The average cost of a minimum coverage car insurance policy in South Dakota is $420 per year, or $35 per month. Even within South Dakota, however, car insurance quotes from different companies can vary by thousands of dollars for the same policy type, so it's important to compare rates.

Cheapest for minimum liability

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Cheapest for full coverage

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Cheapest for drivers with an accident

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Best for customer service

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Cheapest for minimum liability

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Cheapest for full coverage

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Cheapest for drivers with an accident

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Best for customer service

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Cheapest car insurance companies in South Dakota

The cheapest minimum-coverage car insurance quotes in South Dakota are offered by:

These three auto insurance companies have average car insurance rates of $335 per year, or $28 per month—which is 20% cheaper than the South Dakota average.

The auto insurers with the most expensive quotes in South Dakota were:

In South Dakota, these companies had an average annual quote of $572, or 36% more than the state average.

Cheapest full-coverage auto insurance in South Dakota

The cheapest full-coverage auto insurance companies in South Dakota are:

These three carriers were the most affordable in South Dakota for full coverage, offering quotes of $1,711 on average, or 27% less than the state average of $2,338.

The insurance companies with the most expensive auto quotes for full coverage in South Dakota are:

Comprehensive and collision coverages are included in full-coverage policies and reimburse damage to your car following most accidents, thefts, natural disasters and vandalism.

Cheapest full-coverage auto insurance in South Dakota with a prior accident

South Dakota drivers with an accident on their driving record may be able to find cheap full-coverage car insurance quotes at State Farm, American Family and Auto-Owners.

These three insurers offer average annual rates of $2,442 per year, or 23% cheaper than the South Dakota average of $3,133, for full coverage policies with a prior accident history.

Auto-Owners, however, distinguished itself by not penalizing drivers with a prior accident.

Best car insurance companies in South Dakota

Customer service is an important part of evaluating the quality of an insurance policy. The best auto insurers for service in South Dakota are:

Customers filed fewer complaints with these insurers than others relative to their market share.

To find the best-rated auto insurance companies in South Dakota, we looked at the complaint ratios for the largest companies in the state, using data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

A complaint ratio measures how many complaints each company receives per premiums earned and is an indication to us of how good a carrier's customer service and satisfaction are.

The lower the ratio, the fewer complaints a company received relative to its share of premiums underwritten indicating better service.

Minimum auto insurance requirements in South Dakota

Drivers in the state of South Dakota are required to carry auto insurance. While there is a minimum amount of required coverage, South Dakota residents also have the option to purchase additional coverage or higher limits.

Below we've included the required minimum coverage limits for South Dakota drivers.

By getting minimum coverage, you would be able to dramatically reduce the cost of your policy. However, full-coverage auto insurance may be more appropriate for some drivers.

We recommend South Dakota drivers consider higher liability limits, as well as comprehensive and collision coverage. Minimum-coverage plans may not be enough to fully cover the cost of damage in an expensive accident or protect any damage caused to your automobile.

Cheap car insurance in South Dakota by city

Your best car insurance quotes in South Dakota differ depending on where you live in. Typically, however, the cheapest auto insurers in South Dakota cities for a full-coverage policy are:

Current or former members of the U.S. armed forces and their families may qualify for even lower car insurance rates with USAA, which only provides policies to these customers.

Your actual rates will differ based on factors such as past driving history, your vehicle and the amount of liability coverage you need.

Here is a list of cheap car insurance companies in South Dakota's largest cities with their annual quotes for a full-coverage policy.

We always recommend drivers compare at least three quotes from insurers. To help you find good auto rates in South Dakota, we identified the cheapest insurers for a full-coverage policy in:

Cheap car insurance in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

For cheap auto insurance quotes in Sioux Falls, we recommend State Farm, American Family and Farm Bureau, which on average, quoted $1,558 per year, or 28% less than the Fargo average.

Cheap car insurance in Aberdeen, South Dakota

Aberdeen's rates were slightly cheaper than the South Dakota average. However, it's still important to compare quotes: The most expensive insurer offered quotes 3.4 times the cost of that of the cheapest.

Cheap car insurance in Brookings, South Dakota

Car insurance costs in Brookings were slightly cheaper than the South Dakota state average, though motorists can still benefit from comparing rates from several companies. The most expensive insurer in our analysis, Farmers ($3,957), cost $2,824 more per year than the cheapest carrier, State Farm ($1,133).

Cheap car insurance in Watertown, South Dakota

Choosing a policy from the cheapest auto insurer in Watertown, State Farm ($1,085), could save you nearly $900 annually relative to the city average. Remember to get multiple quotes, as rates offered could differ depending on your specific driver profile.

Cheap car insurance in Mitchell, South Dakota

For the cheapest coverage in Mitchell, we recommend that drivers obtain several quotes. The three cheapest insurers in Mitchell, for example, offered a 26% discount to the city average.

Average cost of car insurance in South Dakota

The cheapest cities in South Dakota for full coverage are:

The most expensive South Dakota cities for full coverage are:

Where you live is a major factor in determining auto insurance rates. South Dakota cities are ranked from those with the cheapest auto insurance rates to the most expensive per year.

Methodology

We collected auto insurance quotes for South Dakota cities from seven auto insurance companies.

Our sample driver was a 30-year-old man who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX. He had no credit history, which makes him comparable to drivers with below-average credit, according to our data source, Quadrant Information Services.

Unless otherwise noted, our sample driver held full-coverage car insurance with the following limits:

For a minimum-coverage policy, our sample driver had coverage equivalent to the minimum state legal requirements in South Dakota.

Average premiums are for illustrative purposes, as individual quotes will differ based on driving history, ZIP code, vehicle type, coverage limits and other factors.

ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only—your own quotes may be different.