Car Insurance in South Dakota
South Dakota drivers spend an average of $937 a year on auto insurance according to the NAIC — ▼ −27% versus the national average of $1,282, ranking 42nd most expensive of 51. The state requires 25/50/25 liability coverage and follows an at-fault system.
Average car insurance cost in South Dakota
The NAIC average expenditure is what insured drivers actually paid on average, including people who carry only liability. For those who buy each coverage, the average premium was $378 for liability, $307 for collision and $473 for comprehensive ($1,158 combined, versus $1,439 nationally). That average expenditure is 14% higher than the NAIC's previous data year ($823). Comprehensive coverage costs notably more than the U.S. average here, which usually reflects weather (hail, wind, flooding) and theft losses.
Minimum car insurance requirements in South Dakota
South Dakota's minimum is written as 25/50/25: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage liability. Those limits are low compared with the cost of a serious injury claim, so many drivers choose 100/300/100 — we estimate that "standard" level at about $455 a year here, $140 more than the minimum.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $25,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | No | — South Dakota does not require personal injury protection. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Yes | 25/50 Uninsured and hit-and-run motorist coverage equal to the policy's bodily injury limits is required on every policy. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Yes | 25/50 Underinsured motorist coverage equal to the policy's bodily injury limits is required on every policy. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical payments coverage is optional. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
Compare with another state
Is South Dakota a no-fault state?
No — South Dakota is an at-fault (tort) state. South Dakota is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver responsible for a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer, use their own coverage, or sue.
Uninsured drivers in South Dakota
The Insurance Research Council estimates 9.4% of South Dakota drivers are uninsured — 43rd highest in the country, compared with 15.4% nationally. That's roughly one uninsured driver in every 11 on the road. South Dakota requires uninsured motorist coverage, which pays your injury costs when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
SR-22 requirements in South Dakota
South Dakota uses the SR-22 — a certificate your insurer files with the state to prove you carry at least the minimum liability coverage. It is usually ordered after a DUI, driving uninsured, serious violations or a license suspension, and is typically kept for about 3 years. After a conviction for failing to maintain insurance, an SR-22 must be filed with the state for three years from the conviction date.
By our model, a driver in their 30s with a DUI would pay about $610 a year for minimum coverage in South Dakota, versus $315 with a clean record. What is SR-22 insurance?
Estimate your premium in South Dakota
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Car insurance by city in South Dakota
We cover 8 South Dakota cities. Estimates are for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record; hover a city to find it on the map. The lowest estimate is in Huron ($1,310) and the highest in Sioux Falls ($1,460).
- Sioux FallsPop. 209,289 · Minnehaha County$1,460+18% vs state
- Rapid CityPop. 79,894 · Pennington County$1,385+12% vs state
- AberdeenPop. 27,919 · Brown County$1,340+9% vs state
- BrookingsPop. 24,555 · Brookings County$1,340+9% vs state
- WatertownPop. 23,492 · Codington County$1,320+7% vs state
- YanktonPop. 15,670 · Yankton County$1,355+10% vs state
- MitchellPop. 15,621 · Davison County$1,315+6% vs state
- HuronPop. 14,515 · Beadle County$1,310+6% vs state
Estimated cost by driver profile in South Dakota
Age and driving record move premiums more than almost anything else. A teen on their own policy pays about 2.8× what a driver in their 30s pays for the same full coverage in South Dakota.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $865 | $1,255 | $3,400 | $283 |
| Young adult (22) | $505 | $730 | $1,980 | $165 |
| Adult in their 30s | $315 | $455 | $1,235 | $103 |
| Adult in their 50s | $290 | $420 | $1,140 | $95 |
| Senior (72) | $355 | $510 | $1,385 | $115 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $455 | $665 | $1,795 | $150 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $585 | $845 | $2,285 | $190 |
By coverage level
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $315 | $26 | $260–$370 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $455 | $38 | $375–$540 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,235 | $103 | $1,015–$1,460 |
Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in South Dakota
Full-coverage estimates for current models, using HLDI insurance-loss data where available. Vehicle choice alone can swing the premium by more than $3,415 a year here.
