Who Has the Cheapest Motorcycle Insurance in South Dakota?

Having motorcycle insurance will fulfill a legal requirement, but it also protects you and your bike, into which you've invested both time and money. We collected 158 quotes from across South Dakota to find the best insurers to fit your needs.

Cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in South Dakota

Geico offers the lowest rates we found for motorcycle insurance in South Dakota. Nationwide is the second-cheapest option, and Dairyland also has below-average rates.

Cheapest motorcycle insurance companies in South Dakota

Best motorcycle insurance for most riders: Nationwide

Our top recommendation for most South Dakota riders is Nationwide. It has some of the lowest prices we found, with great customer service and good coverage options. On average, Nationwide's rate was $410 per year. That wasn't the cheapest we found, but it was 10% less than the state average and only $6 more per month than the cheapest option. Customers can also get discounts for owning a home or installing theft recovery devices.

For that price, Nationwide's coverage options are better than what you'll find with cheaper options. It has original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts coverage and protection for custom equipment, but it does not have trip interruption or full replacement cost coverage.

Nationwide also offers the best-rated customer service we found. It has a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index of 0.61, meaning it received only 61% as many complaints as a typical insurer relative to its size.

Best for low rates: Geico

South Dakota riders looking for the lowest rates should look into Geico. The company has the cheapest prices we found, with a good set of discounts and strong customer service.

The average price of a full coverage Geico policy is $343 per year, 25% less than the state average and $67 less than the next-best option. You can reduce those prices further by getting discounts for having multiple policies with the company, transferring your policy or taking a safety course.

Geico also offers riders a strong customer service experience. The company has a lower NAIC Complaint Index of 0.79, which means it received only 79% as many complaints as you would expect given its size. This suggests Geico customers are more satisfied than average with the service they received.

The biggest drawback for Geico is a somewhat limited set of coverage options. It has roadside assistance and accessories coverage but does not include offerings such as accident forgiveness and carried contents coverage.

Best for coverage options: Progressive

Riders looking for the fullest level of protection for their bikes should go with Progressive. The company has the widest selection of coverage options we found in South Dakota, which includes guaranteed OEM parts replacement, carried contents coverage and trip interruption coverage.

Its robust coverage comes with a higher price. Progressive's annual rate of $442 per year is cheaper than the state average, but it is more expensive than Geico, Nationwide and Dairyland.

Progressive should provide a good customer service experience. Its NAIC Complaint Index was 0.77, meaning policyholders filed complaints 77% as often as a typical insurer relative to its size.

Best-rated South Dakota motorcycle insurers

When it comes to filing a claim after an accident or incident, fast, convenient customer service can be as valuable to you as low rates. We were most impressed with Nationwide's service in South Dakota based on the NAIC Complaint Index and AM Best Financial Strength Rating.

The NAIC combines auto and motorcycle insurance into a single industry category. This means the scores are based on combined complaints and premiums for bikes and cars.

You should always factor customer service into your choice of a motorcycle insurance company because bad customer service has the potential to make a difficult situation more stressful. We use the Complaint Index issued by the NAIC and AM Best Financial Strength Rating to rate a company's customer service.

The NAIC Complaint Index compares a company's number of complaints with its share of the market. The average score is 1.0 and lower numbers indicate better performance. A company with a better AM Best rating is better positioned to pay out claims, even in tough economic conditions.

South Dakota motorcycle insurance cost by city

Your cost of motorcycle insurance will in part be dictated by where you live. Higher rates of motorcycle theft or worse roads, which can lead to more accidents, can raise the price of insuring your bike.

The cheapest rate we found in the state is $429 per year in Brookings, while Philip had the most expensive rates at $485. That's a relatively narrow price range of just $56 per year.

South Dakota motorcycle insurance requirements

Riders in South Dakota must provide proof of financial responsibility to take to the road. The most common type is an insurance policy with at least the following minimum limits:

Riders can also post a $50,000 deposit, a certificate of self-insurance that meets the above minimum requirements or a surety bond.

Methodology

We collected motorcycle insurance quotes from five major motorcycle insurance companies operating in South Dakota: Allstate, Dairyland, Geico, Nationwide and Progressive. The sample rider is a 45-year-old man with a 2021 Harley-Davidson Street Glide. The coverage limits surpass the state minimums and are: