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Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota for 2024

Updated Nov 01, 2024
Based on Bankrate's extensive analysis, USAA, North Star Mutual and Auto-Owners are some of the cheapest car insurance companies in South Dakota.
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Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

The cheapest car insurance companies in South Dakota

Based on an analysis of data provided by Quadrant Information Services, the average cost of car insurance in South Dakota is $362 annually for state-mandated minimum coverage and $2,278 for full coverage, which typically includes collision and comprehensive insurance. Your own rate is likely to vary from the averages as it will be based on your own circumstances and driving record. Bankrate's research found a handful of companies that are writing the cheapest car insurance in the Mount Rushmore State. Here are the companies offering the best average rates for a range of situations:

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Advertising disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota for minimum coverage

The state of South Dakota requires that all drivers acquire at least a minimal level of car insurance to drive legally. Along with bodily injury liability and property damage liability, South Dakotans must also carry uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance, which helps pay for medical expenses for drivers and their passengers if hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. While minimal limits are usually associated with a lower premium, insurance experts recommend that policyholders carry higher levels of liability for more financial protection.

$19
$224
- $138
North Star Mutual
$19
$232
- $130
$23
$276
- $86
$27
$326
- $36
Western National
$28
$337
- $25

Minimum coverage requirements for South Dakota drivers

The cheapest type of car insurance in South Dakota is minimum coverage, which costs, on average, $362 a year. Minimum coverage insurance in South Dakota is represented as 25/50/25, which translates to $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident and $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident. Drivers are also required to carry 25/50 in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Note that minimum coverage does not help pay for damage to your vehicle if you cause the accident, though.

It is recommended that drivers in South Dakota purchase coverage beyond the required amount if they are financially able to do so. In the event of an at-fault accident, if a driver’s financial responsibility exceeds their policy’s coverage limit, they become responsible for paying the remaining damages out of pocket. Full coverage, which typically includes collision and comprehensive coverage, costs an average of $2,278 in South Dakota. If you lease or finance your vehicle, you will probably be required to purchase full coverage car insurance.

It’s important to remain insured in South Dakota because the state imposes financial penalties and more for uninsured drivers. Driving without proof of insurance is punishable by a $100 fine or 30 days in jail. Your driver's license will also be suspended for at least 30 days, and you’ll have to file an SR-22 form with the state for three years.

Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota for full coverage

Full coverage insurance is a policy that includes all the state's required coverage plus collision and comprehensive insurance, which covers damage to your own car in an at-fault accident. Full coverage generally costs more, but it also gives you more robust protection. Unless you have a very old vehicle that is not worth repairing if it's in an accident, choosing a full coverage policy can be a good idea.

$142
$1,706
- $572
$152
$1,830
- $448
$162
$1,944
- $334
$163
$1,955
- $323
$197
$2,362
+ $84

Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota for drivers with prior incidents

The average rates quoted above are for drivers with a clean driving record. If you have one or more infractions on your license, you may pay more for your policy, since insurers are likely to consider you a higher risk for future claims. It may be possible, however, to find cheap car insurance in South Dakota even if you've had an at-fault accident or other mark on your license.

Cheapest insurance companies for drivers in South Dakota with a speeding ticket: North Star Mutual

A single speeding ticket conviction may be enough to increase your car insurance rates. It indicates to insurers that you may not be as safe a driver as they would like you to be, which might cause them to raise your rates accordingly. You may still be able to find cheap South Dakota car insurance, however, by considering the following companies, which have a reputation for writing inexpensive policies for those with a speeding ticket conviction on their license. North Star Mutual tops the list, with the cheapest averages of all our choices.

North Star Mutual
$266
$2,947
$286
$2,078
$316
$2,570
Western National
$337
$3,312
$381
$2,220

Cheapest car insurance for drivers in South Dakota with an at-fault accident: USAA

If you're at fault in an accident, you may be facing fines or other penalties. In addition to that, your insurance rate is likely to rise. Just as is the case when you get a speeding ticket, an at-fault accident leads your insurer to believe you are not a safe driver, and may therefore be at risk of future accidents as well. If that's the case, they may respond by raising your rate. These insurers, including our top choice USAA, are known for writing relatively low-cost car insurance in South Dakota for those who have had an accident.

