South Dakota
Vehicle Resource Center
There are more than 670,000 licensed drivers throughout South Dakota, and each of those drivers is expected to follow all the state's driving rules and regulations. Most of those drivers also own a vehicle, which means they need to follow the state's upkeep and maintenance protocols. These tasks can best be accomplished with help from a comprehensive guide.
Ownership and Maintenance
Each vehicle owner and driver must file regular paperwork, pay administrative fees, and meet annual requirements to maintain the vehicle's registration, keep up insurance, and keep a functional driver's license.
South Dakota is among the few states that do not require any sort of safety or emissions testing for its vehicles. Vehicle owners do not have to worry about getting an inspection to renew the registration.
Every vehicle owner in South Dakota is legally obligated to insure the vehicle in case it is involved in an accident. The insurance pays for any damages the driver is liable for during an accident up until the insurance limits are met. Without proper insurance coverage, drivers can be fined and sued for lack of insurance.
The Minimum Insurance
If the minimum insurance coverage amounts are met, the vehicle is legally insured, and the owner cannot be fined for not having insurance. Having the minimum insurance is not guaranteed protection against lawsuits and damages during a serious accident. This is why vehicle owners are encouraged to get larger insurance policies for additional protection.
Renew Online
The fastest registration renewal method available today is completed online at the MySDcars web portal. The owner must input their driver's license number or State ID number and their birth date to look up their account. Once in the account, the renewal is completed by paying registration fees, postage, a 2.25% debit or credit card processing fee, or a $1.50 fee for an echeck.
Renew at a Kiosk
Residents can get their decals immediately if renewing at a DMV Now Kiosk. Kiosks can be found using this search tool. Once located, renewing is as simple as scanning a driver's license, paying the fees, and printing the decal immediately.
Renew In Person
Many residents opt to renew their vehicle registration in person at a county treasurer's office. To renew in person, provide the clerk with the renewal notice and your driver's license or photo ID. Pay the fees, and the renewal process is complete.
Renew By Post
For residents who wish to renew by post, the process can be completed via the local county treasurer's office. Mail in the renewal notice, driver's license number, or state ID number, along with a check or money order addressed to the county treasurer's office. The payment should include $7.50 to cover the postage of any plates that must be mailed and $1.50 for any decals that must be mailed.
Online
Drivers may renew their license online every other renewal or once every 10 years. The process begins at the government renewal page. Each driver must provide their license information, the last four of their Social Security number, birth date, and submit two different pieces of mail proving their address, and pay the renewal fee.
By Mail
Drivers who wish to renew by mail have a straightforward process they can follow that doesn't require visiting the DMV. Each driver must complete and send in the South Dakota Driver License application form. Along with the application form, the driver must submit two pieces of mail proving their address and an application fee of $28 on a check or money order made to the Department of Public Safety. The envelope should also include a self-addressed envelope with postage to be used to ship back the renewed driver's license.
The documents and payment must be mailed to the address below:
Driver Licensing Program
118 West Capital Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
In Person
Any drivers who renewed online or by mail last time must visit a Driver's License Office and renew in person. A visit to the office includes taking a vision exam, having a new photo updated, and providing all the renewal documents. Drivers should bring a South Dakota Driver's License application form, along with their photo ID, two pieces of mail to prove their address, and money to pay the renewal fee.
Once finished going through any of the three renewal processes above, the license will be mailed to the address on file within three to four weeks.
Driver's License Renewal
The standard driver's license renewal fee is $28, while commercial licenses often cost $33 for renewal.
Wheel Tax and Registration
Each year, there is an administrative tax included in registration fees known as wheel tax. This fee is $25 annually. There is also a variable registration fee that's determined by the age, weight, and type of vehicle. This fee is included on the renewal notice and can be obtained from the county treasurer's office.
Buying & Selling
Whenever a vehicle is bought or sold in South Dakota, strict protocols must be upheld. That means filing the right paperwork. When all the proper papers are filed, vehicle sales become safer and more legitimate.
