South Dakota Car Insurance (Coverage, Companies, & More)

South Dakota is a special place. The state is home to the largest sculpture in the world and, strangely enough, that sculpture isn’t Mount Rushmore. It’s the Crazy Horse mountain carving, measuring 563 feet high and 641 feet long.

South Dakota is also home to some of the largest collections of fossils ever found. The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs has the world’s largest collection of woolly mammoth and Colombian mammoth bones, while one of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons in the world was found just outside the city of Faith.

South Dakota is also home to mandatory insurance minimum laws, which means you are required by law to maintain at least the minimum levels of coverage set by the state to own and operate a vehicle.

Even though it’s a necessity, searching for car insurance sometimes feels frustratingly difficult. Spending multiple hours over the course of a week or more calling individual insurance companies to get a quote is a hassle.

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South Dakota Car Insurance Coverage and Rates

One of the best things about insurance in South Dakota is that the state’s average premium of $766.91 is significantly lower than the national average premium of $1,009.38, making South Dakota one of the most affordable places to insure a vehicle.

South Dakota’s Car Culture

South Dakota is home to the Sturgis Rally and Races, an internationally renowned celebration of motorcycle culture, with races, charity rides, concerts, and other events all built around a love of motorcycles.

It isn’t just motorcycles that hold the hearts of South Dakota residents, though. They also have the Corvette Classic, a nine-day festival that celebrates the love of one of the nation’s coolest cars.

South Dakota Minimum Coverage

Like the vast majority of states in the nation, South Dakota is an at-fault state. In the event of an accident, the person at fault is responsible for the financial costs associated with the accident.

South Dakota requires drivers to carry minimum levels of liability coverage and to carry proof of insurance while driving, as well as needing to provide proof of financial responsibility to register their vehicle.

Your required minimum coverage levels are as follows:

• Property damage – $25,000 per accident
• Bodily injury – $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage – $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident (must match your property damage and bodily liability coverage levels, capped at 100/300/100)

Keep in mind that these are minimum levels of coverage, not maximum. When you consider the cost of most new vehicles is more than $25,000, most drivers should strongly consider having higher levels of coverage in place.

Forms of Financial Responsibility

Whether you print ID cards at home or use your phone to access your insurance policy electronically, South Dakota requires you to carry some form of proof of financial responsibility.

Many insurance companies offer their customers the option to access their proof of coverage electronically through their smartphones, so be sure to check with your provider to see if they give you that option.

You can also choose to set up other coverage options (surety bonds, etc.) but most people choose to have an insurance policy as their form of financial responsibility.

Premiums as a Percentage of Income

Your insurance premiums reflect a wide variety of things, from your driving record to your age and gender. These changes are sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse, which can make figuring your premium as a percentage of your income difficult.

Individuals with less than stellar driving records could be spending 25 percent or more of their income on their insurance, while someone with a history of safe driving might spend less than 5 percent of their income on car insurance premiums.

To determine the percentage of your income spent on your car insurance, take the amount of your premium divided by your income (either gross or net) then multiply by 100.

For example, if a person is earning $40,000 and paying $2,000 for insurance each year, they spend 5 percent of their gross income on their car insurance each year.

As that person gets older their insurance rates will change, but other factors such as their ZIP code and credit history will also affect their rates. This makes it hard to predict whether their rates will increase or decrease over time.

Core Coverage

Let’s take a look at some rates for core coverage in South Dakota. That includes liability, comprehensive, and collision.

Note: The above data from the NAIC is based on the state minimums. Your choices regarding coverage levels will affect your premiums.

While liability coverage is required by law in South Dakota, there is a lot more to insuring your vehicle than just liability coverage. Insurance is about protecting your financial interests in the event of an accident, so you may want to consider any (or all) of these types of coverage:

• Liability – Liability insurance protects you by paying for damages to another person’s vehicle if you are at fault in an accident. It also covers the other driver’s medical bills in the event of bodily injury someone else sustained in an accident where you were at fault.
• Uninsured motorist coverage – Uninsured motorist coverage, often referred to as UM, is required in South Dakota. It covers you at the same levels as your liability coverage if you’re in an accident with someone who is uninsured.
• Collision – Collision insurance protects you by paying for damages to your vehicle if you’re at fault in an accident, whether you hit another vehicle or a stationary object such as a fence post. If you are responsible for a loan on your car you may be required by the lender to have active collision insurance on your policy.
• Comprehensive – Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car that isn’t caused during an accident. Some examples of what might be covered under a comprehensive policy are weather-related damage, theft, and vandalism.

