South Dakota Auto Insurance

Whether you’re traveling along the banks of the Missouri , fishing for walleye on Lake Oahe, exploring Bad Lands National Park, doing business in Pierre, or visiting Mount Rushmore in South Dakota’s Black Hills, the state is full of awe-inspiring scenery and wide open roads. From Spearfish to Sioux Fall, Lemmon to Pine Ridge and all points in between, sightseeing or commuting, car insurance is crucial to being a responsible South Dakota driver.

 

Auto Insurance Resources for SD State Residents

As of 2010, there were more than half a million drivers in the Black Hills State. The Insurance Research Council estimates that 7% of South Dakota drivers are uninsured. Collisions with animals are second only to collisions with other vehicles as the cause of car crashes in South Dakota. The 2005 South Dakota Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Report noted 16,254 total automobile crashes, 4,346 resulted in injuries, 158 were fatal. Collisions with animals are second only to collisions with other vehicles as the cause of car crashes. South Dakota had the nation’s second highest fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in both 2002 and 2004. Traffic accidents remain the number 1 cause of death for South Dakotans ages 14 to 24. Excessive speed, alcohol and not using seat belts are leading causes of death related to traffic accidents in South Dakota. Uninsured, speeding and reckless drivers are good reasons to make sure you have enough car insurance while living and driving in the Black Hills State.

 

South Dakota State Minimum Car Insurance

South Dakota state law requires you to carry a minimum amount of car insurance or face severe penalties. The Black Hills State has a tort-based system. That means if you cause an accident, you can be sued. While South Dakota does not require you to carry additional personal liability or Collision and Comprehensive, if you own property or other valuable assets, you would be wise to supplement the minimum requires shown below:

• $25,000 bodily injury per person per accident
• $50,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident
• $25,000 property damage liability
• $25,000/$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage

 

South Dakota Car Insurance Laws

South Dakota law requires that you carry proof of South Dakota auto insurance in your vehicle and produce it if a law enforcement officer asks to see it. Driving without car insurance in South Dakota is a Class 2 misdemeanor, which can carry a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail. Typically, for a first offense, you will be fined $100 and jail time, if any, won’t exceed 30 days. Your driver’s license can be suspended for 1 year and you will be required to keep an SR-22 proof of insurance form on file for 3 years following your conviction.

Driving with a suspended license is also a Class 2 misdemeanor with the same potential penalties as driving without insurance.

 

Regulating Agency and References

South Dakota Division of Insurance
This agency is responsible for regulating vehicle insurance policies sold in South Dakota. For more information, visit their website at www.state.sd.us/drr/reg/insurance

South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles
This is the agency responsible for licensing drivers and registering vehicles. You can learn more about South Dakota auto insurance requirements, penalties and related information at www.state.sd.us/drr/motorvehicle/index.htm

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
This is an organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. NAIC provides a forum for the development of uniform policies when appropriate. NAIC members are elected or appointed state government officials who regulate the conduct of insurance companies and agents in their respective states or territories. Visit NAIC at www.naic.org

Insurance Information Institute (III)
This organization’s mission is to improve public understanding of insurance – what it is and how it works. Visit III at www.iii.org/

 

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