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The bottom line: To sell a car in South Dakota, you sign the title over to the buyer and hand them a bill of sale, which is required on the official state form. Title notarization, though, is not required.
You must also print a free seller’s permit from the state portal and give it to the buyer. This 45-day permit lets them drive home legally, and skipping it is a Class 2 misdemeanor under South Dakota law.
Plates stay with you, not the car, so remove them before the buyer drives away. After the sale, file a report of sale within 15 days to clear your liability. If you’ve lost the title, you’ll pay $10, plus a $2 technology fee for a duplicate.
To compare offers from multiple services before you decide how to sell, use our free tool.
At a Glance
- Title notarization: not required in South Dakota. Sign the title in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on it.
- Bill of sale: required for all private vehicle sales. Use Form 1025 (Bill of Sale) from the SD Department of Revenue. It does not need to be notarized.
- Seller’s permit: You must give the buyer a free 45-day permit so they can drive legally before they register. Print it from the state portal or get it at a county treasurer’s office. Skipping it is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
- License plates: with the seller, since they belong to the owner and not the vehicle. Remove them before the buyer drives away, then move them to another car you own or destroy them.
- Release of liability: File a report of sale within 15 days to show you’re no longer responsible for the car.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 45 days from the purchase date to register the car and pay the 4% excise tax before penalties start.
- Missing title: Apply for a replacement using Form 1002 (Duplicate Title Application). The fee is $10, plus a $2 technology fee, and processing time is not published by the department.
- Emissions and inspection: Emissions testing is not required and a safety inspection is not required, which makes older cars easier to sell here.
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Step-by-Step Process for South Dakota
Step 1: Prepare Your South Dakota Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid South Dakota driver’s license – Names must match exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. To apply, complete Form 1002 (Duplicate Title Application) and submit it in person or by mail to your county treasurer's office. The fee is $10, plus a $2 technology fee. The processing time is not published by the department.
If you can’t get a duplicate title:
You may still be able to title the car another way, depending on its age and records.
If you still owe money on the car:
South Dakota uses an ELT system for liens. How the lien is released depends on the title type: for a paper title the lienholder releases the lien on the title or provides a release; for an electronic lien held in the ELT system the lender releases it and the paper title is then issued. If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Electronic titles:
South Dakota is transitioning to electronic titles with a target of July 2026; titles with an active lien are held electronically and the paper title is issued once the lien is released. Until then, most private sellers still use paper titles.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in South Dakota, especially in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Minnesota and Nebraska.
Emissions testing is not required in South Dakota, so older and higher-mileage vehicles are easier to sell here than in most states. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.
Best for Newer Cars
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Offer amount 35% 5/5
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Process ease 20% 5/5
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Offer validity 15% 4/5
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Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
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Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
Best for Older Cars
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
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Process ease 15% 5/5
- Quote stays valid for 7 days
- Handles all the paperwork too
- Buys cars that are missing keys
- Pays cash or check at pickup
Best for Junk Cars
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 5/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 4/5
- Assists with replacement titles
- Buys cars stripped for parts
- Driver pays you before loading
- Quote often needs a phone call
Learn more:
Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
Learn more:
Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the South Dakota Title Transfer
The title assignment section is on the back of the title. Fill in the buyer’s full name and address, the sale date, the sale price, and the current odometer reading. Both parties must sign, and any corrections or white-out void the entire document. Title transfers happen at your local county treasurer's office.
Odometer disclosure: For mileage, the odometer reading is recorded on the title at transfer; federal disclosure applies to vehicles model year 2011 or newer under 16,000 pounds. You can use the odometer section on the back of the title or complete a separate odometer disclosure statement.
Joint ownership: If the title shows two names joined by “AND,” both owners must sign. If joined by “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
Seller’s permit: You must give the buyer a free seller’s permit so they can drive legally before they register the car. Print it from the state’s Vehicle Registration & Plates portal, or get it at a county treasurer’s office or kiosk. The permit is valid for 45 days, and the buyer can buy a 5 to 15 day extension at $1 per day if they need more time. Failing to provide this permit on the sale is a Class 2 misdemeanor under South Dakota law.
Buyer’s deadline: The buyer has 45 days from the purchase date to register the car. After that, interest of 1% or $5 per month (whichever is greater) after 45 days, plus a one-time penalty of 10% of the tax or $10 (whichever is greater) after 60 days.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
A bill of sale is required for all private vehicle sales in South Dakota. Buyers need it to register and title the car at the county treasurer’s office.
Use the official state form. Form 1025 (Bill of Sale) from the SD Department of Revenue covers all required fields including the VIN, both parties’ information, sale price, and odometer reading. Bill of sale notarization is not required.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle South Dakota License Plates and Registration
In South Dakota, plates stay with the seller, since they belong to the owner and not the vehicle. When you sell, remove your plates before the buyer drives away, then transfer them to another vehicle you own or destroy them.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
File the report of sale after you sell the car. The deadline is 15 days. To file, Form 1024 (Seller Report of Sale).
