Transferring the title for a vehicle, trailer, watercraft, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile requires the title or ownership document from the previous state. If there is a lien holder, the paper title must be requested from the lien holder before the title transfer may be completed (Lien holder request form). Once the paper title has been received the title transfer may be completed.
Titling requires providing a valid South Dakota driver’s license or ID for each owner. If an owner has an out of state driver’s license or ID then a clear copy of their social security card, or other acceptable proof, will be required. Businesses must provide their FEIN #. If there are multiple owners both may need to sign the documents depending on how the names are connected.
Know your county- South Dakota residents must register their vehicles in the county they reside in.
Documents required to transfer title in South Dakota
Ownership Document- Title (see below)
Current Odometer reading for all vehicles\ motorcycle 20 years or newer signed by seller and buyer
Purchase agreement or valid Bill of Sale (if issue date less than two years ago)
South Dakota Motor Vehicle and Boat Title Application (MV-1001)
Driver’s License or State Issued ID for all owners
Proof of Social Security Number is required with an out of state Driver’s License or ID. Acceptable proof is a copy of your social security card or a W2, 1098,1099, paystub or military orders with the full SSN on them.
Verification of taxes paid to another state (if issue date than two years ago, see below)
Proof of weight for vehicles and trailers (see below)
Additional documents may be needed based on the individual transaction. Any cross outs, white outs, or other alterations to documents may void them or require an affidavit for correction. Please see the below FAQ for more information on the above documents.
Ownership Document
Proof of ownership is required to title a vehicle, trailer, watercraft, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile in South Dakota. If it is from a state that titles that type of vehicle, trailer, watercraft, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile the paper title is required. If it was purchased from a seller that resides in a state that only registers that type of vehicle, trailer, watercraft, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile, the original paper registration or the properly assigned Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin is required.
If there is a lien holder, the paper title must be requested from the lien holder before the title transfer may be completed Lien holder request form Once the paper title has been received the title transfer may be completed.
Proof of Weight for vehicles and trailers
If the title or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin does not state the weight of the vehicle or trailer, proof of weight will be required. Acceptable proof includes a weight slip from a scale, picture of the manufacture’s specifications sticker\plate on the vehicle or trailer stating the weight, or a printout from the manufacture for the specific make, model, and year clearing showing the empty weight. The weight must be the unladen, UVW, empty, or shipping weight. The gross weight is not acceptable.
Registration
Fees are prorated from the date of transfer to your renewal month. If it is within 90 days from your renewal month your registration will be calculated through to the following year. The renewal month is determined by the first letter of the owner’s last name or first letter of the company name and must be renewed annually.
See the registration South Dakota Registration FAQ page for more information on registration costs for vehicles\motorcycles, trailers, watercraft, ATV\off-road, and snowmobiles.
Verification of tax paid to another state
Verification of tax paid to another state is required to receive reciprocity if the issue date on the title is within the last two years. If the issue is date is more than two years old you will receive reciprocity credit for that state’s tax percentage. If coming from a state that collects less tax than South Dakota (4% for vehicles, ATV\off-road, and snowmobiles, 3% for watercraft) then excise tax will be collected for the difference.
Acceptable proof of tax previously paid is a receipt from the other state or local government office, or the Out of State Dealer Tax Assessment form completed by the dealer. If proof of tax paid cannot be obtained the excise tax will be assessed on the purchase price on the provided bill of sale if purchased within the last six months, or the current NADA clean retail book value if purchased more than six months ago.
Title transfer and registration fees
Title transfer $10.00
Lienholder notation fee $10.00 (when applicable)
Excise tax of 4% (see below FAQ)
Reassignment of South Dakota Plates $7.00
Registration\Highway Patrol\Solid Waste fees (see the South Dakota Registration FAQ page)
County wheel tax $2.00 per wheel
Non-Resident fee $100.00 (when applicable)
Processing through the mail
If processing through the mail all documents will need to be mailed to our office. Paperwork mailed in is receipted in and worked in the order it is received- not necessarily on the day it arrives from your chosen carrier. Expect up to two weeks plus processing time. If additional documents are needed and mailed in, they will follow the normal mail process.
It is the sender’s responsibility to follow up on processing to avoid interest and penalties. Title work starts accruing interest if not completed 45 days from your purchase date. We do not go by when the paperwork is mailed/received in our office. You are responsible for having all documents in and paid for. You are strongly encouraged to mail in advance to avoid penalties.
Once your paperwork has been reviewed you will be contacted for payment or for any missing documents. Please include valid contact information with your paperwork. We will reach out via email if an email address is given- watch your junk or spam folder so you don’t miss any correspondence regarding your transaction.
Transactions done through the mail will be charged a postage and handling fee to mail the plates and registration ($7.50 per set of plates and registration, $1.50 per registration only).