Different insurance companies will have different guidelines as to what they will and will not cover under your comprehensive policy, so make sure you do your research before buying.

Additional Coverage

When it comes to additional liability coverage, the two main options are personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.

Where uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage takes the place of the liability insurance the other person should have (or doesn’t have enough of, depending on the situation), PIP applies no matter who was at fault in the accident.

PIP is usually a small amount of coverage, sometimes as low as $2,000, designed to cover your most basic needs if you require medical care due to an accident.

But PIP is about your medical needs. What about the needs of the other person if you’re at fault in an accident?

While the state minimum might be $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, that doesn’t mean it should be the maximum amount of liability coverage. You can always increase your levels of liability coverage, and most people should seriously consider carrying more than the state minimum.

You can always choose to buy more than the legal minimum of insurance. Many companies offer higher coverage levels, typically $50,000 to $100,000 in property damage and $250,000 per person/$500,000 per accident bodily injury, for which you will pay a higher monthly premium.

In the event of an at-fault accident, hopefully, you will cause minimal property damage and nobody will get hurt. But what if you aren’t so lucky?

You could hit someone in a Corvette or a BMW. They might have passengers in the car, all of whom could need medical care. A young mother could easily have her children in the car, so keep that in mind when looking at that $50,000 bodily injury cap.

If your insurance only covers $25,000 for property damage and $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury, you’ll still be required to pay out-of-pocket for any damages beyond what your insurance policy covers. Keep this in mind when choosing your coverage amounts.

When you are choosing coverage, you can consider the loss ratio of the company as well, so you may want to look up that information. The loss ratio is the amount paid out in claims by a company versus the amount of premium taken in by the company.

According to the NAIC, there is no loss ratio information readily available for South Dakota, but a loss ratio in the 60s or 70s is a good one — it means they aren’t charging too much for premiums and they are regularly paying out claims to their customers.

Add-ons, Endorsements, and Riders

A driver who has all of the core coverage levels mentioned above and higher-than-average levels of liability coverage isn’t necessarily fully protected. There are several other types of coverage available that you may need to be on solid financial ground, depending on your situation.

• Umbrella policy – If you don’t think $250,000/$500,000 in bodily injury and $100,000 in property damage would be enough to protect your assets in a serious accident, you might consider an umbrella policy. Umbrella policies provide a minimum of $1 million in liability coverage as well as extending coverage to situations not covered under standard policies such as libel and slander.
• Rental reimbursement – In the event of an insured loss, rental reimbursement covers the cost of your rental car while the vehicle you own is being repaired. For example, if your car were to be vandalized, comprehensive insurance would cover that cost, but rental reimbursement coverage would cover the cost of a rental car during repairs.
• Roadside assistance – When it comes to tow trucks or basic repairs on the side of the road, roadside assistance coverage would help cover the cost of those services.
• GAP insurance – GAP insurance typically covers the difference between what your insurance policy pays and the amount you still owe for your car, preventing you from being forced to make payments on a totaled vehicle. However, the type of GAP coverage available varies widely from company to company and state to state, so research carefully before buying.
• Non-owner insurance – If you don’t own a car but you still drive semi-regularly, you might need a non-owner insurance plan to provide you with third party liability coverage to protect you financially.
• Classic car insurance – The financial value of a classic or vintage car is often worth more than standard depreciation. If you have a classic car you will need classic car insurance to make sure your vehicle is protected at its full value.
• Usage-based/Pay-as-you-drive insurance – A device can be installed in your car or (an app installed on your phone) to record your driving information (speed, mileage, etc.) and report it to your insurance company who then offer you discounts on your coverage for being a better driver. This can have unforeseen consequences, however, so consider carefully before buying.

Male vs. Female Rates

While there are some states that make it illegal to rate people by gender, South Dakota is not one of them. Insurance companies operating in the state are still allowed to use your gender when determining your rates.

That doesn’t mean you have no recourse, however, because insurance premiums still vary widely by company. Comparison shopping for a policy can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars per year on car insurance, as indicated in the chart below.

