Best Car Insurance in South Dakota for 2026

Progressive ranks as the best car insurance company in South Dakota, with the lowest rates among top-rated carriers at $97 a month for full coverage. Farmers Mutual is the cheapest overall, and Auto-Owners leads South Dakota in customer experience.

See which company is best for you below.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: June 4, 2026

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Our Experience Reviewing South Dakota's Top Car Insurers

The best car insurance in South Dakota isn't a single answer. It depends on your driver profile, location and what you need from a policy. The right pick shifts based on your age, driving history and how much coverage you have.

Progressive: Best Overall in South Dakota
Progressive has the highest rating in South Dakota (4.70 out of 5) and it's the only company that places in the top two for price, customer service, and coverage choices at the same time. Full coverage costs $97 a month, which is 12% less than the South Dakota average. Auto-Owners is better at resolving claims, so if you think you might need to use your insurance often, that's worth knowing.
Auto-Owners: Best for Customer Experience
Auto-Owners ranks first for customer service among South Dakota's top five companies. In a state where hitting a deer or getting caught in a blizzard is common, South Dakota drivers file more damage claims than drivers in most other states, so having a company that resolves those claims well is worth paying more for. The tradeoff is cost: at $118 a month for full coverage, it's the most expensive of the top five. Drivers who prioritize price over service quality will find better rates from Progressive or Farmers Mutual.
Farmers Mutual: Best Regional Value
Farmers Mutual is the cheapest full coverage option in South Dakota at $82 a month, which is $28 below the state average and $15 below the next cheapest company, Progressive. It's a smaller company that mostly operates in the upper Midwest and offers add-ons for farm and ranch vehicles that most large national companies don't have.

Where Farmers Mutual falls short is service: it ranks eighth for customer experience among all the companies we reviewed, the lowest of the top five, and it offers fewer extra coverage options than Progressive or Allstate. If you need gap insurance or rideshare coverage, Farmers Mutual won't have them.
State Farm: Best for Familiarity and Broad Availability
State Farm's 3.97 out of 5 MoneyGeek score reflects balanced performance, with fourth place for price and fourth for customer service, without leading either category. What State Farm does have is more local agents spread across rural South Dakota than any other company, which matters if you live in a small town and want to walk into an office when you have a question or a claim.

State Farm's selection of optional add-ons ranks sixth out of the five companies we ranked, which means it offers fewer extras than Progressive or Allstate. If you need gap insurance, State Farm doesn't have it in South Dakota.
Allstate: Best for Coverage Breadth
Allstate ranks fifth but belongs in the top five because it has the third-best selection of coverage options in the group, including gap insurance and new car replacement that most competitors don't offer in South Dakota. That wider selection costs more: at $122 a month, Allstate charges the most of the top five for a driver with no accidents or tickets, and its customer service ranks seventh, second-worst in the group. It's the right call if you need gap insurance or new car replacement and can't get them elsewhere in the state.

Best Car Insurance Companies in South Dakota: Scores and Methodology


Progressive	4.7	1	2	2
Auto Owners	4.33	5	1	5
Farmers Mutual Ins Co of NE	4.22	2	8	7
State Farm	3.97	4	4	6
Allstate	3.94	6	7	3

Why You Can Trust MoneyGeek's South Dakota Ratings

MoneyGeek evaluated insurance companies in South Dakota, including national carriers and South Dakota regional insurers. Rankings combine rate analysis, customer feedback, and coverage assessments across three weighted factors. MoneyGeek does not receive compensation tied to which companies rank highest. Rate data comes from Quadrant Information Services, which sources actual insurance filings across every ZIP code.

Affordability (60%)

Rate quotes were gathered for multiple driver profiles using a baseline 40-year-old male driver with good credit, a clean driving record, and no prior claims. Quotes covered full coverage at 100/300/100,000 limits with a $1,000 comprehensive and collision deductible, plus state-minimum coverage. Additional quotes covered young drivers and senior drivers. Driver profiles with violations were also tested, including DUI convictions, at-fault accidents, and speeding tickets, to measure how each carrier prices each category. Affordability scores reflect the carrier's performance across all of these driver profiles, with a baseline adult-driver clean-record rate weighted most heavily.

Customer Experience (30%)

Customer satisfaction data was compiled from J.D. Power studies (including the 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study and the 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study), AM Best financial strength ratings, and multi-platform review aggregation. NAIC complaint indexes also feed the composite score. J.D. Power scores shown in each carrier section are one input to the composite, not the full ranking.