Please send documents to:
Fall River County Treasurer’s Office
906 N. River St.
Hot Springs, SD 57747
Payment options
Our system is not set up to take prepaid debit cards, gift cards or loaded employee payroll cards.
Checks, Money Orders, and Cashier’s Checks should be made payable to Fall River County Treasurer.
Cash
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards are accepted and subject to a 2.5% service charge.
Debit cards in person with use of a pin # are subject to a $2.50 service charge. Over the phone they are subject to a 2.5% service charge.
Additional Information
To obtain a quote prior to sending in your paperwork please give us a call at 605-745-5145. All quotes are considered estimates and are based off the information provided to us.
If you have additional questions not answered here, please call our office at 605-745-5145 from 8:00am – 5:00 pm MDT Monday through Friday or send us a message to our email [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a title required in South Dakota?
Yes. The title is a legal document that is required to register a vehicle\motorcycle in South Dakota. While the primary purpose of a title is to establish who owns the vehicle\ motorcycle, trailer, watercraft, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile titles also provide information such as make, model year, weight and the vehicle identification number (VIN) or hull identification number (HIN). Both the buyer and seller must follow specific procedures to ensure the title is correctly transferred from one owner to the next.
If the vehicle\ motorcycle, trailer, watercraft, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile is brand new, instead of a certificate of title, you may have a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. Once the title transfer is completed you will receive a South Dakota title. If there is a lien holder the title will be held electronically until the lien is released.
If a vehicle is registered in another state that does not require a title for that vehicle type, the ownership document may be the vehicle registration. The original paper registration from the seller will be required along with the bill of sale.
What is required for a valid purchase agreement or bill of sale?
A completed purchase agreement or bill of sale is required for all title transfers and must include the vehicle information (year, make, model, complete VIN), the date of sale, sale price, seller name, buyer name, and be signed by the seller. Many states have a section on their titles to fill in the required information and a place for the seller and buyer to sign. If any of the required information is missing, or not filled out, a separate bill of sale will be needed (Form 1025).
If purchased from a dealer the purchase agreement or bill of sale will be needed. Any trade-in vehicle information will need to be listed on the purchase agreement for calculating excise tax.
Any cross outs, white outs, or other alterations to documents may void them or require an affidavit for correction.
When is an odometer reading required?
An odometer reading is required for all vehicles\motorcycles 20 years or newer. Guesses and rounding are not acceptable. The actual current odometer reading at the time of title transfer will need to be provided.
If processing through the mail, the odometer reading must be filled out on the application if it is 20 years or newer.
The odometer is not required on vehicles older than 20 years. If the odometer has not been previously exempted on a title the mileage may be carried forward to the newly transferred title with a proper odometer disclosure or it may be exempted. Once the mileage has been exempted it will remain that way.
How to fill out the Motor Vehicle and Boat Title Application
A South Dakota Motor Vehicle and Boat Title Application must be included with all title transfer paperwork. If you have purchased from a South Dakota dealer this should already be included in your title paperwork. If there is more than one buyer both people may need to sign depending on how the names are connected.
Names connected by ‘AND’ or without any designation require both buyers to sign the application.
Names connected by ‘OR’ require only one signature
Instructions for filling out the application for vehicles, ATV\off-road, or snowmobiles
Section A: Mark whether this a boat or motor vehicle transfer
Section B: Fill in the vehicle\motorcycle information- full VIN, year, make, model, color, odometer (if vehicle 20 years old or newer), and number of wheels (put after the color)
Section C: For each owner fill out the name, address and South Dakota Driver’s License or ID number, or full SSN. If more than one owner fill in the ownership type (or, and, trust, trustee, or DBA)
Section D: Title mailing address if different than the owner’s address
Section E: Contact name, email address and phone number
Section F: Skip this section
Section G: If there is a lien holder fill in their name and address as it should appear on the title
Section H: Printed name and signature of the owners
Instructions for filling out the application for watercraft
Section B: Fill in the watercraft information- full HIN, year, make, model, color, and boat type information
Sections A, C-H same as above
Can I add or remove a name from my title when transferring to South Dakota?
If there is no lien holder, a name may be added or removed from the title during the title transfer. A Motor Vehicle Affidavit will need to be filled out. In the general purpose section, you will fill out which name you are adding or removing, and how the title should read (example: I would like to add John Smith to the title. The title should read as Jane Smith or John Smith). If the new ownership will have multiple names you will need to specify how the names should be connected.
Names connected by ‘AND’ require both owner signatures
Names connected by ‘OR’ require only one owner signature
If the current ownership has multiple names, and they are connected by ‘and’ all owners will need to sign the affidavit to add or remove a name.
*If there is a lien you will need a letter from the lien holder giving permission for the change, and how the title should read.
When is the Non-Resident fee applicable?
The South Dakota state statue for the Non-Resident fee went into effect on July 1st, 2024. The fee is $100.00 per title transfer for those who do not have a valid South Dakota driver’s license or ID, or a physical address in South Dakota.