$322
$2,255
Western National
$337
$3,312
$377
$3,041
North Star Mutual
$396
$4,716
$426
$2,360

Cheapest rates in South Dakota for high-risk drivers: Western National

Each insurer has its own criteria for placing a driver in the high-risk category. For many, it may be multiple speeding tickets, accidents or other moving violations. A DUI is seen as the most serious infraction, and a single instance of this on your record could have you paying high-risk rates for your insurance. Some insurers, in fact, will not write you a policy if you are in the high-risk category. The insurers in the table below offer South Dakota car insurance savings for those who are high-risk drivers, with Western National having the lowest average rates in this category:

Western National
$337
$3,312
$368
$2,497
$486
$3,451
$493
$2,579
$608
$3,914
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Bankrate’s take: As we noted above, a DUI is considered by many insurers to be the most serious moving violation you can have on your license. Because of this, some insurers will not write policies for those with a DUI conviction because insurers believe there is too high a risk that they will be faced with claims for similar infractions in the future. If you have a DUI, you may need to be prepared to find another insurer that is willing to write a policy for you, possibly an insurer who specializes in high-risk auto insurance.

Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in South Dakota

One of the factors insurers may take into consideration when determining your premium is age. Insurers look at statistical evidence showing which age groups are most likely to be involved in accidents, and teens and young adults score high in this category. By shopping around, however, you may be able to find cheap car insurance for young adult drivers.

Cheapest South Dakota car insurance for insuring a teen driver: North Star Mutual

It can be a challenge to find cheap car insurance in South Dakota if you have a teen driver listed on your policy. Teen drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident than any other age group, largely because they do not yet have much experience behind the wheel. Insurers compensate for this by charging higher premiums across the board for teen drivers, even those who have not been involved in an accident. The good news is that they soon age out of this group and will see lower rates as they enter their twenties, assuming their driving records are clean. Even more good news: many insurers offer discounts for teens and student discounts that can lower your rate significantly.

North Star Mutual
$404
$4,296
Western National
$637
$6,303
$661
$3,615
$679
$2,800
$765
$3,438
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Bankrate’s take: Unless otherwise stated, teen rates are for 16-year-old drivers on their married parents’ policy. Teens this age and older may be able to save money by staying on their parents' policy as long as possible. Insurers perceive teens as a higher risk because data from organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that teens have proportionately more accidents than any other age group. In fact, the number of fatal crashes for those aged 16 to 19 is nearly three times the rate for drivers 20 and over.

Cheapest South Dakota car insurance for teens with a ticket: North Star Mutual

As is true for adult drivers, teens who have a speeding ticket on their license are likely to see their rates increase. If this is the case, they may want to look at companies such as North Star Mutual and USAA, who have low average rates for teens with a speeding ticket.

North Star Mutual
$764
$7,866
$825
$4,430
Western National
$854
$8,471
$1,055
$4,998
$1,057
$5,810

Cheapest South Dakota car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: North Star Mutual

Teens sometimes engage in risky behavior behind the wheel, such as texting while driving, and the rate for teen accidents is high. If you have a teen in your family who has been in an at-fault accident, companies such as North Star Mutual offer affordable average rates for drivers who may be considered high-risk.

North Star Mutual
$851
$8,922
Western National
$854
$8,471
$865
$4,811
$1,185
$5,426
$1,266
$6,567
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Bankrate’s take: One option that may be attractive to families that include a teen driver is accident forgiveness insurance. Accident forgiveness is offered as an optional endorsement by many insurers and may save you money if your teen is in an accident. Generally, insurers raise premium rates after a driver has an accident. This endorsement, however, "forgives" a single at-fault accident so that your rates will not increase. There may be restrictions on the coverage, but it can be worth talking to your insurance agent about whether it might be right for your situation.

