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South Dakota Car Insurance Laws & Information

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South Dakota’s Car Laws & Mandatory Auto Liability Insurance Requirements

South Dakota Landscape

Every state in the US requires owners of registered vehicle’s to purchase auto liability insurance. Liability insurance protects you in the unfortunate circumstance that are involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Minimum Liability Limits in South Dakota:

  • Bodily injury (BI) liability: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily
    injury to others.
  • Property damage (PD) liability: $25,000 per accident for damage to the property of
    others.
  • Uninsured motorist coverage is not required in South Dakota, but for most drivers it is highly recommended.

What do all of the different types of coverage options mean?

  • Bodily injury liability: This pays for damages
    other people incur if you or someone you
    allow to drive your car causes an auto accident.
    Examples of damages include medical expenses,
    rehabilitation, funeral costs, settlement of lawsuits,
    and legal expenses.
  • Property damage liability: This pays for
    damage to other people’s property if you or
    someone you let drive your car causes an auto
    accident. It usually pays for repair or actual cash
    value (ACV) of others’ property and your legal
    expenses.
  • Personal injury protection (PIP): This typically pays
    for medical, rehabilitation, funeral, and childcare
    expenses as well as for loss of earnings and
    in-home assistance if you and your passengers
    are injured in an accident, regardless of who is at
    fault.
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily
    injury:
    This pays medical, rehabilitation,
    and funeral expenses, loss of earnings, and other
    damages if you or your family are involved in a
    vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian accident caused by
    an uninsured or underinsured motorist or a hit and
    run driver.
  • Uninsured motorist property: This is for damage to your motor vehicle that is caused by an uninsured
    driver. This optional coverage generally duplicates
    your collision coverage, but may be a good
    buy if you have a high deductible on your collision
    coverage or don’t have collision coverage.
  • Collision: This pays for repairing your
    vehicle in a collision or rollover.
  • Comprehensive: This pays for damage to
    your vehicle resulting from theft, vandalism,
    windstorms, fire, hail, etc.

Understanding South Dakota Liability Coverage

  • Bodily injury liability insurance protects you against the claims of other people who are injured in an accident for which you were at fault.
  • Property damage liability insurance pays for any damage you cause to the property of others. This includes not only damages to other vehicles but also other property, such as walls, fences and equipment.
  • Uninsured motorists coverage protects the policy holder directly. This coverage pays if you are injured by a hit-and-run driver or a driver who does not have auto insurance.

Don’t Get Caught Without Proof of Insurance in South Dakota

It’s the law that you must carry proof of insurance with you whenever you are in your vehicle in South Carolina. Your insurance
company is required to give you at least one card per insured vehicle that shows
the effective date and expiration date of your policy.
Keep this card in your vehicle at all times as it is required that you prove you have insurance if you are in an accident or stopped by a police officer. If you are caught driving without auto liability insurance, you may be subject to fines, suspended driving privileges, and/or your vehicle may be impounded.