Coverage Options (10%)

Coverage scoring measures each provider's range of coverage types and South Dakota-specific add-on availability. Standard coverages (bodily injury liability, property damage liability, uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage / PIP, comprehensive coverage, collision coverage) are included in the baseline score. Add-on coverages weighted in the score include accident forgiveness, new car replacement, rideshare endorsements, gap insurance, custom parts coverage, mechanical breakdown insurance, and pay-per-mile or telematics-based programs. Coverages restricted or unavailable under state law are excluded from the score for all carriers.

Rates and rankings on this page reflect a 40-year-old male driver with good credit and a clean record. Full coverage rates use 100/300/100,000 liability limits with a $1,000 comprehensive and collision deductible. Minimum coverage rates use South Dakota's mandatory 25/50/25 liability limits, without comprehensive or collision.

USAA is excluded from all rankings because it is available only to military members and their families, which limits its accessibility for most readers.

Similar scores can reflect very different strengths in South Dakota:

Progressive (4.70/5) and Auto-Owners (4.33/5) sit within the top two spots overall, but lead on opposite dimensions: Progressive ranks first for affordability while Auto-Owners ranks first for customer experience.
Auto-Owners (4.33/5) and Farmers Mutual (4.22/5) are close in composite score, but Farmers Mutual ranks second for affordability while Auto-Owners ranks fifth, which could concern cost-focused drivers.
State Farm (3.97/5) and Allstate (3.94/5) are nearly tied overall, but Allstate ranks third for coverage options while State Farm ranks fourth for customer experience, with each carrier leading on a different axis.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT CAR INSURANCE IN SOUTH DAKOTA

South Dakota is the only state in the country using what's called the slight/gross negligence rule (per SDCL Section 20-9-2). If you're in an accident and a court decides you were more than slightly at fault, you can't recover anything from the other driver, even if they caused most of the crash. That's a higher bar than most states, and it's a good reason to carry adequate liability limits.

South Dakota also requires both uninsured motorist coverage (which pays your costs if the other driver has no insurance) and underinsured motorist coverage, which pays if the other driver's insurance isn't enough. Both must be at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Most states only require one of the two.

The state has one of the highest rates of deer-vehicle collisions in the country, with peak risk from October through December. Parts of eastern South Dakota are in an area known for frequent tornadoes, and statewide blizzards add more damage exposure through winter.

Comprehensive coverage (the part of your policy that pays for damage not caused by a collision, like hitting a deer or hail damage) matters more in South Dakota than in most other states because deer collisions and severe weather are more common here. Sioux Falls drivers can find city-specific rates and coverage comparisons at our best cheap car insurance in Sioux Falls page.

Best South Dakota Car Insurance Company Ratings

Progressive

Best Overall in South Dakota

MoneyGeek Rating

4.7/ 5

4.9/5Affordability

4.6/5Customer Experience

4.6/5Coverage Points

Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$97
Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$36
J.D. Power 2025 Central Region Score
637

pros
- Ranks first for price among all South Dakota companies we reviewed
- Second-place rankings in both customer service and coverage options; places in the top two across all three scoring categories
- Coverage add-ons include gap insurance, rideshare coverage, and Snapshot telematics
- Full coverage costs $97 a month, which is 12% below the South Dakota state average
cons
- Customer service rank (second) trails Auto-Owners, which holds the top position in South Dakota
- Snapshot telematics tracks your speed, braking, and what time of day you drive
- Progressive has limited local agents in rural South Dakota
Price drives Progressive's top ranking in South Dakota. It places first for cost and second in both customer service and coverage options. No other company in the state's top five matches that combination across all three categories. Auto-Owners is the better pick for customer service, worth noting if you file claims often. Deer collisions peak in fall and winter storms cause damage every year in South Dakota, so claims are a regular occurrence here.
Progressive is the cheapest nationally recognized company in South Dakota at $97 a month for full coverage, 12% below the state average. Farmers Mutual comes in cheaper at $82 a month, but it's a smaller regional carrier with fewer coverage options. Among national companies, Progressive has no close competition on cost, and that holds for minimum coverage too: its $36 a month rate is the lowest among the national top five.

