South Dakota Title Insurance Cost: What an Owner's and Lender's Policy Costs

An owner's title insurance policy on a $318,500 South Dakota home costs about $763, and the lender's policy issued with it about $50, under the filed rate schedule. The owner's policy rate is $3.50 per $1,000 up to $50,000, $3 per $1,000 from $50,000 to $100,000, $2 per $1,000 from $100,000 to $500,000, $1.75 per $1,000 from $500,000 to $1,000,000, $1.25 per $1,000 above $1,000,000, with a minimum premium of $100 (the price is rounded up to the next $1,000).

South Dakota title insurance by purchase price

Purchase priceOwner's policyLender's policy (issued together)Both policies
$150,000$425$50$475
$200,000$525$50$575
$250,000$625$50$675
$300,000$725$50$775
$350,000$825$50$875
$400,000$925$50$975
$450,000$1,025$50$1,075
$500,000$1,125$50$1,175
$600,000$1,300$50$1,350
$700,000$1,475$50$1,525
$800,000$1,650$50$1,700
$1,000,000$2,000$50$2,050

South Dakota uses filed rates: each underwriter files its own rate manual with the state insurance department, so premiums differ by a few hundred dollars from one title company to another. The schedule below is one underwriter's filed rate. Schedule shown: Stewart Title Guaranty Company.

South Dakota title insurance calculator

Enter a purchase price to see the owner's and lender's policy premiums from the filed South Dakota rate schedule.

Who pays for the owner's policy

Who pays for the owner's policy in South Dakota is negotiable in the purchase contract. South Dakota does not mandate a payer for title insurance by law; allocation follows the sale contract and local closing custom.

When the owner's and lender's policies are issued together at closing, the lender's policy is charged at the reduced simultaneous-issue rate (a flat $50); that is the lender figure used on this page.

Title insurance at the county median price

The rate schedule is statewide; what changes from county to county is the home price. The ten most populous counties are shown; every South Dakota county is in the list below.

CountyMedian home priceOwner's policy
Brookings County$246,300$619
Brown County$212,900$551
Codington County$218,000$561
Davison County$190,000$505
Lawrence County$310,800$747
Lincoln County$323,500$773
Meade County$274,800$675
Minnehaha County$266,600$659
Pennington County$270,400$667
Yankton County$208,200$543
All 66 South Dakota counties

Title insurance in South Dakota cities

CityMedian home priceOwner's policy
Sioux Falls$271,400$669
Rapid City$270,000$665

What the two policies cover

The owner's policy protects your equity against title defects that predate your purchase: undisclosed liens, forged deeds, missing heirs, recording errors. The lender's policy protects only the mortgage lender for the loan amount and is required by nearly every lender. Premiums are one-time and paid at closing. Because underwriters file competing rates, getting two quotes at your purchase price is worth a few hundred dollars.

Frequently asked questions

How much is title insurance in South Dakota?

On a $318,500 home, the South Dakota median, an owner's title policy costs about $763 under the filed rate schedule, and the lender's policy issued with it costs $50, so both policies together are about $813. The premium rises with the purchase price; the table on this page shows it from $150,000 to $1,000,000.

Who pays for title insurance in South Dakota?

Who pays for the owner's policy in South Dakota is negotiable in the purchase contract. South Dakota does not mandate a payer for title insurance by law; allocation follows the sale contract and local closing custom.

Is title insurance a one-time cost?

Yes. Both the owner's policy and the lender's policy are paid once at closing and cover the property for as long as you (or your lender) hold an interest in it. There are no annual premiums.

Can I shop for title insurance in South Dakota?

Yes. South Dakota underwriters file their own rate manuals, so premiums differ by company; ask two or three title companies for a quote at your price and compare their settlement fees as well.

Sources

Rates as filed or promulgated, checked September 22, 2026. Premiums are computed from the schedule above and rounded to the dollar; endorsements, settlement fees and search fees are separate. All sources.

See all South Dakota buyer closing costs →

Premiums are computed from the rate schedule cited above and rounded to the dollar; your title company's quote may add endorsements, search and settlement fees. This is general information, not financial advice.

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