- Military installation
- Policy bundling
More USAA Insurance Reviews
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
**J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the Central region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
The Average Cost of Car Insurance in South Dakota
Several factors influence the average cost of car insurance in South Dakota, like extreme weather, crime rates, driving statistics, and more. Driving habits, traffic violations, age and sex of the driver, type of vehicle, etc., also influences the premium you’ll pay.
South Dakota has one of the most affordable minimum coverage insurance. On average, South Dakota drivers pay $1,597 per year for auto insurance. That compares to a national average car insurance rate across the U.S. of $1,555 per year for a 12 month, full coverage policy. The average minimum rate across the U.S. is $545 for a 12-month premium.
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in South Dakota
| Company | Average Annual Premium |
| Farmers | $303 |
| USAA | $343 |
| North Star | $356 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in South Dakota
| Company | Average Annual Premium |
| Farm Bureau Prop & Cas Ins Co | $1,030 |
| American Family Ins Co | $636 |
| Western Natl Mut Ins Co | $541 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Top 3 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in South Dakota
| City | Average Annual Premium* |
| Yankton | $419 |
| Vermillion | $426 |
| Huron | $430 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance in South Dakota
| City | Average Annual Premium* |
| Sioux Falls | $593 |
| Rapid City | $531 |
| Rapid Valley | $527 |
* Data provided by Coverage.com, price based on the state minimum required policy.
Guide to South Dakota Car Insurance
There are 167,838 miles of roadway in South Dakota. In the three largest cities in the state, the average commute time is just about 23.7 minutes. Although one of the safest states to live in, there are 198.5 car thefts per 100,000 inhabitants every year. South Dakota is an “at fault” auto accident state, so whoever is at fault for causing an accident is responsible for all costs up to policy limits.
A conviction for driving without proof of insurance is considered a “Class 2 Misdemeanor” by South Dakota law and is punishable by a $100 fine, 30 days in jail, or both. Your driver’s license may also be suspended for at least 30 days, up to one year, according to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety Motor Vehicle Division,
Car Insurance Add-Ons That Will Further Protect You
To save money on your auto insurance, several add-ons are recommended for drivers in South Dakota. Some may not be available to all drivers, and some car insurance companies may not offer all types of additional coverage.
- Comprehensive insurance: Covers non-collision-related damages to your vehicle, like theft and vandalism.
- Collision: Covers the cost to repair any damage to your vehicle when in an accident.
- Medical payments: Up to the limits in your policy, this coverage will pay for your medical costs if you’ve been in an accident.
- Rental reimbursement: If you need a rental car when your vehicle is being repaired after an accident, this coverage has your back.
- Gap insurance: Covers the difference between the current value of your car and the amount you still owe on your vehicle.
- Towing and labor. If your vehicle is not drivable after an accident and needs to be towed, this coverage will kick in.
- Customized equipment. Covers vehicle add-ons like new wheels or a trailer hitch that’s damaged.
South Dakota Minimum Insurance Requirements
If you want to drive in South Dakota, you’ll need to meet these state minimum requirements on your auto insurance policy. Even though the state doesn’t require drivers to carry full coverage insurance on their vehicles, if you finance your car, most financial institutions will require you to have comprehensive insurance.
Minimum liability required in the state of South Dakota is divided as follows:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person.
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death to multiple people in an accident.
- $25,000 for property damage.
To meet South Dakota state insurance laws, you’ll need to purchase and maintain a policy that includes:
- Liability coverage.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
You’ll also need to have proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.
South Dakota Car Insurance FAQs
What is the minimum car insurance required in South Dakota?
It is mandatory to have car insurance in South Dakota. The minimum car insurance required is referred to as 25/50/25:
- $25,000 bodily injury per person
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 property damage per accident
What is the average auto insurance cost in South Dakota?
Drivers in South Dakota pay an average of $1,597 a year for full coverage auto insurance and $314 for their state minimum coverage.
What is the cheapest car insurance company in South Dakota?
That depends on the qualifiers for determining the cheapest rates. By looking at average rates, Farmers offers the cheapest state minimum coverage at around $300, and American Family has the lowest average rate for full coverage at $1,528 per year.
Methodology
Reviews.com scores products, services and companies using five quantifiable criteria to help readers choose the best one for them. For the best car insurance in South Dakota, our editorial team compared affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction scores and online resources from each company and averaged the scores to produce our very own Reviews.com score. These scores were created with our readers in mind and are meant to be a helpful tool to simplify the process of choosing which car insurance company is best for you.
As for average pricing, we used Coverage.com’s data of car insurance in South Dakota, based on the profiles of a 30-year male and female. For full coverage, the details used were the following:
- $100k bodily injury liability per person
- $300k bodily injury liability coverage per crash
- $100k property damage liability coverage per crash
- $500 collision coverage deductible
- $500 comprehensive coverage deductible
Minimum coverages were applied to match state requirements. Both drivers used a new, financed 2018 Toyota Camry, commuting five days a week and driving 12,000 miles per year. Since auto insurance rates vary widely among different profiles, we encourage you to compare options that fit your specific needs.
About the Authors
Lauren Ward is a personal finance writer who regularly covers consumer insurance products. Her work has appeared in a variety of online publications, including Bankrate and The Simple Dollar. She graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in Japanese.
