South Dakota Car Insurance

Car Insurance in South Dakota

South Dakota is perhaps best known as the home of the Badlands, the Black Hills, and Mount Rushmore. It is also known for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally held in Sturgis, SD, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every summer. Wherever your destination lies, make sure you have the right car insurance in South Dakota for your vehicle. The following information will help you make an informed decision as you get a South Dakota car insurance quote online.

South Dakota Car Insurance—Mandatory Coverages

All motorists are required to carry the following minimum insurance coverage levels in South Dakota:

  • Bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
  • Property damage: $25,000 per accident
  • Uninsured motorist: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
  • Underinsured motorist: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

South Dakota License Information

To obtain a South Dakota driver's license:

  • Go to a South Dakota Exam Station and submit an application
  • Take your out-of-state license and one (1) other form of identification
  • Confirm driving privileges by examiner
  • Have a vision screening

When both are completed and passed you will be issued a South Dakota license that will be valid for five (5) years. The cost of the license is $8.00.

A non-resident moving into the state has 90 days to register and title a vehicle. When registering a vehicle a 3% motor vehicle excise tax is required to acquire proper license plates and tabs. The vehicle must be registered at the county treasurer's office in the county where the vehicle owner resides. Registrations are renewed annually; the renewal schedule is based on the first letter in the last name of the vehicle owner.

South Dakota Teen Driving Laws

Learner's Permit

Teens may be eligible to apply for a South Dakota Learner's Permit beginning at age 14. They must pass a vision and written knowledge test. Learner's permits are valid for one year and allow the permit holder to drive only while accompanied by a licensed driver 18 years of age or older in the front passenger seat between the hours of 6AM and 10PM. Teen drivers must hold their learner's permit for 180 days (or 90 days if they have completed a state-approved driver education course) before being eligible to apply for a Restricted Minor's permit.

Restricted Minor's Permit

Teens at least 14 years of age who have completed the requirements of the Learner's Permit and passed a vision, knowledge, and driving test may be eligible to receive a Restricted Minor's Permit. It allows the holder to drive unaccompanied only between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, the driver must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in the front passenger seat. The permit is valid for 5 years or until age 18, whichever comes first, at which time the driver is graduated to an unrestricted Operator's License.