Progressive also prices young drivers competitively within the state. For drivers with a DUI or other violations in South Dakota, though, Farmers Mutual is the better call. Progressive prices those violations more aggressively, and Farmers Mutual comes out cheaper for that profile. Progressive does file SR-22 certificates in South Dakota.
Progressive scores 637 in J.D. Power's 2025 Central region study, 12 points below the 649 regional average, placing it 12th of 16 ranked companies. That difference shows up mainly when there's a disagreement about a claim: Progressive resolves simple, clear-cut claims well, but disputed claims take longer to resolve than at Auto-Owners.

The J.D. Power result is one factor in MoneyGeek's customer service score alongside financial strength ratings and complaint data. Progressive still ranks second for customer service among South Dakota's five highest-rated companies because its rate of formal customer complaints is low and it's financially stable, even though its J.D. Power survey score is below the regional average.
Ten of 13 scored coverage add-ons are available through Progressive, the widest selection among South Dakota's five highest-rated companies. Gap insurance is available, which matters if you're still making payments on your car. If a deer collision or severe weather totals your car, your insurance pays what the car is currently worth, but if you owe more on the loan than that, gap insurance covers the difference.

Rideshare coverage is available for Uber and Lyft drivers. Progressive also offers custom parts and equipment coverage and accident forgiveness. Mechanical breakdown insurance (which pays for repair costs when your engine or other major mechanical parts fail, not from an accident but just from wear) isn't available through Progressive in South Dakota; GEICO offers it as an option for drivers with older vehicles.

Drivers with a financed vehicle in eastern South Dakota get the most from Progressive's coverage selection.

Auto-Owners

Best for Customer Experience

MoneyGeek Rating

4.3/ 5

3.8/5Affordability

4.9/5Customer Experience

3.8/5Coverage Points

Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$118
Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$44
J.D. Power 2025 Central Region Score
654

pros
- Ranks first for customer service among South Dakota's top five companies
- Second-place score (4.33/5) reflects consistent performance across all three rating categories
- Available through independent agents with strong rural South Dakota presence
- Receives fewer formal customer complaints than most other top-five companies
cons
- Fifth-place ranking for price; the most expensive full coverage option among South Dakota's top five at $118 a month
- Gap insurance, rideshare coverage, and new car replacement aren't available
- Not in J.D. Power's top three for the Central region
No company in South Dakota's top five comes close to Auto-Owners on customer service. Auto-Owners' first-place customer service ranking, based on a J.D. Power score of 654 and the fewest formal customer complaints of any top-five company, is what puts it second despite charging the highest rate in the group.

In South Dakota, where deer collisions are most common every fall and winter storms cause damage every year, you're more likely than the average driver to actually use your insurance, so how well your company resolves claims matters in a practical way. The tradeoff is real: at $118 a month, Auto-Owners costs $21 more per month than Progressive and $36 more than Farmers Mutual for the same clean-record adult driver.
At $118 a month for full coverage, Auto-Owners is the most expensive company among South Dakota's five highest-rated carriers, 7% above the $110 state average. Its minimum coverage rate of $44 a month is also above the state average and second-highest in the group.

For drivers whose primary concern is price, Progressive and Farmers Mutual offer $21 and $36 less per month respectively for full coverage. Auto-Owners is worth the higher cost for drivers who expect to file claims and want a company with a track record of resolving them quickly.
Auto-Owners scores 654 in J.D. Power's 2025 Central region study, 5 points above the regional average of 649 and fourth-highest among 16 ranked companies. That J.D. Power score, combined with a low rate of formal complaints and a strong financial strength rating, is why Auto-Owners ranks first for customer service among South Dakota's top five.

Customers who've filed claims with Auto-Owners consistently report faster resolution and fewer disputes than with national companies like Allstate or Progressive. If service quality is your primary concern, Auto-Owners is the clear call in South Dakota.
Standard coverage options through Auto-Owners include liability, comprehensive, collision and state-required uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, plus roadside assistance and rental reimbursement. Gap insurance, rideshare coverage and new car replacement aren't available through Auto-Owners in South Dakota. If you're financing a vehicle, driving for a rideshare platform or want protection on a newer car, Progressive or Allstate is the better fit.