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Traverse | Midsize SUV | $735 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Small SUV | $895 |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $905 |
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $915 |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $915 |
| GMC Acadia | Midsize SUV | $915 |
| Ford Bronco | Midsize SUV | $930 |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $940 |
| Honda Pilot | Midsize SUV | $945 |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $955 |
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| Lamborghini Urus | Luxury SUV | $4,150 |
| BMW M3 | Luxury car | $3,455 |
| BMW M4 | Luxury sports car | $3,440 |
| BMW 7 Series | Luxury car | $3,300 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Luxury car | $3,050 |
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Luxury SUV | $2,810 |
| Audi RS 7 | Luxury car | $2,320 |
| Land Rover Range Rover | Luxury SUV | $2,320 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | Luxury sports car | $2,290 |
| Lucid Air | Luxury car | $2,135 |
Cheap car insurance in South Dakota: how to lower your rate
- Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 on collision and comprehensive saves about $110 a year on a typical South Dakota full-coverage policy.
- Match coverage to your car's value. On a 10-year-old car, dropping collision and comprehensive could cut the bill from about $885 to $455.
- Drive less, pay less. Low-mileage and usage-based programs can save around $85 a year if you drive under 7,500 miles.
- Protect your record. A single speeding ticket adds roughly $275 a year in our model; an at-fault accident adds much more.
- Shop at renewal. Rates for the same driver differ widely between insurers. Compare identical limits and deductibles.
- Ask about discounts — bundling home and auto, good student, safe-driver, paid-in-full and defensive-driving course discounts. See common discounts.
Complaints and help: South Dakota Division of Insurance
The South Dakota Division of Insurance licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and billing — free of charge.
- Website
- dlr.sd.gov
- File a complaint
- Consumer complaint page
- Consumer helpline
- 1-605-773-3563
South Dakota vs. neighboring states
| State | NAIC avg. | Minimums | System | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $937 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 9.4% |
| Iowa | $873 | 20/40/15 | At-fault (tort) | 11.4% |
| Minnesota | $1,103 | 30/60/10 | No-fault | 11.3% |
| Montana | $975 | 25/50/20 | At-fault (tort) | 7.2% |
| Nebraska | $981 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 9.5% |
| North Dakota | $808 | 25/50/25 | No-fault | 10.6% |
| Wyoming | $948 | 25/50/20 | At-fault (tort) | 6.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in South Dakota?
NAIC data puts the average South Dakota auto insurance expenditure at $937 a year, 27% less than the national average of $1,282 (rank 42 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive). Our estimate for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record is about $1,235 a year ($103 a month); state-minimum liability is about $315.
What is the minimum car insurance required in South Dakota?
South Dakota requires at least 25/50/25 liability coverage: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage.
Is South Dakota a no-fault state?
No. South Dakota is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver responsible for a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage.
How many drivers in South Dakota are uninsured?
The Insurance Research Council estimates that about 9.4% of South Dakota drivers are uninsured, ranking 43rd in the nation (national estimate: 15.4%).
Does South Dakota require SR-22 insurance?
Yes, South Dakota uses the SR-22 certificate for drivers who must prove financial responsibility, typically for about 3 years. After a conviction for failing to maintain insurance, an SR-22 must be filed with the state for three years from the conviction date.
Which South Dakota city has the cheapest car insurance?
Among the 8 cities we cover, Huron has the lowest full-coverage estimate at about $1,310 a year, while Sioux Falls is the highest at about $1,460. Differences come from population density, commute length and local weather risk.
How much does car insurance cost for a teen driver in South Dakota?
An 18-year-old on their own full-coverage policy would pay roughly $3,400 a year in South Dakota by our estimate, or about $865 for minimum coverage. Joining a parent's policy usually costs less.
How do I file a complaint against a car insurance company in South Dakota?
Contact the South Dakota Division of Insurance (consumer line 1-605-773-3563). It handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and rates at no cost.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- SDCL 32-35-70 (owner's policy limits)
- SDCL 58-11-9 (uninsured motorist coverage)
- SDCL 58-11-9.4 (underinsured motorist coverage)
- South Dakota Division of Insurance: Automobile Insurance
- South Dakota DPS: Revoked or suspended license (SR-22)
- South Dakota Division of Insurance: Complaint Process
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau: population estimates and American Community Survey
- FEMA National Risk Index