Cheap Car Insurance in Aberdeen, SD

Aberdeen, SD is home to more than 28,000 residents, making it the third-largest city in the state behind Rapid City and Sioux Falls. First settled in 1881, the town is located in the northeast part of the state not far from the North Dakota border.

Aberdeen has developed a reputation as the quintessential college town, as it is home to both Northern State University as well as Presentation College. Aberdeen is also home to the Super 8 Motel chain, which was first opened in 1973. If you make your home in or plan to visit Aberdeen, see the rest of our guide on car insurance in South Dakota.

In Aberdeen, you can expect the monthly cost of your insurance premiums to run an average of $120 for full coverage car insurance. This rate is less than the national average for full coverage insurance of $148. You also have the option of paying less for the state-required minimum coverage. You will face average premiums of $24 for the minimum level of liability coverage. This is roughly half the national average of $47 monthly.

Many people find it tempting to select the cheapest possible car insurance. Unfortunately, the cheapest option is generally the riskiest as well. If you only carry liability coverage, you will be paying for your own damages by yourself after a crash. If you were at fault for the accident, you could be personally liable for anything above what your insurance will pay.

What Does it Mean if South Dakota is At-Fault?

South Dakota—like most of the states in the nation—is an “at-fault” state when it comes to motor vehicle accidents. Also known as a “tort” state, these at-fault rules mean that drivers have the option to pursue legal action against the other party in the accident if they are at fault. This differs from a no-fault state, which generally requires you to pay for your damages through a claim with your insurance carrier.

How Many Fatal Accidents Happen in Aberdeen?

Fatal accidents are thankfully uncommon in Aberdeen. The lack of fatal collisions is largely related to the small population of the town itself. There has only been one traffic-related fatality in Aberdeen in recent years. This fatality occurred in May of 2019, and it is the only fatal accident in those five years. Nationally, there were nearly 43,000 traffic fatalities in 2021, which was a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

How Are the Road Infrastructure and Bridges in Aberdeen, SD?

In Aberdeen, road maintenance and repair are taken care of by the Aberdeen Streets Department. This department of the city is tasked with maintaining and updating the streets, alleys, and public parking lots throughout the city. The streets department also handles snow and ice mitigation, which is a common factor in Aberdeen.

South Dakota law requires motorists to carry a minimum level of liability insurance coverage. This coverage must include both bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. The minimum liability coverage required by South Dakota law includes:

The offense of driving without car insurance in Aberdeen is treated as a Class 2 misdemeanor. This offense comes with several potential penalties, including the possibility of incarceration. Some of these penalties include the following:

There are different factors that an insurance company can take into account when it comes to setting car insurance rates. Each of these factors is tied to either higher or lower risks of claims. Some common factors include the following:

South Dakota is an at-fault insurance state. That means if you cause an accident that damages property, you could be liable for those damages. These are the situations that your liability insurance was designed for. However, you could also be paying for some of those costs out of pocket if the damages are higher than your policy limits. Some of the steps you can take after a property accident are the following: