South Dakota Car Insurance Laws

Motorists in South Dakota have to adhere to a number of laws that govern motor vehicle insurance. To ensure sanity on their roads, stakeholders in South Dakota formulated an insurance department in 1889. This regulatory agency ensures that drivers in the state of South Dakota have the stipulated car insurance coverage.

Insurance commission in South Dakota follows a no fault system of governance. Under this system, they expect auto insurance companies to cover their individual clients in case they have accidents.

This system stresses the illegality of driving without insurance. It also prohibits individuals from allowing other people to drive their unregistered vehicles.

All drivers in South Dakota should insure their vehicles. This will help them avoid problems with the law and protect their lives at the same time. However, according to a guide to pocket friendly car insurance, people should reduce their risk status by boosting their credit values and enhancing the security of their vehicles.

Cheap Car Insurance Tips

In addition, individuals can get cheaper motor vehicle insurance in the state of South Dakota by following these tips:

1. Obtain car insurance in areas where they charge lower rates.
2. Claim insurance discounts and promotions.
3. People should insure all vehicles with a single insurance company.
4. Make payments in bulk.
5. Most importantly, compare insurance quotes from various insurance companies.

Though individuals can get good insurance deals by following these tips, they should ensure that they adhere to a series of mandatory vehicle insurance laws.

Types of Mandatory Coverage

For instance, the state’s insurance authority recommends that all motor vehicles should have mandatory coverage. This should include:

1. Liability Coverage
2. Motorist coverage (uninsured or underinsured)
3. Injury protection coverage
4. Liability Coverage

The insurance authorities in South Dakota expect all individuals to have their stipulated minimum coverage. In addition, while driving on the road, individuals must have proof that they have minimum liability insurance.

Traffic police officers can stop vehicles at any time and request for this certification. However, people who do not adhere to the stipulations of this law can face numerous fines. For instance, people found to be driving without minimum liability coverage can:

1. Have a 150-dollar fine if deemed a first offender.
2. Be fined 300 dollars in case individuals commit a second offense within a period of 18 months.
3. Accumulate around six to 12 points on their driving records.

The law also requires these individuals to surrender their original driving licenses while undergoing these penalties. They will, however, be issued with a duplicate copy valued at 50 dollars. Nevertheless, individuals who have faced these fines and point penalties will have to buy a three-year insurance cover.

The licensing authorities in South Dakota will clearly stipulate this requirement in their duplicate documents. People who go contrary to this requirement risk having their licenses suspended or their registrations revoked.

Minimum Liability Coverage

In South Dakota, individuals must have a specified amount of minimum liability cover. This insurance cover caters for bodily injury during an accident and damage to property in case people experience collisions.

Under these laws, this bodily coverage caters for death and permanent or serious injuries. However, insurance companies only pay up to the limit of their policy. They may also provide legal assistance when faced with lawsuits.

All drivers in South Dakota should have minimum liability coverage, including:

1. 25,000 dollars death or bodily injury liability coverage for one individual involved in a single accident.
2. 50,000 dollars death or bodily injury liability coverage for two or more individuals involved in a single accident.
3. 25,000 dollars damage to property liability coverage in case of a single accident.

After attaining the stipulated minimum liability, individuals can include other covers to their policies.

For instance, people in South Dakota prefer buying higher liability coverage than those stipulated under the law. They realize that whenever they get involved in accidents, their insurance companies only settle the amount they requested when buying the policy. Individuals who settle for the minimum liability coverage can pay numerous amounts off their pockets if they get accidents.

Motorist Coverage (uninsured or underinsured)

Authorities in South Dakota have enforced ‘No pay No play’ laws governing under insured and uninsured motorists. For instance, they do not allow individuals who lack liability insurance to sue for economic damages. In addition, even in cases where they did not cause the accident, they can still face major restrictions.

Under insured and uninsured motorists buy the following coverage stipulated in the laws of South Dakota.

1. 25,000 dollar per person per accident
2. 50,000 dollars per accident motorist coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Drivers in South Dakota should buy PIP insurance. This ensures that they get medical assistance from their insurance companies, whether they were responsible for the accident or not. Individuals only have to call their insurance companies in the event an accident occurs. Authorities in South Dakota require a minimum PIP liability insurance of 30,000 dollars.

However, before making these PIP claims, individuals should follow some tips:

1. People should call their attorneys before recording statements with insurance companies.
2. Individuals should only sign their claims after thoroughly scrutinizing the document.
3. People should consult their doctors during the whole process to help them strengthen their claims.
4. People should be consistent while filling medical claims.
5. Finally, people should avoid being under treated.

Laws Governing Insurance of Rental Cars

All vehicles, including rental cars must have minimum liability insurance. However, in addition, these cars must have rental-car insurances. People can obtain this form of insurance from their respective rental companies. This can cost individuals an additional 7 to 14 dollars every day. Ways to save money on auto insurance are easily accessible with research on the internet and online comparison websites. Enter your ZIP code into our FREE car insurance comparison tool to see quotes now.

At times, this form of insurance can come with peoples’ credit cards. Individuals should therefore, check to confirm whether their card issuers covered this insurance policy. Also check to make sure you are getting the best car insurance rates by entering your ZIP code into our FREE car insurance comparison tool!