In the tables above, the rates are determined by actually purchased coverage by drivers in South Dakota. It also includes rates for high-risk drivers and drivers who choose to carry higher-than-minimum levels of coverage, so these numbers may be higher than normal in your situation. 

Cheapest Rates by ZIP Code

Your ZIP code plays an important role in determining your insurance rates. Everything from the number of accidents to the number of cars stolen annually in a ZIP code goes into determining how they will set the rate for that particular ZIP code. This means that moving a block or two could dramatically change your annual premiums if it puts you in a new ZIP code.

Cheapest Rates by City

The city you live in can also have a dramatic impact on your insurance premiums. The rates for your city can be affected by crime levels, street parking availability, and other factors in the same way as your ZIP code.

Read more:

• Badger Mutual Insurance Company Car Insurance Review
• De Smet Insurance Company of South Dakota Car Insurance Review
• Milbank Insurance Company Car Insurance Review
• Seneca Insurance Company, Inc Car Insurance Review
• Stratford Insurance Company Car Insurance Review

It is important to remember that changing your ZIP code still affects your rates, even within the same city. This means you need to be cautious and verify the rates based on your city and based on your ZIP code when choosing an insurance policy.

Please note that the rates in the chart above are based on actual, purchased coverage, including things like PIP and other coverage you might not choose to elect for yourself. Your individual rates may be different based on your personal information and the types of coverage you choose. 

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Best South Dakota Car Insurance Companies

It can be difficult to choose an insurance provider. Some insurance companies might offer a robust policy, while others may provide a wider variety of coverage options. Other companies might be more affordable, but how do their policies compare to the pricier plans? What factors are the most important when choosing an insurance plan?

It can be useful to have more information when choosing which insurance company should protect you and your vehicle. Below are a few of the points you might want to consider when making your choice for the best car insurance in South Dakota.

The Largest Companies’ Financial Rating

One of the simplest ways to determine the stability level of an insurance company is by its financial rating. A.M. Best is one of several companies that rates each insurance company based on their financial stability — whether they have the financial assets needed to pay out claims over the course of the year.

Keep in mind that just because a company has excellent financial ratings doesn’t mean their customers are happy with their service or that their rates are reasonable, so a financial rating should not be your only factor when choosing an insurance company.

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Companies with Best Ratings

Typically, companies with an A rating or above are financially stable. Since the biggest companies in South Dakota are all rated A or higher they are all on solid financial ground.

A company’s financial rating is just one of the many pieces of information you should consider when choosing an insurance provider. Using this information along with the other facts below is a good way to guide your purchase.

Companies with Most Complaints in South Dakota

Consumers all across the nation are encouraged to report complaints regarding their insurance companies to their Attorney General’s office or another government office. But how do you know if your complaint is so serious that you should file an official claim?

The NAIC can help guide you through the process. They have apps for both Android and iPhone that can walk you through the steps to take after an accident, including reporting an issue to the state if necessary. When in doubt, you can always contact the consumer protection line with the Attorney General’s office at (605) 773-4400.

When it comes to customer satisfaction, J.D. Power and Associates rates companies based on five factors – interactions, policy offerings, price, billing process/policy information, and claims.

According to their study, Shelter ranked highest in customer satisfaction in the Central region, followed by Auto-Owners Insurance, Allstate, and Geico. Liberty Mutual and Nationwide were at the bottom of the list.

Cheapest Companies in South Dakota

While cost is important, it’s just one of the things you should consider when choosing an insurance policy. Whatever policy you choose must have the benefits you need to keep yourself protected, so review each policy carefully before you sign up.

Also, remember that some policies have limits as to who can purchase them. USAA, for example, is an insurance company only available to members of the U.S. military and their families. This means not everyone can sign up through USAA, even though they often have the lowest prices.

Commute Rates by Companies

Does how far you drive to work each day matter when it comes to car insurance rates? Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Read more: American Family Connect Insurance Company Car Insurance Review

Your commute is a sizable factor in determining your insurance rates. Companies typically break up their commute rates into categories, such as 10-mile commute/6,000 annual mileage or 25-mile commute/12,000 annual mileage.

Spending more time on the road increases the odds that you will need to file a claim with your insurance company. Because of this, drivers with a longer commute will often pay a higher premium for their insurance.

Whether the potential claim you would file is as big as a totaled vehicle or something smaller, such as a windshield replacement, longer drive times expose you to more situations that might damage your vehicle.

