Car Insurance Requirements in South Dakota (2024)

To drive legally in South Dakota, drivers need to buy bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverage. It’s important to know how much coverage you need because driving without sufficient insurance can result in fines, license suspension, and more.

Drivers can choose to purchase additional car insurance, such as collision and comprehensive coverage, for more vehicle protection. After you decide how much coverage you need, you should shop around and compare rates from multiple insurers at once.

Here’s what you need to know about car insurance requirements in South Dakota.

South Dakota car insurance requirements

Per South Dakota law, you must maintain liability and uninsured motorist insurance and carry proof of insurance in your vehicle. At a minimum, you must purchase the following coverages and amounts:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

• Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

• Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident^[1]

Bodily injury liability

If you cause an accident, bodily injury liability insurance can help pay for the other driver’s medical bills, including costs for medications, surgeries, rehab, and lost wages. It can also cover your legal fees in the event of a lawsuit.

The per-person limit is the maximum amount your insurer will pay for each person injured in an accident. The per-accident limit is the total amount your insurer will pay for all injured parties in a single accident.

South Dakota car insurance laws mandate $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability.

Property damage liability

Property damage liability insurance applies if you cause an accident and damage another driver’s vehicle or other property. Though it’ll help cover the other driver’s repair costs, it won’t pay for your own vehicle damages.

In South Dakota, you must purchase $25,000 per accident in property damage liability.

Uninsured motorist coverage

Unlike liability coverage, this policy covers your injury costs following an accident with a hit-and-run driver or someone without insurance. When an at-fault driver can’t cover your expenses, your uninsured motorist coverage will act as the insurance the other driver should have purchased.

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South Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan

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  The South Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan (SDAIP) helps South Dakota drivers struggling to secure auto insurance find coverage. If you’re having trouble locking in an auto insurance policy in South Dakota, you should look into this program.^[2]

  You must meet the following criteria to apply for the plan:

  • Hold a valid South Dakota driver’s license or qualify for one

  • Show proof that you haven’t been able to secure car insurance

  For more specific information on the SDAIP, you can consult a car insurance agent or broker.

Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in South Dakota?

Liability-only car insurance helps cover property damage and injuries for the other driver after you have an at-fault accident. It’s the cheapest type of car insurance policy available, but you may want to consider buying more coverage.

Full-coverage car insurance has more expensive premiums, but it offers additional coverage through comprehensive and collision coverages. If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender may require you to purchase a full-coverage policy.

The cost of liability-only car insurance in South Dakota

The average cost of liability-only auto insurance in South Dakota is $63 per month. It covers the other party’s property damage and injury costs after you cause an accident. 

Below, you’ll find average monthly car insurance quotes from top insurance companies in the Mount Rushmore State.

The cost of full-coverage car insurance in South Dakota

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in South Dakota is $172 per month. It usually includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages.

Here are the average monthly quotes for full-coverage car insurance from some of the top insurers in South Dakota.

Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in South Dakota

South Dakota laws require drivers to carry at least liability and uninsured motorist insurance. If you can’t show proof of insurance through a valid insurance ID card, you can face a variety of consequences, such as:

• Jail time: Up to 30 days in jail

• Fine: A fine of $100 or more

• License suspension: Driver’s license suspension lasting between 30 days and more than a year

• SR-22 insurance: A requirement to file an SR-22 form for three years following the conviction, which generally leads to higher rates

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Optional car insurance coverages to consider

Depending on your situation, it might be a good idea to invest in additional car insurance beyond South Dakota’s minimum requirements. Several of the optional auto insurance policies you might want to consider include the following:

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  Collision coverage

  Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after a motor vehicle accident, regardless of fault.

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  Comprehensive coverage

  Comprehensive coverage can come in handy if your car sustains damage from a non-collision event, such as a falling object, fire, or theft.

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  Medical payments coverage

  Medical payments coverage may pay for your medical expenses after an accident, even if you caused it.

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  Rental reimbursement coverage

  Rental car reimbursement coverage may reimburse you if your vehicle is in the auto repair shop and you need a rental car to get around.

South Dakota car insurance requirements FAQs