Farmers Mutual Ins Co of NE

Best Regional Value

MoneyGeek Rating

4.2/ 5

4.6/5Affordability

3.5/5Customer Experience

3.4/5Coverage Points

Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$82
Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$29

pros
- Second-place ranking for price among South Dakota's top five; full coverage at $82 a month is 25% below the state average
- Smaller regional company with deep roots in the upper Midwest and strong South Dakota presence
- Lowest minimum coverage rate in the top five at $29 a month
- Farm and ranch vehicle add-ons for South Dakota's agricultural drivers
cons
- Eighth-place customer service rank, the weakest signal among the five highest-rated companies
- No gap insurance or rideshare coverage (go to Progressive, State Farm or Allstate for rideshare coverage)
- Not rated in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study
- Limited digital tools and mobile app compared to Progressive or State Farm
Farmers Mutual is the cheapest full coverage option in the top five at $82 a month, $15 below Progressive and $28 below the state average. For drivers who carry standard full coverage and don't need add-ons like gap insurance or rideshare coverage, that price advantage is the whole story. The weaknesses are real: Farmers Mutual ranks eighth for customer service and seventh for the variety of coverage options it offers.

Both put it near the bottom of the top five, so you're getting the cheapest price but the least support if something goes wrong. Drivers who file claims regularly or who need specialized coverages should look at Progressive or Auto-Owners first.
With a full coverage rate of $82 a month, Farmers Mutual is the cheapest company among South Dakota's five highest-rated carriers, 25% below the state average of $110. At $29 a month, minimum coverage is also the lowest in the group and $13 below the state average. For young drivers, Farmers Mutual prices below the state average, though specific young-driver rates aren't available in our data for this profile.

Get a quote alongside Progressive and State Farm to compare. For drivers with a DUI, Farmers Mutual prices that profile more favorably than several national companies in the state. Its cost advantage is most consistent for drivers with clean records in rural South Dakota.
Customer service is Farmers Mutual's weakest area, where it ranks eighth among South Dakota companies we reviewed. Farmers Mutual is not rated in J.D. Power's 2025 Central region study. "Farmers" at 641 in that chart is Farmers Insurance Group, a separate national company. The score draws from complaint data, financial strength ratings and reviews collected from multiple websites.

Farmers Mutual has more formal customer complaints per customer than the five highest-rated company average, so customers are less satisfied and disputes take longer to resolve. Drivers who file claims frequently or who put service quality first will find better options in Auto-Owners or Progressive.
Farmers Mutual covers standard South Dakota liability, comprehensive, collision, and the state-required uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Gap insurance and rideshare coverage aren't broadly available through this company in South Dakota. Farm and ranch vehicle add-ons are something most other companies don't offer, useful if you use a vehicle for farming since standard car insurance often doesn't cover equipment or work vehicles on a farm.

Drivers who only need standard full coverage without extras will find Farmers Mutual's selection sufficient. Those who need gap insurance or rideshare coverage should go to Progressive or Allstate.

State Farm

Best for Familiarity and Broad Availability

MoneyGeek Rating

4.0/ 5

3.9/5Affordability

4.1/5Customer Experience

3.6/5Coverage Points

Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$108
Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$40
J.D. Power 2025 Central Region Score
664

pros
- Balanced fourth-place rankings in both price and customer service
- More local agents spread across rural South Dakota than any other top-five company
- Drive Safe & Save program gives discounts for low-mileage and safe drivers
- Rideshare coverage available in South Dakota
cons
- No gap insurance in South Dakota
- Fourth-place ranking for price means it's not the most cost-competitive option
- Score (3.97/5) trails the top three by 0.25 points or more
No other company among South Dakota's five highest-rated carriers has more local agents spread across rural parts of the state. That's the whole case for State Farm here. If you're in a smaller community and want to sit across from someone when filing a claim or making coverage changes, State Farm is the only option in the group that can actually provide that in most of South Dakota. The fourth-place rankings in both price ($108 a month) and customer service reflect a company that's solid without being exceptional.

State Farm's sixth-place ranking for coverage options comes down to one thing: it doesn't offer gap insurance in South Dakota, which matters if you're still making loan payments on your car. For rural drivers who want an agent they can meet in person and standard full coverage, State Farm is the right call. For everyone else, Progressive and Farmers Mutual offer more for less.
At $108 a month for full coverage, State Farm charges 2% below the South Dakota state average, the smallest discount of the three companies that beat the average. Its $40 a month minimum coverage rate is just below the $42 state average. State Farm's Steer Clear program gives drivers under 25 a discount for completing a safe-driving course, which lowers State Farm's rates for that profile relative to Progressive and Farmers Mutual.