Coverage Level Rates by Companies

Because of the wide variety of options, you can choose from when selecting an insurance plan, the price of your policy can vary significantly depending on which types of coverage you select.

Your lifestyle also has a big impact on your insurance prices. Driving a five-year-old Honda? Your comprehensive and collision coverage will probably be much cheaper than if you were driving a brand new Corvette.

Take a look at the chart below to see how your choice of coverage can impact your rates with each insurance company.

Credit History Rates by Companies

While you might not think the two things would be connected, one of the big things that can impact your rates is your credit history.

Statistically, a lower credit score means you are more likely to file a claim, so a low credit score can raise your rates or possibly even cause you to be denied coverage altogether, depending on the circumstances.

A low credit rating can impact your rates, but it doesn’t mean you have no options. Comparison shopping between companies can potentially save you hundreds of dollars a year.

You can also work to improve your credit rating to help lower your insurance costs, which means that paying off your credit card debt and bringing up your credit score is good for your finances in multiple ways.

Driving Record Rates by Companies

Your driving record can have a significant impact on your insurance premiums, which means obeying traffic laws and avoiding accidents is one of the easiest ways to keep your insurance premiums low.

While a speeding ticket may not seem very expensive initially, it will be reported to your insurance company and will probably cause a rate increase, so keep that in mind when you are late for work.

Largest Car Insurance Companies in South Dakota

While size isn’t the most important factor, choosing a larger, well-known company with offices in multiple cities can be a good way to know you’ll be able to find someone who can help you should you need to file a claim at some point.

It can also be easier to find recommendations from other customers with a larger company. After all, the larger a company’s customer base, the more people there are who can make a recommendation.

Read more: Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Nebraska Car Insurance Review

Number of Insurers in South Dakota

South Dakota has 16 insurance companies in the state, but this doesn’t mean that these are your only options. There are another 834 foreign companies doing business in South Dakota, giving everyone in the state literally hundreds of options when it comes to their insurance provider.

Keep in mind that foreign doesn’t mean from another country. In this sense, foreign simply means that the company is headquartered in another state.

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South Dakota Laws

Each state has its own insurance and driving laws, rules, and regulations. What is legal in one state might be illegal in another, while something that is against the law in South Dakota could be perfectly acceptable somewhere else, so don’t assume that just because you know the law in Texas or Nebraska you won’t break the law in South Dakota.

Car Insurance Laws

While we like to think of laws as stable and solid, the truth of the matter is that laws are constantly being reinterpreted or changed altogether. It is vital to keep yourself up-to-date on the changes to traffic and insurance requirements so you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

The website for the South Dakota Department of Public Safety is an excellent place to stay up-to-date with the changing insurance laws.

How South Dakota Laws for Insurance are Determined

In South Dakota, laws are determined by a bicameral legislature. When it comes to your insurance rates, South Dakota uses File-and-Use rating laws.

This means an insurance company can begin charging new rates before they have been approved by the state. If the state regulator determines that the new rates cannot be justified they are able to retroactively strike down the rate change.

Windshield Coverage

South Dakota has no specific laws regarding windshield replacement.

Your insurance company is not allowed to require you to use specific repair shops when you file a claim, but they are allowed to use non-mechanical aftermarket or other used parts when replacing your windshield if it is specified in the estimate.

High-Risk Insurance

If you have enough tickets or other traffic convictions, eventually insurance companies might consider you too high-risk to insure. But South Dakota requires all drivers to be insured, so how can you obey the law?

If you need a policy but cannot find an insurer, you can reach out to the Personal Automobile Insurance Procedure (PAIP) at (401) 528-1371 for assistance. Previously, uninsurable drivers who needed insurance were assigned directly to a specific company, but the PAIP pooling mechanism is replacing that system effective Jan. 1, 2020.

If you have had your license suspended in the past, been convicted of a DUI or a number of other issues, you may be required to provide proof of financial responsibility before driving or registering a vehicle.

“A conviction for failure to maintain proof of financial responsibility is a Class 2 Misdemeanor (30 days imprisonment in a county jail, or $100 fine or both), driver license suspension for a period of not less than 30 days or more than one year, and filing proof of insurance (SR-22) with the state of South Dakota for three years from date of eligibility for reinstatement.” – South Dakota Department of Public Safety

Low-Cost Insurance

South Dakota does not have any discounts available specifically for people on Medicaid or other government assistance programs. This means everyone must pay the full price for their auto insurance, but there are other ways to save money on your insurance, including standard discounts with almost every insurance company.

