Don’t leave home without it! Auto insurance is required to operate a vehicle in South Dakota. Any vehicle being registered in the state must carry minimum amounts of auto insurance in order to satisfy the Financial Responsibility law. The insurance must be maintained at all times, and failure to do so may result in penalties including the loss of your driving privileges, fines, and loss of your vehicle registration.
Drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 in Bodily injury coverage. This is the amount of money the auto insurance company is willing to pay the other involved parties on your behalf for death or injuries if you are involved in an accident. This amount covers 1 person involved in the accident. The coverage pays a maximum amount of $50,000 to all persons injured. Property damage coverage should include atleast $50,000 in coverage. Property damage coverage pays for damage of property due to an accident.
Uninsured motorist coverage is the final requirement needed to stay legal in South Dakota. A minimum amount of $25,000($50,000 total) in coverage is required. Uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage helps pays for damages associataed with an auto accident with a person without auto insurance or whose coverage is insufficent to cover the costs of the damages.
Med-Pay is another type of insurance available to residents of South Dakota. Although this type of coverage is not required by the state, Med-Pay is designed for immediate and short-term care and is used first as a form of payment for any accident. Med Pay covers the medical bills of you and the passengers in your car after a crash that requires hospital treatment or where there were injuries, regardless of who’s at fault. Adding this coverage is always a great way to protect yourself in an auto accident.
It is recommended that you obtain a minimum of 3 quotes from different auto insurance companies in our South Dakota town to ensure you are getting the best coverage and the best possible prices on your auto insurance. Obtaining quotes is easily done online with a site such as www.esurance.com. Up to 5 quotes are provided in just a few short minutes, all free of charge. Plus, you can easily start your policy while you’re there,too. Of course, the more quotes you have, the better the chances of getting the best insurance to suit your needs.