Remove the Plates
Sellers must take off the license plates from a vehicle before allowing an individual to leave with it. The plate should be returned to the county treasurer's office.
Get a Seller's Permit
Before handing over a vehicle to a buyer, the seller must visit the MySDcars account page and print a Seller's Permit for the vehicle to be sold. This permit enables the buyer to legally drive the vehicle for up to 30 days while having it registered and titled.
Provide the Title
Each seller must give a clean title with no liens to the vehicle buyer. This title is required to prove the vehicle was purchased and to register it.
Give a Bill of Sale
The seller must print two Bill of Sale forms and complete each with the buyer. The seller can give the buyer one copy and retain a copy as proof that the vehicle was sold.
Provide an Odometer Disclosure
The seller must print an odometer disclosure form for any vehicle that is less than 20 years old. Print and fill out this form completely as proof of the vehicle's current odometer reading.
File a Report of Sale
After selling the vehicle, the seller must visit the MySDcars account login page, sign in, and submit a Report of Sale. This informs the state the vehicle has been sold and is no longer the property of the seller.
Cancel the Insurance
After reporting the vehicle as sold, it's time to cancel the insurance held on it. No insurance is necessary once the vehicle is reported as sold to another person.
Research the Vehicle Thoroughly
The buyer should learn everything they can about the vehicle before committing to purchase it. That means investigating its history, features, and more. Investing in a VIN Search or a License Plate Report from GoodCar is the most efficient way to get this information reliably. The reports provide data about open recalls, vehicle specifications, ownership history, odometer readings, title brands, accident history, and more.
Get the Matching Title
When purchasing a vehicle in South Dakota, it's vital to obtain the Certificate of Title from the seller. The title must have a VIN that matches the vehicle and should be filled out completely. Be careful to check each of the informational sections on the back and get all data filled in to expedite the titling and registration processes.
Obtain a Bill of Sale
The seller should have a Bill of Sale form, but if they do not, it's advisable to print and bring one to the deal. Have the seller fill it out as proof of the vehicle purchase date and price.
Get an Odometer Disclosure Form
Make sure to have a copy of the odometer disclosure form for the seller to fill out during the meeting. This form is proof of the current odometer reading and may be required when registering the vehicle.
Obtain Insurance
After purchasing the vehicle, it's essential to insure it as soon as possible. The buyer should work with an insurance agent within the state to obtain the appropriate amount of insurance coverage for long-term protection.
Title and Register the Vehicle
Once the purchase has been made, the buyer must bring proof of insurance, the Certificate of Title, Bill of Sale, an odometer disclosure form, proof of residence, and a photo ID to register and title the vehicle. Then, the buyer pays the sales tax, registration and title fees, and any miscellaneous fees to the official title and registers the vehicle.
Motor Vehicle Sales Tax
The buyer must pay a 4% tax rate on the purchase price of the vehicle.
Title Fee
There is a $10 fee for a new vehicle title.
Misc Fees
There are many small additional fees, including a solid waste fee of $1.00, a Highway Patrol Fee of $1.00, a Plate Mailing Fee of $7.50, and a $50 Electric fee for drivers with EVs.
Laws and Regulations
Drivers in South Dakota must adhere to strict laws that dictate how they use their vehicles. Breaking the laws can lead to fines, license suspension, and jail sentences in some instances.
South Dakota takes driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol very seriously. The state has laws that lead to significant punishments for individuals found to be driving with drugs or alcohol in their system.
According to SD state laws, an individual charged with a DUI will be fined up to $2,000, have their license revoked for at least 30 days, and may face up to a full year in county jail. There is also the risk of being entered into a chemical dependency program if the level of impairment is high enough. All these punishments can be administered to a driver during their first DUI charge, and subsequent charges come with harsher penalties.
How Much Alcohol is Too Much?
The most common cause of a DUI is driving while under the influence of alcohol. Law enforcement measures impairment using a measurement known as BAC or blood alcohol concentration. This measurement can be obtained via a breathalyzer or a blood test. When a driver's BAC is too high, they can immediately be charged with a DUI.
The Limits:
Over 21 - A BAC of 0.08 or higher is beyond the legal limit and results in a standard DUI. A BAC of 0.17 or higher is a more serious DUI and results in a mandatory chemical dependency evaluation along with other charges.
Under 21 - A BAC of 0.02 or greater results in a DUI charge for a minor.
To learn more about DUI charges, testing procedures, and more, see this Self Dakota Department of Public Safety knowledge page.
South Dakota has relaxed seat belt laws that enable passengers over 18 to be unbuckled in the rear seat of a vehicle. Any passengers under 18 must be buckled no matter where they sit. The law requires children ages four and younger to be restrained in a child-safety seat.
Child Seat Guidelines
While South Dakota law only requires children up to the age of 4 to remain in child restraints, children should remain in car seats or booster seats until they are much older for their safety.
A rear-facing car seat is a standard for infants up through children to the age of 2. Children can remain in rear-facing car seats until they outgrow the size limits of the seat. Once a child surpasses the rear-facing limits, they should move to a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness. Typically, children can remain in a forward-facing car seat until the age of four.
Children should only be graduated to a booster seat when they outgrow the weight limits of a forward-facing car seat. Children can then remain in a booster seat until they reach the height of 4'9". At this point, they can safely and effectively use a seat belt alone to ride in a vehicle.
Adding tint to a vehicle's windows is an effective way to keep it cooler and protect the interior from UV radiation. Not all tint is allowed in South Dakota, though. There are restrictions on the type of tint that can be used, and using a tint that's too dark can result in fines or the requirement to remove it. Fortunately, South Dakota laws are lenient, and most tints can be used here.
What Tint is Allowed?
Windshield
Any tint can be used above the AS-1 line on a windshield (about the top 5 inches) as long as it isn't reflective.
Front-Side Windows
Each of the front side windows can have a window tint applied as long as it allows 35% of visible light or more to pass through.
Rear Windows
All the rear windows can have a tint that allows 20% or more of visible light through, providing excellent privacy.
In the state of South Dakota, new car purchasers are protected against significant defects that harm the value of the vehicles or make them unsafe to use. The Lemon law is designed to protect vehicles with fewer than 12,000 miles with less than one year of ownership. If a vehicle is suffering from a major defect, it's the responsibility of the auto manufacturer to repair the issue in a reasonable number of attempts.
When a Vehicle is a Lemon
Not all damaged vehicles are lemons. First, the manufacturer has a chance to repair the vehicle. The buyer must inform the manufacturer of the vehicle's problems, and the company can then attempt to repair the issue. As long as the repairs are made successfully within three attempts, the vehicle is not a lemon. If the vehicle receives four or more repairs for the same issue, six total repairs, or it is in the shop for at least 30 days, it can be deemed a lemon.
When a vehicle is a lemon, the manufacturer is required to refund the purchase price of the vehicle or to replace the vehicle with another with an equal value.
Useful Things to Know
Find EV Charging Stations
Any SD residents with electric vehicles will benefit from being able to find public charging stations. This search tool makes that task simple: SD EV Charging Station Locator
Locate a County Treasurer's Office
Most tax, registration, and title issues can be resolved at a County Treasurer's Office. South Dakota residents can use this directory to find the treasurer for their county: County Treasurer's Office Directory
South Dakota Crash Trends
South Dakota is a dangerous state to drive in, according to the 2021 statistics about car accident fatalities assembled by the IIHS. According to the records, a total of 148 individuals died in 131 accidents during 2021. That figure is lower than many other states, but there were 1.48 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, making South Dakota more dangerous than the United States average of 1.37 deaths per VMT. Get a complete picture by looking at the South Dakota car accident statistics at GoodCar.
Get the Latest South Dakota Vehicle Information with GoodCar
South Dakota vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.