How to Sell a Car Privately in South Dakota

Sources checked October 9, 2026 · Every rule below links to the official page it came from

Selling your car yourself in South Dakota comes down to a signed title, the right paperwork, and a few steps people often miss. This guide summarizes what the South Dakota Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles and state law say, so you and the buyer can finish the transfer cleanly.

Transferring the title

• The seller names the buyer, signs the title, and fills in the purchase date and the selling price, then hands the title to the buyer once the transaction is complete. dor.sd.gov
• The buyer applies for title and registration at the county treasurer's office using the Motor Vehicle Title and Registration Application (Form 1001). dor.sd.gov
• The buyer has 45 days from the purchase date to apply for title and registration, and the state page says there is no extension. dor.sd.gov
• If a private seller's title is lost, a Duplicate Title Application (Form 1002) and a $10 fee go to the county treasurer. dor.sd.gov

License plates

• The seller removes the license plates upon selling the vehicle. dor.sd.gov
• South Dakota is a plate-with-owner state, so the seller keeps the plates and can move them to the next vehicle at the county treasurer's office. dor.sd.gov

Telling the state you sold the car

• The Seller's Report of Sale may protect the seller from liability for what happens when the vehicle is driven or moved after the sale. dor.sd.gov
• The report can be filed on paper with the county treasurer, online at mysdcars.sd.gov, or with the slip at the bottom of the title. dor.sd.gov

Taxes and fees the buyer pays

• The buyer pays a motor vehicle excise tax of 4% of the purchase price. dor.sd.gov
• The title fee is $10, and the buyer's other fees include plate and registration fees plus any county wheel tax. dor.sd.gov
• Late title applications add $1 per week after the 45-day grace period, capped at $50, and applications made more than 60 days after purchase carry a one-time penalty of 10% of the tax or $10, whichever is greater. dor.sd.gov
• An extra $100 non-resident administrative fee applies to buyers with no South Dakota license, ID card, or physical address. dor.sd.gov

Loans and liens

• Buyers can use the online VIN check to see whether a lienholder is listed, and a vehicle with a loan may have an electronic lien title until the loan is paid off. dor.sd.gov
• A lienholder must release the lien within 20 days after final payment, with no fee for the release. dor.sd.gov

Easy-to-miss rules in this state

• A private seller must give the buyer a free Seller's Permit, valid 45 days, so the buyer can drive until the vehicle is titled and registered. dor.sd.gov
• The seller can print the permit after creating an account at mysdcars.sd.gov, and can reprint it online once, only within 7 days of first getting it. dor.sd.gov
• A seller who fails to give the buyer the permit commits a class 2 misdemeanor. dor.sd.gov
• Anyone engaged in the business of selling vehicles, even part-time, needs a motor vehicle dealer license. dor.sd.gov

Official South Dakota resources

• SD DOR: What you need when selling to a private party
• SD DOR: Cars, trucks and vans
• SD DOR: All vehicles, title, fees and registration
• SD DOR: 5 common errors when titling a vehicle
• SD DOR: Motor vehicle

Next steps

Once you know the rules, create a free listing and print a QR code sign for the car window. For the general process, see our step-by-step private sale guide, the paperwork checklist, and how to get paid safely. Need paperwork? Use our free bill of sale generator.

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