State Farm charges less for at-fault accidents and speeding tickets than Allstate. For DUI drivers, Progressive and Farmers Mutual are both better starting points for quotes.
State Farm scores 664 in J.D. Power's 2025 Central region study, 15 points above the regional average of 649, second-highest among 16 ranked companies, just behind Shelter Insurance at 673. That J.D. Power score is one factor in MoneyGeek's customer service ranking alongside financial strength ratings, complaint data, and reviews from multiple websites.

State Farm's AM Best A++ financial strength rating is the highest among the top five. Even with a strong J.D. Power score, State Farm ranks fourth for customer service in South Dakota because Auto-Owners and Progressive both score higher when you add up all the factors. Auto-Owners scores lower in J.D. Power but has fewer formal complaints, which counts more in MoneyGeek's calculation.
State Farm offers standard South Dakota liability, comprehensive, collision, and state-required uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, plus rideshare coverage, roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, and Drive Safe & Save. Gap insurance isn't available through State Farm in South Dakota. If you total a car you're still paying off in the first few years of a loan, you could owe thousands more than the insurance payout.

Go to Progressive or Allstate if you need gap coverage. Accident forgiveness at State Farm has to be earned by staying with the company without accidents. New customers don't get it right away. Allstate and Progressive let you add it immediately as a coverage option you can purchase.

Allstate

Best for Coverage Breadth

MoneyGeek Rating

3.9/ 5

3.7/5Affordability

3.6/5Customer Experience

4.2/5Coverage Points

Average Monthly Full Coverage Rate
$122
Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rate
$46
J.D. Power 2025 Central Region Score
644

pros
- Third-place ranking for coverage options; the widest selection among the lower half of South Dakota's top five
- New car replacement and gap insurance available, relevant for drivers still paying off a car
- Accident forgiveness available as a coverage option you can buy right away, not something you have to earn over time
- Rideshare coverage and custom parts coverage available in South Dakota
cons
- Sixth-place ranking for price; the most expensive company in South Dakota's top five at $122 a month
- Seventh-place customer service rank, second-worst in the top five
- Highest minimum coverage rate in the top five at $46 a month
- Higher rate increases after violations compared to Progressive and Farmers Mutual
Ranking fifth overall, Allstate earns its spot in the group with the third-best selection of coverage options. It's the only company outside the top three that offers both gap insurance and new car replacement. In South Dakota, where hitting a deer or a severe storm can completely destroy a newer car you're still paying off, gap insurance and new car replacement address a real risk for a lot of drivers.

The costs are real too: at $122 a month for full coverage, Allstate charges the most of the five highest-rated companies, and its customer service rank is seventh among all companies we reviewed. Allstate is the right choice for drivers who need gap insurance or new car replacement and can't get them at a lower-priced company.
Allstate's $122 a month full coverage rate is 11% above the South Dakota state average of $110, the highest rate among the five highest-rated companies and $25 more per month than Progressive for the same driver with no accidents or violations. At $46 a month, minimum coverage is also the highest in the group. Allstate isn't competitive for young drivers within the group.

For drivers with violations, Allstate charges more for DUIs and at-fault accidents than Progressive, Farmers Mutual and State Farm. Allstate is the right choice for drivers who need both gap insurance and new car replacement, since no cheaper company among South Dakota's five highest-rated carriers offers both.
Allstate scores 644 in J.D. Power's 2025 Central region study, 5 points below the 649 regional average. In practice, that lower score matches what customers report: Allstate has more formal complaints filed against it than the average, and customers say it takes longer to resolve claims and disputes than at Auto-Owners or State Farm.

That J.D. Power score, combined with the higher complaint rate, is why Allstate ranks seventh for customer service among South Dakota companies we reviewed. Drivers who put claims service first should look at Auto-Owners (654 in J.D. Power, 1st for customer service) or State Farm (664, 2nd in J.D. Power) instead.
Coverage selection is where Allstate separates itself, with ten of 13 scored options available in South Dakota, matching Progressive for the widest selection in the group. Those options include new car replacement (Your Choice Auto), gap insurance, accident forgiveness as a coverage option you can buy right away, rideshare coverage and custom parts coverage.

Gap insurance covers the difference between what your car is currently worth and what you still owe on your loan if the car is completely destroyed. That's more common than people expect in South Dakota, where deer collisions and severe storms can total a car you're still paying off. Mechanical breakdown insurance isn't available through Allstate in South Dakota.