This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. If you skip it, the seller may remain liable for the vehicle until the report of sale is filed.
Learn more: What is a Car Release of Liability Form?
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
South Dakota Sale Checklist
Before the Sale
At the Sale
After the Sale
South Dakota DMV Resources
State Resources:
- List of All 50 State DMV Websites
- County treasurer offices handle all vehicle titling and registration across South Dakota’s 66 counties.
Phone Support:
- SD Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division: (605) 773-3541
South Dakota Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $10, plus a $2 technology fee | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sell a car without a title in South Dakota?
You can’t transfer ownership without a title in South Dakota. Here’s the rule: there is no exemption that lets a private seller transfer ownership without a title; the seller must first obtain a title, by duplicate if the title is lost, or under 32-3-64 if the vehicle is 11 model years or older with no existing record, or under 32-3-64.1 if it is older than 30 years with no record and no bill of sale.
If you simply lost the title, apply for a duplicate using Form 1002 (Duplicate Title Application). The fee is $10, plus a $2 technology fee.
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 45 days from the purchase date to complete title transfer and registration. After that, interest of 1% or $5 per month (whichever is greater) after 45 days, plus a one-time penalty of 10% of the tax or $10 (whichever is greater) after 60 days. South Dakota enforces these deadlines through the county treasurer’s office.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in South Dakota?
When is a bill of sale required in South Dakota?
A bill of sale is required for all private vehicle sales. The buyer needs it to register the car at the county treasurer’s office.
Use the official Form 1025 to make sure all required fields are covered. Notarization is not required.
Learn more: Free Bill of Sale Generator
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in South Dakota?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender. How it works depends on the title type: for a paper title the lienholder releases the lien on the title or provides a release; for an electronic lien held in the ELT system the lender releases it and the paper title is then issued.
If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional South Dakota forms do I need?
The form depends on whether the estate was probated. Form 1013 (Succession Affidavit) for a non-probated estate, or Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration if the estate is probated.
For the small estate path, the threshold is $100,000, the value of the entire estate less liens and encumbrances, for collection by affidavit under SDCL 29A-3-1201. In that case, For a non-probated estate, a notarized Form 1013 (Succession Affidavit) at least 30 days after death with no personal representative pending, plus the original title, a death certificate, and a title application; for a probated estate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration with the title..
Both my spouse and I are on the South Dakota title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how your names appear on the title. If the title says “AND” between the two names, both owners must sign the title assignment. If it says “OR,” either owner can sign alone.
What if I make a mistake on the South Dakota title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any correction voids the title entirely.
You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form 1002 (Duplicate Title Application). The fee is $10, plus a $2 technology fee. Then start the assignment over on the new title.
The buyer is from out of state. Does South Dakota require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives.
You sign the title, provide the bill of sale, give the buyer the 45-day seller’s permit, remove your plates, and file the report of sale within 15 days.
The buyer then uses the completed South Dakota title to register the car in their home state. Their home state may require additional steps such as a VIN inspection, but that’s the buyer’s responsibility.
Do South Dakota license plates transfer to the buyer?
No. In South Dakota, plates stay with the seller, since they belong to the owner and not the vehicle. When you sell, remove your plates before the buyer drives away, then transfer them to another vehicle you own or destroy them.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car at the county treasurer’s office.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in South Dakota?
Yes. File a report of sale within 15 days. To file, Form 1024 (Seller Report of Sale).
This protects you from liability if the buyer gets a ticket, causes an accident, or fails to register the car before your report is on file.
Article Update History
All South Dakota requirements in this guide were verified directly against the SD Department of Revenue.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
"required" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"15 days" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
"$10, plus a $2 technology fee" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
"Form 1025 (Bill of Sale)" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
Duplicate Title Application Form
"Form 1002 (Duplicate Title Application)" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
Conditions to Sell Without Title
"there is no exemption that lets a private seller transfer ownership without a title; the seller must first obtain a title, by duplicate if the title is lost, or under 32-3-64 if the vehicle is 11 model years or older with no existing record, or under 32-3-64.1 if it is older than 30 years with no record and no bill of sale" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
"for a paper title the lienholder releases the lien on the title or provides a release; for an electronic lien held in the ELT system the lender releases it and the paper title is then issued" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
"the odometer reading is recorded on the title at transfer; federal disclosure applies to vehicles model year 2011 or newer under 16,000 pounds" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
Release of Liability Form Name
"Form 1024 (Seller Report of Sale)" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Title Transfer Form
"Form 1013 (Succession Affidavit) for a non-probated estate, or Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration if the estate is probated" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Estate Value Threshold
"$100,000, the value of the entire estate less liens and encumbrances, for collection by affidavit under SDCL 29A-3-1201" Accessed Jun. 9, 2026