The most obvious discounts are good driving record discounts or discounts for people who have multiple lines of insurance through the company, but that is just the beginning.

Many insurance companies also give discounts to nurses, teachers, and members of the military, along with other occupational discounts. Some insurers also give discounts to high school students with a B average or higher. Some even offer discounts as an employee benefit, so check with your HR department to see if they offer car insurance discounts to their employees.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in South Dakota

Insurance fraud comes in many shapes and sizes. Filing false paperwork, agents pocketing your premium payments, or exaggerating the damage in a claim are all forms of insurance fraud.

Purposely destroying your property in order to file a claim is also insurance fraud, which means if you’re caught knowingly driving your car into a lake or arranging to have it stolen so you can file a claim, you will face severe penalties.

Insurance companies take attempts to commit fraud very seriously, so be sure to follow the law when it comes to buying insurance and filing claims. At the same time, if you believe your insurance company is fraudulently denying your claim be sure to reach out to the Attorney General for assistance.

Statute of Limitations

The law in South Dakota states that you have three years to file a lawsuit over personal injuries and six years for property damage, otherwise you are beyond the statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations typically begins from the date of the accident, so if you’ve been in an accident or filed a claim that needs to go through the court system, make sure you file your complaint within the statute of limitations to avoid running out of time and having your case denied.

State Specific Laws

While there are some laws that are essentially the same from state to state, every state has its own unique laws as well.

For example, while most states have their minimum driving age set at 16, South Dakota allows teens as young as 14 to earn a Restricted Minor’s Permit.

It is important to know the details of your local laws to avoid a ticket or accident.

Vehicle Licensing Laws

Every state has similar rules for getting your driver’s license. Those rules are often different from situation to situation, with individual standards for new drivers, experienced drivers who are new state residents, and senior citizens.

If you’re a first-time driver or just need to update or renew your license, you’ll want to make sure you follow all of South Dakota’s laws and regulations.

REAL ID

The REAL ID Act is a federal law designed as a measure to prevent terrorism. REAL IDs are much more secure than a standard ID, increasing the likelihood that someone’s ID matches their identity and decreasing the ease with which people have previously been able to get a fake ID.

South Dakota is compliant with the REAL ID act, and your ID will need to be compliant by October 2020, so don’t wait to update your ID.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

There are serious consequences for driving without insurance in South Dakota, such as:

• Fines – You may be fined a minimum of $100
• Jail time – You may be sentenced to up to 30 days in jail
• Loss of license – Your license and registration may be suspended for 30 days to one year
• Reinstatement requirements – You may be required to have an SR-22 for up to three years after your license is reinstated

Teen Driver Laws

Like most states, South Dakota has graduated driving laws for teens. This means that teens in South Dakota start out with a learner’s permit and slowly work up to a full driver’s license over time.

Teens are also required to maintain their permit for a minimum of six months (or three months with a driver’s education course) and they are prohibited from driving unsupervised from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The restrictions on drivers under 18 are relatively minimal in South Dakota, so drivers from other states might find themselves surprised at sharing the road with 14-year-old drivers.

Older Driver License Renewal Procedures

Unlike most other states, South Dakota doesn’t have many age-based restrictions for drivers. The only real requirement related to age in South Dakota is that senior drivers need a vision test at every renewal.

South Dakota also reserves the right to require a reexamination for drivers based on their vision test, driving record, or the recommendation of a family member or police officer. This means you might need to have a medical exam or retake a written or driving test if requested by the state.

New Residents

If you’re a new resident in South Dakota, you have to provide proof of lawful status in the United States to obtain your license. They will accept the following documents:

• State certified U.S. birth certificate
• Valid, non-expired U.S. passport/passport card
• Certificate of citizenship/naturalization
• Permanent resident card
• Employment authorization card
• Foreign passport with a U.S. Visa/I-94

If you are transferring your license from another state and it is not a REAL ID, you will also need to provide your Social Security card, a W-2, a 1099, or a pay stub that shows your full Social Security number.

License Renewal Procedures

South Dakota licenses may be renewed up to 180 days before their expiration date unless the applicant is turning 21. Licenses expiring 30 days after your 21st birthday may only be renewed within the 30 days immediately following.