If you're buying Allstate for its extra coverage options and your vehicle is aging out of warranty, check GEICO for that coverage. If you need gap insurance or new car replacement and are willing to pay more than the South Dakota average for those options, Allstate is the right choice.

Rates at South Dakota's Best Car Insurance Companies

South Dakota's full coverage average of $110 a month is $57 below the national average of $167. Drivers with no accidents or violations are paying some of the lower car insurance rates in the country, even though the state has above-average damage claims from deer collisions and storms.

The difference between the cheapest company in the top five (Farmers Mutual at $82) and the most expensive (Allstate at $122) is $40 a month, nearly $480 per year for the same coverage level. Where you live in South Dakota also affects your rate. Sioux Falls and Rapid City cost more than rural areas because more cars and more accidents mean more claims in those cities.


Progressive	$97	$36	12%
Auto-Owners	$118	$44	—
Farmers Mutual	$82	$29	25%
State Farm	$108	$40	2%
Allstate	$122	$46	—
South Dakota State Average	$110	$42	—
National Average	$167	$105	—

Coverage Options at South Dakota's Best Car Insurance Companies

South Dakota requires every driver to carry at least $25,000 in coverage per injured person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. The state also requires both uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage (at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident), which most states don't require together.

South Dakota is an at-fault state, which means the driver who caused the accident is responsible for paying the other person's costs. There's no required personal injury protection (PIP), a type of coverage that pays your own medical bills regardless of fault, though you can add medical payments coverage (MedPay) as an option.

South Dakota has one of the highest rates of deer-vehicle collisions in the country, parts of eastern South Dakota are in an area known for frequent tornadoes, and the whole state gets severe winter weather. All three factors can cause damage that only comprehensive coverage pays for.


Bodily injury liability	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Property damage liability	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Comprehensive	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Collision	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Uninsured/underinsured motorist	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Medical payments / PIP	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Roadside assistance	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Rental reimbursement	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Accident forgiveness	✓	—	—	✓	✓
New car replacement	✓	—	—	—	✓
Rideshare coverage	✓	—	—	✓	✓
Gap insurance	✓	—	—	—	✓
Custom parts coverage	✓	—	—	—	✓
Coverage total	10/13	8/13	8/13	7/13	10/13

All five companies include comprehensive coverage in their South Dakota full coverage packages. South Dakota has one of the highest rates of deer-vehicle collisions in the country, with peak risk from October through December. Statewide blizzards and eastern South Dakota's tornado risk add more reasons to file a comprehensive claim. Comprehensive isn't optional here for most drivers.

Per South Dakota Division of Insurance rules, every policy must include both uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage (at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident) for bodily injury. Most states only require one of the two. All five companies include this coverage in compliance with state law.

Progressive and Allstate are the only two top-five companies that offer gap insurance in South Dakota. Gap coverage pays the difference between what your car is currently worth and what you still owe on your loan if the car is completely destroyed. That's more common than people expect in South Dakota, where deer collisions and severe storms can total a car you're still paying off. If you're within the first three years of a car loan, gap insurance is worth adding to your policy.

How to Use These Rankings to Find Your Best South Dakota Carrier

The best South Dakota carrier depends on what you're prioritizing: price, claims experience, coverage depth or your driver profile.

Price is your top priority
Farmers Mutual has the lowest full coverage rate in the top five at $82 a month, 25% below the state average, and the lowest minimum coverage rate at $29 a month. Our cheapest car insurance in South Dakota page has a full rate breakdown by driver profile.
You want the best South Dakota claims experience
Auto-Owners holds the top customer service rank among South Dakota's top five, driven by its 654 J.D. Power Central region score (4th of 16 ranked companies), a low complaint rate, and strong financial strength ratings.
Price and coverage both matter to you
Progressive ranks first in South Dakota with a 4.70/5 MoneyGeek score, combining a first-place ranking for price with second-place rankings in customer service and coverage options. Its $97 a month full coverage rate is 12% below the state average, and it offers gap insurance and rideshare coverage alongside that price.
There's a young driver in your household
Progressive and Farmers Mutual both price young driver profiles competitively in South Dakota. Buying your car insurance and your renters or homeowners insurance from the same company can get you a discount that helps reduce the extra cost of insuring a young driver. Our best home and auto bundle in South Dakota page covers your bundling options.
Your record has a DUI or violation
Farmers Mutual prices DUI profiles most favorably among South Dakota's top five. An SR-22 is required for three years after a DUI conviction. Your insurance company sends the SR-22 to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety and charges you a $25 fee. Our SR-22 insurance in South Dakota page covers full filing requirements.
You live in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls rates are higher than rural South Dakota because more cars and more traffic means more accidents and more claims. Progressive and Farmers Mutual are the most competitive options for Sioux Falls drivers among the top five. Our best cheap car insurance in Sioux Falls page has city-specific rates.

