Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota for a bad driving record

If you have a poor driving record in South Dakota, Nationwide, Allstate, Farmers are the cheapest options. Nationwide has the lowest annual rate at $2,722 per year.

Having accidents, DUIs or traffic tickets on your driving record, will make you pay more for insurance. Most tickets will affect your rates for three to five years. A DUI can affect your rates for up to 10 years and can stay on your record for life.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Nationwide$1,526$2,722
Allstate$2,070$2,779
Farmers$2,207$3,066
State Farm$2,096$3,642
Progressive$3,163$3,896
GEICO$2,384$3,915
Auto-Owners$2,566$4,793
USAA$1,780$2,780

How much is high-risk car insurance in South Dakota?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In South Dakota, high-risk car insurance costs $3,512 per year. However, you can get rates as low as $2,722 annually from Nationwide.

Although you may be labeled high-risk for many reasons, some factors raise rates more than others. For example, multiple speeding tickets may significantly raise car insurance rates, but so can a single ticket for excessive speed in a school zone.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.

Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in South Dakota, SD is $3,189
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual premium after violation
State Farm$2,096$2,273
Nationwide$1,526$2,555
USAA$1,780$2,640
Allstate$2,070$3,025
Farmers$2,207$3,040
Auto-Owners$2,566$3,518
Progressive$3,163$3,907
GEICO$2,384$3,950
Average annual rate

PEOPLE ASK:

Who is considered high-risk for insurance in South Dakota?

Each insurance company has its own rules for deciding who is a high-risk driver. But usually, things like a DUI, several tickets or accidents, or serious violations like reckless driving will put you in the high-risk category.

Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, State Farm provides the average cheapest coverage for $2,179 annually.

A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations to have on your record. Not only do you have to pay fines, but you'll also see vastly higher car insurance rates for up to 10 years. Multiple DUIs will cause your premiums to skyrocket.

The table below compares average car insurance rates with a clean driving record and rates after a DUI in South Dakota.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for a DUI
State Farm$2,096$2,179
Farmers$2,207$2,926
Progressive$3,163$3,286
Nationwide$1,526$3,358
Allstate$2,070$3,434
Auto-Owners$2,566$4,471
GEICO$2,384$7,439
USAA$1,780$3,803

Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota with multiple tickets

The cheapest insurer for drivers with multiple tickets is State Farm, with rates averaging $2,179 annually or $182 monthly.

One ticket will affect car insurance rates, but multiple tickets will increase rates by a lot more. Repeated failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws means insurers are more likely to pay claims because of your risky driving.

This table shows South Dakota drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium with a speeding ticket
State Farm$2,096$2,179
Allstate$2,070$2,240
Nationwide$1,526$2,486
GEICO$2,384$2,640
Farmers$2,207$2,854
Auto-Owners$2,566$3,540
Progressive$3,163$3,640
USAA$1,780$2,292

Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota with a reckless driving conviction

State Farm offers the most affordable rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions, averaging $2,179 per year.

Engaging in driving behaviors that put others at risk can lead to a reckless driving charge. A conviction for reckless driving results in higher car insurance rates.

The table below compares car insurance premiums for drivers with a clean record and those with a reckless driving conviction.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for reckless driving
State Farm$2,096$2,179
Farmers$2,207$3,336
Nationwide$1,526$3,358
Allstate$2,070$3,434
Progressive$3,163$3,821
Auto-Owners$2,566$4,471
GEICO$2,384$5,209
USAA$1,780$2,404

Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota with bad credit

The cheapest South Dakota insurer for bad credit is Nationwide, with rates averaging $2,158 per year or $180 per month. The good news is that drivers with bad credit can still get affordable auto insurance.

Your credit score may not be related to your driving skills, but it can affect your car insurance rates and put you in a higher-risk category. From an insurer's perspective, higher risk means an increased chance of filing a claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing., and statistics show that drivers with lower credit scores are in this category.

Check the table below to see how your credit score affects South Dakota car insurance.

CompanyAnnual premium for good creditAnnual premium for bad credit
Nationwide$1,526$2,158
GEICO$2,384$2,922
Allstate$2,070$3,083
Farmers$2,207$3,575
Progressive$3,163$5,346
Auto-Owners$2,566$7,942
State Farm$2,096$10,956
USAA$1,780$3,595

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in South Dakota

State Farm has the lowest average rates after an accident at $2,273 a year. Nationwide also offers affordable rates, averaging $2,555 per year.

Drivers with accidents on their record typically pay higher insurance rates than those with a clean record. While car insurance rates may increase after one accident, multiple accidents can increase rates even more.

This table shows rates for drivers with a clean record, one at-fault accident and multiple accidents.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for one at-fault accidentAnnual premium for multiple accident
State Farm$2,096$2,273$2,273
Nationwide$1,526$2,555$3,568
Allstate$2,070$3,025$4,873
Farmers$2,207$3,040$4,283
Auto-Owners$2,566$3,518$3,880
Progressive$3,163$3,907$4,297
GEICO$2,384$3,950$5,478
USAA$1,780$2,640$3,956

Cheapest car insurance in South Dakota by city

Watertown has the cheapest car insurance rates in South Dakota at $3,007 per year. But the most expensive city is Dupree with rates of $4,225 per year.

Your location in South Dakota also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.

CityAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Watertown$1,939$3,007
Sioux Falls$1,997$3,129
Arlington$2,038$3,157
Iroquois$2,110$3,262
Webster$2,156$3,302
Bonesteel$2,486$3,792
Rapid City$2,497$3,822
Winner$2,527$3,851
Dupree$2,738$4,225

How to reduce car insurance rates in South Dakota for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in South Dakota is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

Where you live in South Dakota also affects car insurance rates. For example, if you live in a high-traffic or high-theft area, rates will increase because your vehicle is more likely to be damaged or stolen.

  • Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
  • Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren't added.
  • Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
  • Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
  • Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

PEOPLE ASK:

How long are you considered a high-risk driver in South Dakota?

Three years is common, but how long you are considered a high-risk driver in California depends on the insurance company's guidelines. The state determines how long a violation stays on your record, but the insurance company determines how long you're charged for that violation.

South Dakota car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you're considered a high-risk driver in South Dakota, you may be required to file an SR-22. This form is filled out by your car insurance company, stating that you have at least the minimum required coverage. The court will let you know how long you must file an SR-22.

Although an SR-22 is typically called insurance, it is only the form. You don't need special insurance coverage, but rates are much higher for high-risk drivers and not all carriers insure such drivers.

Methodology

research logo

170+

insurance companies analyzed

research logo

34,000+

ZIP codes examined

research logo

$53M

insurance quotes analyzed

National and state average rates are based on three coverage levels: state minimum, 50/100/50 liability-only, and full coverage with 100/300/100 liability and $500 deductibles.

All base rate averages are based on our full coverage data set. This data set is based on:

  • A 40-year-old driver
  • A clean record
  • Good credit
  • State minimum insurance, which includes liability coverage and may also include personal injury protection, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage

Best company rankings use the rate data outline above, as well as:

  • Customer complaints ratios from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaints database, where a score of 1.00 is considered the baseline and anything below is a low complaint volume while anything above is considered a high volume.
  • Overall customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power's U.S. Auto Insurance Study, where companies are scored out of 1,000.
  • AM Best financial ratings were used to indicate financial stability, where the best possible score is A++.
Tip icon You might also be interested in

In case you missed it

Stay updated with our latest insurance insights and guides