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The bottom line: South Dakota requires a bill of sale for every private car sale, but you don’t need a notary. Remove your plates before handing over the keys, file a report of sale within 15 days, and you’re done.
You sign the title, provide the buyer with a bill of sale and a 45-day temporary driving permit, then file the report of sale online. To compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor before you decide how to sell, use our free tool.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: South Dakota does not require it. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $10.00 and can be applied for online through the SD motor vehicle portal. Processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 45 days to register the car and pay the 4% excise tax before penalties start.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Release of liability: South Dakota requires you to file a report of sale online within 15 days of the sale date.
- Bill of sale: Required for all private vehicle sales in South Dakota. Use the official Form 1025 from the SD Department of Revenue.
- Seller’s permit: You must give the buyer a free 45-day temporary permit to drive legally while they complete registration. This is a South Dakota-specific requirement.
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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. Apply online or visit your county treasurer’s office in person with your ID and $10.00. Processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender holds the title electronically through South Dakota’s ELT system. Contact them to request a lien release before you can complete the title transfer. 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 a full e-title system with a target rollout of July 2026. Until then, most private sellers still use paper titles. If a lender holds your title electronically, they’ll need to release it to you in paper form before you can complete the sale.
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.
South Dakota has zero emissions testing, 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.
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Offers pickup or free drop-off
Competitive trade-in value
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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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.
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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.
Odometer disclosure: South Dakota requires disclosure for model year 2011 or newer vehicles 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.
Damage disclosure: South Dakota requires sellers to complete a Damage Disclosure Statement documenting any known damage or accidents. This is required for all private sales in the state.
Seller’s permit: You must provide the buyer with a free 45-day temporary permit to drive legally while they complete the title transfer and registration. Get this at your county treasurer’s office. Failing to provide this permit is a criminal misdemeanor under South Dakota law.
Buyer’s deadline: The buyer has 45 days to register the car. After 45 days, a 1% monthly interest charge applies to the excise tax. After 60 days, a 10% penalty is added on top of that.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
South Dakota requires a bill of sale for all private vehicle sales. Buyers need it to register and title the car. Without it, they can’t complete the process at the county treasurer’s office.
Use the official state form. Form 1025 from the SD Department of Revenue covers all required fields including the VIN, both parties’ information, sale price, and odometer reading. The bill of sale does not need to be notarized.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle South Dakota License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In South Dakota, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer the plates to another car you own, or destroy them. Never leave your plates on a vehicle you’ve sold.
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 online through South Dakota’s vehicle portal after you sell the car. You must do this within 15 days of the sale date.
If you can’t file online, visit your county treasurer’s office to complete the report in person. This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.
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 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) | $10.00 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 45 days from the sale date to complete title transfer and registration. After 45 days, a 1% monthly interest charge is added to the excise tax amount.
After 60 days, a 10% penalty applies on top of the interest. 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?
No, South Dakota doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary.
When is a bill of sale required in South Dakota?
South Dakota requires a bill of sale for all private vehicle sales. The buyer needs it to register the car at the county treasurer’s office. There are no exceptions for lower-value vehicles or older cars.
Use the official Form 1025 to make sure all required fields are covered. It doesn’t need to be notarized.
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. South Dakota uses an Electronic Lien and Title system, meaning your lender holds the title electronically until the loan is paid off. You’ll need to request a paper title or a lien release letter before you can complete the sale.
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?
If the estate went through probate, you’ll need a certified copy of the court order or Letters Testamentary showing you’re the authorized representative. If the estate was small enough to avoid probate, you may be able to use a small estate affidavit to transfer the title directly.
Either way, you’ll bring the documentation to the county treasurer’s office along with the original title. The SD Department of Revenue can confirm which forms apply to your specific situation.
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 MV-010, which costs $10.00, 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, issue 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, South Dakota license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer drives away. You can transfer the plates to another car 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. South Dakota requires you to file a report of sale within 15 days of the sale date. File online through the state’s vehicle portal or in person at your county treasurer’s office.
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.