If your license has been expired for more than 30 days, you will be required to apply for renewal in person and complete the written test.

Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS)

Most people know the Negligent Operator Treatment System as earning points on your license, a system used all over the country to track bad driving behavior and motivate people to drive safely.

In South Dakota, drivers with 15 or more points within 12 consecutive months (or 22 points in 24 consecutive months) will have their license suspended.

If you’re facing a suspension, you have the right to request a hearing. If you have multiple points that all arise out of a single incident the points will be assessed based on the offense with the highest point value.

Rules of the Road

Laws and regulations regarding driving and insurance are predominantly determined at the state level. Everything from minimum driving age to residential speed limits is specific to South Dakota.

Because laws are determined locally, knowing the law in one state doesn’t guarantee you’ll be obeying the law in another. To avoid citations, make sure you understand and follow the traffic laws in South Dakota.

Fault vs. No-Fault

South Dakota is an at-fault state. In an at-fault state, the driver who is responsible for an accident is responsible for paying for the related damages.

In an at-fault state, when you are hit by another driver you can file a claim with their insurance company or take them to court to cover any damages you’ve suffered. The other side of the at-fault coin is that when you hit someone else they have all the same rights, so make sure you have enough liability insurance to protect yourself financially.

Your liability coverage is the first line of financial defense in an at-fault accident. When it runs out, you are personally responsible for any addtional costs.

Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws

South Dakota historically had very low seat belt usage before the law changed in 1995. The state is still working on encouraging everyone to buckle up, instituting their “Make It Click” campaign in 2017.

Even though the state instituted seat belt laws 25 years ago, the laws as they exist right now are much less stringent than the laws in other states. Currently the seat belt laws in South Dakota state that adults over the age of 18 sitting in the front seat are the only ones required to wear a seat belt and that children under 40 pounds must use a car seat or booster seat.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

The law in South Dakota requires drivers to keep right to let faster traffic pass.

Drivers who are approaching emergency response vehicles flashing red lights are required to stop, while drivers approaching emergency response vehicles flashing yellow or amber lights are required to slow down and move over.

Speed Limits

South Dakota has two types of speeding laws – basic speeding laws and absolute limits.

The basic speeding laws state that you must always drive at a safe speed as dictated by the circumstances. What is an acceptable speed on a snowy winter night is not the same as what would be reasonable on a sunny day in July. (For more information, read our “What is considered a safe speed to drive your car?“).

Absolute limits state that whatever the posted speed limit is, that is the legal limit and going above it is breaking the law. South Dakota has the following absolute speed limits:

• 15 miles per hour in school zones (when children are present)
• 25 miles per hour in urban areas
• 55 miles per hour on most township roads
• 65 miles per hour on most other state highways/roadways
• 80 miles per hour on the interstate

Ridesharing

In 2016, South Dakota passed House Bill 1091, requiring insurance coverage to be in place when the driver is logged into the app and when they have a passenger.

Drivers are required to carry $50,000 per individual and a total of $100,000 in coverage per accident when the driver is logged into the app but does not have a passenger, with $1 million in coverage when a passenger is in the vehicle.

There are several companies that offer insurance policies specifically for rideshare drivers, so if you drive for a rideshare company they might have a policy that meets your needs.

Automation on the Road

There are no laws on the books in South Dakota regarding automated vehicles at this time. You can keep up with future creation of or changes in the laws regarding vehicle automation on the South Dakota DMV website.

Safety Laws

South Dakota enacts laws to keep drivers safe while on the road. Whether a driver is talking on the phone or driving under the influence, they are putting the lives of other people in danger. The state has laws in place to address and prevent these dangerous behaviors to keep drivers, their passengers, and pedestrians safe.

Remember that laws can change over time, so you need to pay attention to legal changes over time. Just because something was legal five years ago doesn’t mean it is legal now, so keeping up-to-date on changes to the law is an important part of staying safe and avoiding a ticket.

DUI Laws

Driving while under the influence is illegal in South Dakota. Here’s how the law breaks down.

This next table outlines the penalties for violating the law. As you can see, they increase with each violation.

