State guide
Car Insurance in South Dakota
Updated August 2026
South Dakota's minimum liability limits are 25/50/25 — $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage — but that's only part of the mandate. Unlike most at-fault states, South Dakota also requires every auto policy to carry both uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage, each at limits no lower than $25,000/$50,000. You can't waive them.
The result is that a legal-minimum South Dakota policy protects you in more scenarios than a legal-minimum policy in, say, Georgia or Tennessee: if the other driver has no insurance or too little of it, your own policy responds. Carriers price that bundle very differently from one another, which is exactly where comparing quotes earns its keep.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 |
| PIP / medical | Not required (at-fault state) |
| Additional requirements | Uninsured AND underinsured motorist coverage required, each at least $25,000/$50,000 |
| No-fault state | No |
| SR-22 used | Yes |
Source: SDCL §32-35-113, §58-11-9, §58-11-9.4; South Dakota Division of Insurance
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in South Dakota was $823 in 2022. (NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (June 2024))
Why UM and UIM are built into every South Dakota policy
SDCL §58-11-9 requires uninsured motorist coverage on every motor vehicle policy issued in the state, and §58-11-9.4 adds underinsured motorist coverage — both at least at the $25,000/$50,000 bodily-injury minimums. UM pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance or is a hit-and-run; UIM steps in when their limits are too low for your injuries.
Nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023, per the Insurance Research Council — so a mandate that most states leave optional does real work here. It also means you can't strip a South Dakota quote down to bare liability to chase a lower number: every quote you compare already includes UM and UIM, making the comparison more apples-to-apples than in most states.
Driving uninsured and SR-22s in South Dakota
Driving without insurance in South Dakota is a Class 2 misdemeanor under SDCL §32-35-113 — punishable by a fine, up to 30 days in jail, and license suspension. After a conviction, a DUI, or certain other violations, the state requires an SR-22 filing: a certificate your insurer files proving you carry the required coverage, typically for multiple years.
The filing fee itself is small. The real cost is how carriers surcharge the underlying violation — and those surcharges vary widely from one insurer to the next, which makes SR-22 drivers the group with the most to gain from comparing several quotes rather than renewing on autopilot.
What South Dakota drivers pay
South Dakota consistently ranks among the lower-cost states for auto insurance: NAIC data puts the state's average annual expenditure at $823 in 2022, well under the $1,127 countrywide figure. Rural traffic density helps, though hail and wind exposure pushes comprehensive premiums higher than the liability side would suggest. Individual quotes still spread widely around that average depending on driving record, vehicle, and ZIP code — the average tells you about the market, not about your price.
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Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in South Dakota?+
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage (25/50/25) — plus uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage, each at least $25,000/$50,000. UM and UIM cannot be waived in South Dakota.
Is South Dakota a no-fault state?+
No. South Dakota is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes the accident pays for the other side's injuries and damage through their liability coverage. PIP is not required.
Does South Dakota use SR-22s?+
Yes. After convictions such as DUI or driving uninsured, South Dakota requires an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility, filed by your insurer with the state.
What does car insurance cost in South Dakota?+
The NAIC put South Dakota's average annual auto insurance expenditure at $823 in 2022 — among the lower figures nationally. Your own quote depends on your record, vehicle, and location, so the useful number is what several carriers actually offer you.
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