South Dakota Auto Insurance
Auto insurance is mandatory in South Dakota and drivers are required to carry insurance which meets minimum requirements set in place by the state. Currently (2010) all South Dakota drivers must have an auto insurance policy with at least $25,000 / $50,000 in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage coverage.
While these minimum requirements sound sufficient they still only include liability insurance and do not represent enough insurance coverage to fully protect you in the event of an accident. Most South Dakota drivers opt for increased levels of coverage and consider buying collision and/or comprehensive coverage. South Dakota is a tort state, which means that you are responsible for any damages or injuries incurred as a result of an accident that you cause so it imperative to have sufficient auto insurance in place.
How much is South Dakota Auto Insurance
Average auto insurance rates paid by South Dakota drivers are approximately $1,384 per year, slightly under the national average of $1,440. However good drivers can often pay much less by shopping around and comparing auto insurance companies. Even high risk drivers have a number of auto insurance companies to choose from.
Teen Driving Laws in South Dakota
If you have a teenager driving on your auto insurance policy then you understand the high cost of auto insurance. While your rates will always be a bit higher than someone who does not have a teenage driver there are things you can do to keep from paying unfair, exorbitant fees. The most important thing is to make sure that your teen driver knows and abides by the rules set in place by the state. Not doing so is a surefire way to be forced to pay higher insurance rates and to face other financial consequences as well.
South Dakota teens are required to be at least fourteen years of age and have a learner’s permit before they may operate a motor vehicle at all. Teens in the state are actually rather fortunate, as most other states require drivers to be at least fifteen years of age. Teen drivers must keep their permits for a period of at least six months or three months with state approved driver’s education courses. After this amount of time has passed, they may take a test to get their license.
When a teenager’s license is first issued, it is considered “restricted,” meaning that it doesn’t carry with it all of the privileges of a traditional license. This is when many teens get themselves in trouble. Some disregard the restrictions on their license, while others simply do not know the rules. Make sure that your teenager knows that during the restricted phase, he or she is not allowed to drive between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This restriction may be lifted when the driver reaches the age of sixteen. Most other states have laws on the amount of passengers a teenager can transport during the restricted license phase, but South Dakota does not. It is actually a very lenient state when it comes to teen driving, so there is no reason not to follow these rules.
In addition to making sure that your teen abides by all of the driving laws in place, you’ll also want to encourage him or her to make good grades in school. Full time students up to the age of twenty-five, can receive car insurance discounts for maintaining at least a “B” grade point average. This can save you quite a bit of money on car insurance for your teen. Also remember that each year your teen ages, your rates should go down slightly.
Learn more about South Dakota auto insurance and compare auto insurance quotes from South Dakota auto insurance companies for new and used cars online. Start your auto insurance comparison search today – simply enter your ZIP code above.
