South Dakota Auto Insurance Laws
Auto Insurance Laws and Trends in S.D.
In South Dakota, all motorists are required to provide proof of financial responsibility – proof that they can pay for expenses incurred in an auto accident. This can be done by registering a cash deposit or surety bond of $60,000 with the state treasurer, applying for a certificate of self insurance (if you own 26 or more vehicles), or purchasing a liability auto insurance policy.
Liability auto insurance requirements in South Dakota
Liability auto insurance is the most widely used proof of financial responsibility in the state of South Dakota. The minimum requirements are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, $25,000 per accident for property damage, and $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for under/uninsured motorist coverage. Failure to provide proof of coverage will result in a minimum fine of $100, a driver's license suspension of 1 year, and a possible jail sentence of 30 days.
Crash stats and costs of auto insurance in South Dakota
South Dakota enjoys having the 3rd lowest auto insurance premiums in the country. The average rate for insurance is $554 per year, compared to the national average of $817 per year.
Crash statistics are fairly low compared to most other states. This is because South Dakota is focussing their safety efforts on four areas:
- Education: Making sure that drivers are aware of the rules and regulations of the state and advising them of the penalties for non-compliance.
- Law Enforcement: Being strict and severe when enforcing the traffic safety laws. This will act as a deterrent for motorists who may consistently break the laws.
- Engineering: Building roads and structures with safety in mind.
- Emergency Services: Ensuring that there are adequately trained emergency personnel always ready so that if an accident occurs, the victims will receive medical attention quickly.
This has helped to keep the crash and DUI statistics low, which are shown in the table below:
Year |
% of Total Crashes* |
% of DUI Crashes** |
2006 |
2.12 |
41 |
2007 |
2.38 |
37 |
2008 |
2.24 |
34 |
*based on 100 million miles travelled by vehicles
** Percentage of total crashes attributed to DUI