Best South Dakota Car Insurance: FAQ

What is the minimum car insurance required in South Dakota?

South Dakota requires $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability (per SDCL Title 32-35). Every policy must also include both uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage (at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury), a requirement most states don't have. South Dakota is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who caused the accident pays. Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage (MedPay), which pay your own medical bills, are both optional in South Dakota.

What happens if I drive without insurance in South Dakota?

Per the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, driving without proof of insurance is a Class 2 Misdemeanor: up to 30 days in jail, a $100 fine, and a license suspension of 30 days to one year. Getting your license back may require filing an SR-22 (a form proving you have insurance) with the state. Electronic proof of insurance on a smartphone is accepted as valid documentation during a traffic stop.

What is South Dakota's slight/gross comparative negligence rule?

South Dakota is the only state in the country using this rule, under SDCL Section 20-9-2. You can only collect money from the other driver if your share of fault is very small compared to theirs, which is harder to prove than in most other states. In plain terms, if a court decides you were more than a little bit to blame for the accident, you get nothing from the other driver. That's why adequate liability limits matter more in South Dakota than in most states.

Does South Dakota really require both UM and UIM coverage?

Yes. Per the SD Division of Insurance, every policy must include both uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage (at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury). Uninsured motorist coverage protects you from drivers who carry no insurance at all; underinsured motorist coverage protects you from drivers who have insurance but not enough to cover your losses. Most states only require one of the two.

How long does an SR-22 filing stay on my South Dakota record after a DUI?

Per the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, you must keep the SR-22 active for three years from the date you're allowed to get your license back. Your insurance company files the SR-22 with the state and charges you a $25 fee. If your insurance is cancelled or you let it expire, your license will be suspended again right away. Our SR-22 insurance in South Dakota page covers filing requirements and company options.

Does my South Dakota auto policy cover deer collisions, tornado and winter weather damage?

Only comprehensive coverage pays for animal collisions, tornado, hail, and ice damage. Liability and collision don't cover these. South Dakota has one of the highest rates of deer-vehicle collisions in the country, with peak risk from October through December. Parts of eastern South Dakota are in an area known for frequent tornadoes, and statewide blizzards add more damage exposure through winter.

Sources

J.D. Power. "2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study." Accessed June 2025.
J.D. Power. "2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study." Accessed June 2025.
South Dakota Division of Insurance. "Property and Casualty Market Conditions Annual Reports." Accessed June 2025.
South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) Title 32-35. Provisions of Owner's Policy of Liability Insurance. Accessed June 2025.
South Dakota Division of Insurance. "Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements." Accessed June 2025.
Insurance Information Institute (III). "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured Motorists." Accessed June 2025.
AM Best. "Ratings Services." Accessed June 2025.

For the complete breakdown of MoneyGeek's scoring weights and rate baseline construction, see our full auto insurance methodology.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). His career began in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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Best Car Insurance in South Dakota for 2026

Our Experience Reviewing South Dakota's Top Car Insurers

Best Car Insurance Companies in South Dakota: Scores and Methodology

Best South Dakota Car Insurance Company Ratings

Progressive

Auto-Owners

Farmers Mutual Ins Co of NE

State Farm

Allstate

Rates at South Dakota's Best Car Insurance Companies

Coverage Options at South Dakota's Best Car Insurance Companies

How to Use These Rankings to Find Your Best South Dakota Carrier

Best South Dakota Car Insurance: FAQ

What is the minimum car insurance required in South Dakota?

What happens if I drive without insurance in South Dakota?

What is South Dakota's slight/gross comparative negligence rule?

Does South Dakota really require both UM and UIM coverage?

How long does an SR-22 filing stay on my South Dakota record after a DUI?

Does my South Dakota auto policy cover deer collisions, tornado and winter weather damage?

Sources

Our Methodology