Find affordable car insurance with bad credit by comparing rates.
It can be tough to find cheap car insurance if you have bad credit. Auto insurance companies rely on credit as a rating factor, pricing policies based in part on clients' credit histories. Because auto insurance companies use data showing those with bad credit histories are more likely to file car insurance claims, the companies compensate for that added risk by assigning expensive rates.
How much you pay for car insurance with bad credit depends on which company you choose, where you live, and a few other rating factors. See below typical insurance rates for drivers with bad credit in major South Dakota cities and rates from top car insurance companies, plus a few tips on how to save on auto insurance with bad credit in South Dakota.
South Dakota drivers pay an average penalty of $1,119 each year for having a credit score at the low end of the scale. A driver in either the “poor” or “below fair to poor” credit tier will also pay higher-than-average rates.
| Credit Tier | Average Annual Rate in South Dakota |
| Worst | $2,387 |
| Poor | $2,142 |
| Below Fair to Poor | $1,962 |
| Average — All Credit Tiers | $1,268 |
Car insurance rates can also fluctuate based on the precise area in which you drive. Car insurance companies look at your address to better understand whether you're likely to file a claim: the denser your area,, the more you'll pay for insurance.
Listed below are major South Dakota cities and their mean car insurance costs for those with bad credit.
| City | Average Annual Rate — Worst Credit | Average Annual Rate — Poor Credit | Average Annual Rate — Below Fair to Poor Credit |
| Sioux Falls | $2,095 | $1,895 | $1,739 |
| Rapids City | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aberdeen | $2,067 | $1,864 | $1,708 |
| Brookings | $2,041 | $1,837 | $1,682 |
| Watertown | $2,001 | $1,806 | $1,655 |
Another contributing factor to how much you pay for car insurance is the auto insurance company you buy from. Every auto insurance company rates policies differently, giving rating factors varying weights in their pricing calculations. Credit score is often a primary price differentiator between otherwise-similar insurance companies. In South Dakota, the cheapest major insurance company with bad credit is Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, which offers a premium cut of $575 per year in comparison to the second-cheapest company, Amco.
See prices from leading car insurance companies in South Dakota for drivers with bad credit.
| Company | Average Annual Rate — Worst Credit Tier |
| Farmers Mutual of Nebraska | $1,333 |
| Amco | $1,908 |
| Mid-Century | $2,118 |
| North Star Mutual | $2,125 |
| Farm Bureau | $2,443 |
If you’re facing the prospect of buying car insurance with a bad credit history, consider these tips: