South Dakota Auto Insurance for First-Time Drivers

This coverage pays for injuries you cause to others in an accident where you're at fault. The first number is the maximum paid per person injured; the second is the total paid per accident regardless of how many people are hurt.

This pays for damage you cause to another person's vehicle, fence, building, or other property. South Dakota does not require collision or comprehensive coverage on your own vehicle, even if you finance it, though lenders almost always mandate it in the loan agreement.

South Dakota law requires insurers to offer this coverage at the same limits as your liability policy, but you can reject it in writing. This protects you if you're hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay your medical bills.

Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. South Dakota does not require this coverage, but if you financed or leased your vehicle, your lender will. Even if you own your car outright, collision coverage is worth considering if your vehicle is worth more than a few thousand dollars — winter weather and rural two-lane highways create conditions where single-vehicle crashes are common.

Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from non-collision events: hail, hitting a deer, theft, vandalism, or fire. South Dakota sees thousands of deer-vehicle collisions annually, particularly in rural counties during fall and spring. Hailstorms are also frequent in the spring and summer months across the eastern half of the state. Lenders require this coverage if you finance your vehicle, and it's often bundled with collision coverage as part of what's commonly called full coverage.