Cheapest South Dakota car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: Western National

A teen who is convicted of a DUI is likely to face steep civic penalties, but in addition to that, they will probably see a sharp increase in their insurance rate. They may want to consider taking a defensive driving course to see if that earns them a discount. They may also want to look at carriers such as Western National, which offers some of the cheapest car insurance in SD for drivers with a DUI.

Western National
$561
$5,547
$587
$3,869
$815
$4,798
North Star Mutual
$1,053
$12,659
$1,127
$4,178

Cheapest car insurance rates by city in South Dakota

Your insurer is likely to use your ZIP code when determining the premium you will pay. Those who live in low-crime areas, as well as in areas where there is less traffic — and thus fewer accidents — may earn a lower rate than those, say, in busy urban areas where heavily traveled roads make for frequent fender-benders. When looking for the cheapest car insurance in South Dakota, you might find it in cities such as these:

Cheapest cities in South Dakota for car insurance

Avon
City average annual min coverage premium
$314
Cheapest car insurance carrier
North Star Mutual
Company average annual premium
$202
Veblen
City average annual min coverage premium
$309
Cheapest car insurance carrier
North Star Mutual
Company average annual premium
$202
Wagner
City average annual min coverage premium
$313
Cheapest car insurance carrier
North Star Mutual
Company average annual premium
$202
Britton
City average annual min coverage premium
$314
Cheapest car insurance carrier
North Star Mutual
Company average annual premium
$202
Platte
City average annual min coverage premium
$313
Cheapest car insurance carrier
North Star Mutual
Company average annual premium
$202

Cheapest car insurance in larger cities in South Dakota

Sioux Falls
City average annual min coverage premium
$451
Cheapest car insurance carrier
North Star Mutual
Company average annual premium
$241
Watertown
City average annual min coverage premium
$342
Cheapest car insurance carrier
North Star Mutual
Company average annual premium
$202
Rapid City
City average annual min coverage premium
$411
Cheapest car insurance carrier
USAA
Company average annual premium
$242
Brookings
City average annual min coverage premium
$337
Cheapest car insurance carrier
North Star Mutual
Company average annual premium
$202
Aberdeen
City average annual min coverage premium
$356
Cheapest car insurance carrier
North Star Mutual
Company average annual premium
$202

Car insurance discounts in South Dakota

As we noted above, discounts can be a great way to save on car insurance in South Dakota. Almost all insurers offer at least a few of these, and many of them are easily earned. Here are a few of the more common ones in the Mouth Rushmore state:

  • Accident-free: Many insurers will give you a discount if you remain claim-free for a certain number of years — usually one to three. The discount may increase the longer you go without filing a claim.
  • Safe driving: Insurers increasingly use telematics to monitor your driving in real-time. If you prove to be a safe and careful driver, you may be able to save a significant amount on your premium. Keep in mind that some insurance companies may also penalize you if you demonstrate unsafe driving habits.
  • Young driver: These opportunities vary from insurer to insurer; the most common one rewards young drivers in school with a discount if they maintain a "B" or above average. College students may also get a discount if they attend school more than 100 miles from where their car is garaged.
  • Bundling discount: This common program saves you money on your premiums if you purchase more than one policy from your insurer. Most commonly, this will be auto and homeowners or auto and renters insurance.
  • Vehicle safety discounts: Most newer cars have safety features such as anti-lock brakes, airbags and theft prevention systems. Some insurers will offer a discount for these devices.

Frequently asked questions

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46
years of industry expertise
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122
carriers reviewed
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34.5K
ZIP codes examined
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1.2M
quotes analyzed

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze November 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and coverage levels:

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40 year old
Single male and female driver
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2022 Toyota Camry
Primary vehicle
Credit Good Icon
Good credit score
Auto Insurance Guide Icon
Clean driving record
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Commutes 5 days

Bodily injury liability

$100,000 per person
$300,000 per accident

Property damage liability

$50,000 per accident

Personal injury protection

$100,000 per accident

Uninsured motorist bodily injury

$100,000 per person
$300,000 per accident

Collision deductible

$500

Comprehensive deductible

$500

Other profiles

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.