In South Dakota, there are multiple circumstances that can cause a person to be charged with a DUI:

• Having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or greater
• Being under the influence of any alcohol, non-prescribed drug, or inhalant
• Being under the influence of prescribed drugs or alcohol to a point of being incapable of safely operating a vehicle

Some drivers are subjected to harsher standards when it comes to DUI charges. For example, a commercial driver can be charged with a DUI with a BAC of .04 or higher, while drivers under the age of 21 can be charged with a DUI with a BAC of .02 or higher.

South Dakota laws are based on implied consent, meaning that if you are driving in the state you have agreed to chemical testing for your blood alcohol content. The state laws also state that you can be charged with a DUI if you are under the influence while in actual control of a vehicle, meaning you can be charged with a DUI in a vehicle even if it isn’t running.

Marijuana-Impaired Driving Laws

Marijuana is considered an intoxicating substance and can earn you a DUI in South Dakota. This is treated the same as driving drunk or under the influence of any other mind-altering substance, so keep that in mind before driving after using marijuana.

While there are some states that have legalized marijuana use for medical and/or recreational purposes, South Dakota isn’t one of them. If you get caught driving under the influence of marijuana you will be subject to a number of penalties, not just a DUI.

Distracted Driving Laws

It is surprisingly easy to find yourself dangerously distracted while driving. Texting, eating, trying to read your map, and talking on the phone are just a few of the distractions that drivers routinely face behind the wheel.

According to the CDC, there are three basic types of distracted driving:

• Visual – taking your eyes off the road
• Manual – taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive – taking your mind off of driving

Texting is the most dangerous form of distracted driving because it involves all three types of distracted driving.

Driving Safely in South Dakota

Driving is an incredibly dangerous activity. Nationally, there are more than 30,000 car accidents a year, causing almost 25,000 fatalities and more than two million injuries.

Be aware of the dangers that go along with driving — knowing the most dangerous roads, commuting times, and weather conditions can help you prepare for and possibly even prevent an accident or even a tragic fatality, keeping yourself and your loved ones safe on the road.

Vehicle Theft in South Dakota

How common is vehicle theft in South Dakota? Below you will see a table of the most commonly stolen models in the state.

Replacing a stolen vehicle is covered under your comprehensive coverage, but the possibility of replacing the car can’t fix the fear and suffering that go along with being the victim of a crime.

Vehicle theft isn’t limited to new or expensive automobiles — the most commonly stolen vehicles are often older family sedans or minivans, making the people most likely to have their cars stolen the most likely to avoid comprehensive coverage in the first place.

While many people choose not to buy comprehensive coverage in an attempt to keep their insurance costs low, remember that a liability-only policy won’t protect you in case of car theft. If your car is one of the ones on the table of most commonly stolen vehicles above, you may want to think carefully about buying comprehensive coverage.

Road Fatalities in South Dakota

According to the NHTSA, there were 130 traffic fatalities in South Dakota in 2018. Of those, 45 were alcohol-related fatalities and 52 were speeding-related fatalities.

Whether you were sending a text or surprised by a deer crossing the highway, a traffic accident can cause serious damage to you and your vehicle, leaving you and anyone else involved potentially injured or even dead.

Most Fatal Highway in South Dakota

I-18 is the only highway to connect one side of South Dakota to the other. It isn’t surprising, then, to discover that it’s the most dangerous highway in the state, with 55 fatalities in the last 10 years.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition

Weather and light conditions can and do have a significant impact on the number of accidents in a given year, with icy or unlit roads increasing the chances you will be in an accident.

Weather and light conditions have even been known to increase the severity of an accident, taking a small incident and turning it into a situation where injuries or even fatalities occur.

Be cautious when driving in dark, foggy, or otherwise inclement weather. Use your headlights, reduce your speed, and leave yourself plenty of space to make sure you aren’t put in an unnecessarily dangerous situation.

Fatalities (All Crashes) by County

The table below will show the number of fatal crashes by county in South Dakota.

Minehaha and Pennington are the counties with the highest number of fatalities in South Dakota. Minehaha is home to Sioux Falls, the largest city in the state, and Pennington has the second-highest population of any county in South Dakota, so it makes sense that these two counties would have the highest traffic fatality rates.

Traffic Fatalities

These numbers break down the fatalities by urban and rural locations.

2011 saw a significant decrease in the number of fatal accidents, both rural and urban.

Fatalities by Person Type

In this breakdown, we can see the type of person involved in all of the fatal crashes.

