The Best Cheap South Dakota Car Insurance for 2024

Drivers in South Dakota usually don't have to worry about sky-high auto insurance rates, but that doesn't mean they can't benefit from doing a little research. Focusing on the best car insurance in South Dakota can save a driver hundreds of dollars per year. Here's a look at which companies offer the lowest rates for several common driver profiles.

• Cheapest for typical drivers: Kemper
• Cheapest for drivers with prior accidents: Farmers Mutual of Nebraska
• Cheapest for drivers with prior speeding tickets: Farmers Mutual of Nebraska
• Cheapest for young drivers: Kemper
• Cheapest for senior drivers: Geico
• Cheapest for drivers looking for minimum coverage: Farmers Mutual of Nebraska
• Cheapest for drivers with poor credit: Kemper

Cheapest for typical drivers

A 35-year-old female driver with a clean record pays about $2,326 for South Dakota auto insurance while her male counterpart pays $2,372 annually. But those who choose Kemper can get the same coverage for $1,403 per year, regardless of gender.

These insurers are also among the best car insurance companies in South Dakota:

• Geico, which charges female drivers about $1,419 per year and male drivers about $1,526 per year
• Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, where women pay about $1,556 annually and men pay $1,598 annually for South Dakota auto insurance

Cheapest for drivers with prior accidents

Drivers with a single accident pay about $3,087 annually for South Dakota auto insurance. But those who choose Farmers Mutual of Nebraska only pay about $1,884 per year.

Drivers with accident histories can also score affordable car insurance in South Dakota with these companies:

• American Family, which charges these drivers about $2,062
• Kemper, where drivers with one accident pay about $2,294 per year for South Dakota auto insurance

Cheapest for drivers with prior speeding tickets

Farmers Mutual of Nebraska also offers affordable car insurance to drivers with a single speeding ticket. Its average annual premium for these drivers is $1,697 -- well under the state average of $2,746 per year.

Drivers with speeding tickets can also score cheap car insurance quotes in South Dakota with these insurers:

• Geico, where drivers pay about $1,758 per year for South Dakota car insurance
• Kemper, which charges these drivers about $1,952 per year

Cheapest for young drivers

A typical 18-year-old male driver with a clean record pays a whopping $5,328 per year for South Dakota auto insurance. But fortunately, it's possible to get coverage for less than half that by choosing Kemper. Its average annual premium for these drivers is $2,557 per year.

Teen drivers can also score cheap auto insurance in South Dakota with these companies:

• Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, which charges an 18-year-old driver about $2,839 annually
• American Family, where teens pay about $3,114 per year on average

Cheapest for senior drivers

A 65-year-old driver in South Dakota only pays about $2,004 per year for car insurance. But those who choose Geico can shave several hundred dollars off that bill. Its average annual premium for seniors is $1,171.

Seniors can also find low-cost car insurance in South Dakota with these companies:

• Kemper, where a 65-year-old driver pays about $1,214 per year for South Dakota auto insurance
• Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, where seniors pay about $1,223 per year

Cheapest for drivers looking for minimum coverage

South Dakota minimum car insurance costs about $404 per year on average. That's not bad, but drivers who choose Farmers Mutual of Nebraska could get the same coverage for about half the cost. Its average annual premium for minimum coverage is $212.

These insurers also offer cheap liability car insurance in South Dakota:

• Geico, where drivers pay $276 per year for minimum coverage
• North Star Mutual, which charges about $332 per year for South Dakota minimum coverage

Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

South Dakota drivers with poor credit will see their rates rise to around $3,776 per year. But those who choose Kemper only pay about $1,963 per year.

These companies also offer some of the cheapest car insurance in South Dakota to drivers with poor credit:

• Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, where drivers with low credit pay about $1,987 per year
• American Family, which charges these drivers around $2,547 per year

Average car insurance cost in South Dakota compared to the national average

How much is car insurance in South Dakota? That depends on many factors, including the driver's history of accidents and speeding tickets, their vehicle make and model, their ZIP code, and more. Typically, South Dakota rates are just slightly under the national average. Here's a look at how its premiums stack up to the rest of the country for several of the driver profiles mentioned above.

South Dakota auto insurance laws

All drivers should familiarize themselves with these South Dakota car insurance laws.

South Dakota is an at-fault auto insurance state

South Dakota is an at-fault auto insurance state. This means that in an accident involving two or more vehicles, the driver found to be at fault must pay for the medical bills for all parties involved. This is different from no-fault states where each driver bills their own insurance for medical expenses, regardless of fault.

Consequences for driving without insurance in South Dakota

Skipping South Dakota minimum car insurance is a Class 2 misdemeanor according to the South Dakota Legislative Research Council. It could result in the following consequences:

• Up to 30 days imprisonment
• Up to a $500 fine
• Driver's license suspension

South Dakota minimum coverage requirements

According to the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, all South Dakota drivers must carry at least the following coverage.

Bodily injury liability coverage

Drivers must have at least:

• $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident

Property damage liability coverage

Drivers must also carry at least $25,000 of property damage liability coverage.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Drivers must also carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in quantities equal to the bodily injury liability coverage requirements listed above. This protects a policyholder if they're hit by a driver who doesn't have insurance or who doesn't have enough insurance to cover the full cost of the damages.

How to get cheap auto insurance in South Dakota

South Dakota drivers looking to score cheap auto insurance can try the following tips:

• Shop around: Compare rates from several providers to see which offers the greatest value.
• Claim all possible discounts: Often, insurers automatically apply discounts to a qualifying driver's premium. But motorists must opt into certain auto insurance discounts, like driver monitoring program discounts.
• Choose a higher deductible: Raising a car insurance deductible typically lowers premiums.

Other things to consider when looking for car insurance in South Dakota

Here are a few other things drivers should bear in mind when shopping for South Dakota car insurance.

State minimum coverage isn't always enough

South Dakota actually requires more insurance than many other states, but even this isn't enough protection in all cases. Whenever possible, it's a good idea to purchase more than the minimum coverage. Otherwise, if an accident's total costs exceed the driver's policy limits, they must pay for the difference out of their own pocket.

Drivers have a 1 in 48 chance of hitting an animal

South Dakota has the third-highest likelihood of an animal-vehicle collision in the nation, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Drivers who are concerned about this should invest in comprehensive coverage for their vehicles. This helps repair the policyholder's vehicle if it's damaged due to bad weather, theft, vandalism, or an accident with an animal. For help with repairs following an accident with another driver, motorists can add collision coverage as well.