How is South Dakota excise tax calculated?
In lieu of sales and use taxes, South Dakota imposes a 4% excise tax on most motor vehicles, trailers, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile transactions and a 3% excise tax on watercraft for most transactions. The excise tax is based on the purchase price listed on the bill of sale, purchase order, sales contract, or on the NADA clean retail value.
Purchase price is defined as total consideration of the vehicle price and all accessories not charged tax- including but not limited to rebates, document fees, extended warranties, service contracts and GAP Waiver. Trade in allowances are deducted from the total purchase price only if verified by VIN on the purchase contract AND if that trade in was titled in the name of the applicant.
Exclusions: Discounts are not rebates and are therefore not excise taxable. Insurance is not excise taxable.
If the vehicle was purchased for a nominal amount (less than fair value) excise tax may be calculated based on the NADA clean retail value of the vehicle.
My registration is expiring, can I get a temporary permit until I am able to transfer the title to South Dakota?
With your current registration document, you are able to purchase a 5-15-day temporary permit for $1.00 a day. Once this expires an extension may not be purchased.
I paid tax to another state, does South Dakota give credit for tax previously paid?
Yes, South Dakota will give reciprocity (credit) for tax previously paid by the owner to another state. Verification of tax paid to another state is required to receive reciprocity if the issue date on the title is within the last two years. If the issue is date is more than two years old you will receive reciprocity credit for that state’s tax percentage. If coming from a state that collects less tax than South Dakota (4% for vehicles, ATV\off-road, and snowmobiles, 3% for watercraft) then excise tax will be collected for the difference.
Acceptable proof of tax previously paid is a receipt from the other state or local government office, or the Out of State Dealer Tax Assessment form completed by the dealer. If proof of tax paid cannot be obtained the excise tax will be assessed on the purchase price on the provided bill of sale if purchased within the last six months, or the current NADA clean retail book value if purchased more than six months ago.
Can I title and register my vehicle, trailer, watercraft, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile in South Dakota if I live out of state?
Yes, South Dakota title and registration statutes do not expressly prohibit an out-of-state applicant from titling and registering here. However, your state may prohibit registering your vehicle in another state. No refunds will be issued for any reason.
If you have an out of state driver’s license or ID, you will need to provide a clear copy of proof of your social security number. Acceptable proof is a copy of your social security card or a W2, 1098,1099, paystub or military orders with the full SSN on them.
**** AT THIS TIME FALL RIVER COUNTY is not taking any NEW out of state clients for title transfers unless you own property in our county. Please contact another County to see if they are taking new out of state customers. Contact County Treasurers | South Dakota Department of Revenue (sd.gov)
Can I title my vehicle, trailer, watercraft, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile in the name of a trust?
Yes, a vehicle, trailer, watercraft, ATV\off-road, or snowmobile may be titled in a trust’s name. A copy of the trust paperwork showing the name of the trust, the trustees and the signature page will be required. All trustees will be listed on the title along with the trust and must provide either a South Dakota driver’s license or ID, or an out of state driver’s license or ID and proof of SSN. Depending on how the trust documents read all trustees may be required to sign.
Does my watercraft need to be titled and/or registered in South Dakota?
South Dakota requires boats over 12 feet long, or with a motor (gas or electric) to be titled and registered. A boat 12 feet and under, without a motor, is not titled or registered.
Canoes, kayaks, inflatables, sailboards and seaplanes that are under 12 feet long, and do not have a motor (gas or electric) are not titled or registered. If it is over 12 feet long, or if at any point a motor is attached, it must be registered.
No person may operate or give permission for operation of a non-motorized boat over twelve feet in length or a motorboat on the waters of this state unless a registration validation decal is displayed on each side of the bow of the boat.
Does my watercraft require a boat number to be displayed?
No person may operate or give permission for operation of a non-motorized boat over eighteen feet in length or of a motorboat on the waters of this state unless the boat is numbered in accordance with this chapter and the identifying number set forth in the certificate of number is displayed on each side of the bow of the boat.
No person may operate or give permission for operation of a non-motorized boat over twelve feet in length or a motorboat on the waters of this state unless a registration validation decal is displayed on each side of the bow of the boat. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Does South Dakota title Golf Carts?
As of July 2022, golf carts are not allowed to be titled or registered in South Dakota.
Does South Dakota title Mopeds, Motor Scooters, toy ATVs, etc?
Motor Scooters (50 CCs and over) are required to be titled and licensed in South Dakota. The Low Speed and Off-Road Vehicle Affidavit is not required.
Mopeds (under 50 CCs) are optional to title and license, and toy ATVs are not titled in South Dakota.
If you are unsure if you need to title your ATV\Off-Road vehicle, please contact our office at 605-745-5145 or by email [email protected].
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