There has been a slow but steady decline in pickup truck-related fatalities since 2014.

Fatalities by Crash Type

Next, we have the numbers for crash type, including factors involved in the crash.

2018 saw a significant increase in single-vehicle fatalities and speeding-related fatalities.

Five-Year Trend For The Top 10 Counties

Shannon County saw a dramatic increase in traffic fatalities in 2016 that has continued through 2018.

Fatalities Involving Speeding by County

Speeding is dangerous, and it’s still a major cause of traffic accidents. Here are the numbers for speeding-related fatalities in South Dakota.

Yankton County saw a significant increase in speeding-related fatalities in 2018.

Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver by County

We’ve already covered the penalties for a DUI. Here are the statistics for the worst possible outcome of driving under the influence: fatal car crashes.

Shannon County saw alcohol-related fatalities more than double in 2016.

Teen Drinking and Driving

Teen drinking and driving is a bit concern, but how frequent is it in South Dakota?

Out of more than 7,000 DUI arrests in South Dakota in 2018, only 17 of them were teens under the age of 18.

EMS Response Time

This table shows EMS response times for urban and rural crashes.

EMS response time is much faster in urban areas than it is in rural areas. Based on the number of total fatal crashes on the chart, it is clear that the faster EMS arrives on the scene, the more likely the people in the accident are to survive it.

Transportation in South Dakota

South Dakota has the same transportation options as most other states — cars, buses, rail travel, etc. The unique thing about South Dakota, however, is the huge number of nomads living in RVs who are living in the state.

Because of South Dakota’s incredibly low tax rates, many people who choose to travel around the country via RV choose to live in the state. This means that there are a significant number of RV parks and more than your average number of RVs and campers on the road in South Dakota.

People who choose to travel by RV in the state need to verify with their insurance company that they have all the necessary coverage in place when they purchase a policy.

Car Ownership

The average household in South Dakota has two vehicles, with 163,000 households, or 38 percent of South Dakota residents, having two vehicles in 2017. This is far more than the 105,000 households who have three cars and the 72,300 households that have only one vehicle.

There are 49,500 households that have four cars and 31,500 households with five or more, but the number of households that don’t have a vehicle at all is just over 7,000, which means there are significant numbers of people who get by with only bikes and public transportation.

Commute Time

Slightly more than 1 percent of commuters in South Dakota have what is known as a super commute, meaning they are driving 90 minutes or more each way to and from work. The numbers don’t specify if that is a driving commute or if they are including bikes and public transit in their calculations.

At the other end of the spectrum, almost 9 percent of commuters in South Dakota have a commute that comes in under five minutes each way.

As for the average South Dakota resident, their commute time is only 16.3 minutes, which comes in significantly under the national average of 25.5 minutes.

Commuter Transportation

In 2017, just over 81 percent of people in South Dakota commuted to work alone, which means the vast majority of cars on the road during rush hour are traveling solo.

Almost 8 percent of commuters in South Dakota carpooled to work, while another 5.5 percent of people work at home, which means their commute is completely virtual. Just over half a percent of people in the state use public transportation to get to and from work, while more than 3 percent of people walk to and from work each day.

Traffic Congestion

In the table below, the traffic index is a composite of time commuting in traffic, the estimated dissatisfaction with traffic, and estimated carbon dioxide consumption due to inefficiencies in the traffic system.

The time Index is an average one-way commute time. The time exp. index is an estimation of unhappiness due to long commute times. It assumes that the dissatisfaction of commute times increases exponentially with every minute beyond 25 minutes in traffic.

The inefficiency index is an estimation of traffic inefficiencies, usually caused by the fact that people drive a car instead of using a public transport. This is often used as a measurement in economies of scale.

The CO2 emission index is an estimation of carbon dioxide consumption due to time spent in traffic, measured in grams.

Keep in mind that traffic congestion contributes to your overall commute time and increases the number of accidents on the road, both of which can raise your insurance premiums.

Leaving for work a little earlier or carpooling to work every day are both easy ways to reduce the time you spend in traffic. You can also take bigger steps, such as taking public transit to work or arranging to work from home part-time to cut back on time spent behind the wheel. This can help keep your premiums low.

Did we miss any important information in this guide? More importantly, is there cheaper car insurance available to you in South Dakota? Enter your ZIP code now to find out. 

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