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Wondering how much you’ll pay for car insurance in South Dakota? On average, drivers in South Dakota pay about $2,635 per year for full coverage and around $418 for minimum liability. Rates vary depending on your city, driving history, and the car you drive.

This guide breaks down average costs by city, shows how to estimate your own rate, explains state coverage requirements, and highlights the cheapest and best insurance companies in South Dakota.

How much is car insurance in South Dakota?

Where you live in South Dakota can greatly impact how much you pay for car insurance. To give you a better idea of what to expect, let’s take a look at the average car insurance rates across the state.

Average cost of car insurance in South Dakota

On average, drivers in South Dakota pay $2,635 per year for full coverage and $418 for minimum liability insurance coverage. Your actual rate could be higher or lower depending on your age, where you live, your driving history, and what kind of car you drive.

Average cost of car insurance by city in South Dakota

Car insurance rates vary significantly from city to city. For instance, drivers in Watertown, South Dakota pay around $2,269 a year for full coverage car insurance, while those in Brookings, South Dakota pay $2,271 annually for the same coverage.

Why the gap? Cities with more traffic, accidents or theft rates tend to have higher rates. So, if you’re living in a busy metro like New York, you’ll pay higher premiums annually. On the other hand, drivers in smaller cities, such as Albany with less congestion and accident rates, pay affordable premiums.

Estimate your car insurance cost in South Dakota

If you’re shopping for car insurance in South Dakota, our calculator can help you estimate your rate. Just enter a few details like your age, ZIP code, driving history, and vehicle type to get a quick, personalized quote.

For example, if you own a 2023 Honda Accord LX in South Dakota, you can expect to pay an average of $3,591 a year. To see what you might pay, just enter your details into the calculator.

Data last refreshed in 2025
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Which companies offer cheap car insurance in South Dakota?

We ran the numbers and found that Farmers Mutual of Nebraska offers the cheapest car insurance rates to South Dakota drivers at $1,499 a year or $125 per month for a full coverage policy with limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 collision and comprehensive deductible.

It’s followed closely by Progressive, which has an average annual car insurance cost of $2,249 or $187 per month.

What are the best car insurance companies in South Dakota?

If you’re shopping for car insurance, you don’t just want the cheapest company — you want one that’s reliable when it counts.

We looked at major insurers based on customer satisfaction, financial strength ratings and complaint ratios to find the best car insurance companies in South Dakota.

To evaluate each company, we considered:

  • NAIC complaint index, which measures how often consumers file complaints
  • J.D. Power scores, which reflect overall customer satisfaction
  • AM Best financial strength ratings, which assess an insurer’s ability to pay claims

Based on our research, Auto-Owners comes out on top with a score of 4.28 out of 5 in South Dakota in 2024. State Farm is right behind with a 4.14 score.

Our agents make it hassle-free to get the right quote.

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What are the minimum car insurance requirements in South Dakota?

To drive legally in South Dakota, you must carry at least the state’s minimum liability coverage. This includes limits of 25/50/25, which breaks down to:

  • $25k for bodily injury per person
  • $50k for bodily injury per accident
  • $25k for property damage

These are the bare minimums required by law, but they only cover damage or injuries you cause to others. They don’t cover your own vehicle or medical bills after an accident.

Because of that, many drivers in South Dakota choose higher limits or add extra coverage, like collision, comprehensive, or uninsured motorist protection, to stay better protected.

How much coverage should you get in South Dakota?

While South Dakota only requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, many choose to go beyond the basics for better protection. That’s where full coverage comes in.

Full coverage typically includes:

  • Liability insurance. Covers injuries and property damage you cause to others
  • Collision coverage. Pays for damage to your own vehicle after an accident
  • Comprehensive coverage. Covers non-collision damage like theft, vandalism, weather events, or hitting an animal

Full coverage is often recommended if:

  • You’re financing or leasing your car (most lenders require it)
  • You drive a newer or higher-value vehicle
  • You want protection from out-of-pocket costs after an accident or unexpected event

On average, full coverage costs more than minimum liability, but it offers significantly broader financial protection. Use our South Dakota car insurance calculator to compare the cost difference and see what level of coverage makes the most sense for you.

Optional car insurance coverages to consider

A basic car insurance policy covers the essentials, but it may leave gaps depending on your needs. To stay fully protected, you might want to consider adding extra coverage options like the ones below.

Gap insurance

If your car is totaled or stolen, gap insurance helps cover the difference between what your car is worth and what you still owe on your loan or lease. Standard insurance only pays the car’s current market value, which may be less than your remaining balance. Gap insurance helps make up that difference, so you’re not stuck paying out of pocket for a car you no longer have.

SR-22 insurance

SR-22 is a form your insurer files on your behalf with the state to prove you have the required coverage after a serious violation, such as a DUI or driving without insurance. If you’re required to carry SR-22, your rates will likely increase, but staying covered is key to getting back on track.

Non-owner car insurance

If you don’t own a car but occasionally drive — maybe you borrow a friend’s car or use rentals — non-owner insurance keeps you covered. It typically includes liability protection and helps you maintain continuous coverage.

Methodology

Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2025 to get car insurance rates for 40-year-old male and female drivers driving a Honda Accord LX with no violations on record for the following coverage limits:

  • State minimum liability
  • Full coverage limits of 100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles
  • Liability only with limits of 50/100/50

We analyzed 78,451,280 insurance quotes from 170 insurance companies across 29,159 cities and 34,588 ZIP codes nationwide.

We also used sample profiles of drivers from different age groups: young drivers (20-24) and senior drivers (65-75).

To evaluate rates for different makes and models, we compared 1,661 makes and models for a sample profile of a 40-year-old male carrying a full coverage policy with limits of 100/300/100 and $500 collision and comprehensive deductibles. We compared 67,566,780 insurance quotes from 57 insurance companies across 510 ZIP codes nationwide.

In 2024, Insure.com gathered data to determine the best car insurance companies. To determine the overall star rating, each component was assigned a specific weight:

  • Premiums (25%)
  • J.D. Power (30%)
  • AM Best (25%)
  • NAIC (20%)

These weighted factors were then combined to calculate the final score.

These are sample rates, and your exact rates may vary.

Additional resources

To help you estimate insurance rates more accurately, we have compiled a list of additional resources that offer useful tools, tips and insights. These resources can help you compare insurance options, understand the factors that influence premiums and make informed decisions before buying a policy.

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Shivani Gite
Contributing Writer

 
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Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions.

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