When selling or purchasing a motor vehicle in the state of South Dakota, you will need to have a completed South Dakota bill of sale (Form 1025).
A South Dakota Bill of Sale not only acts as proof of the transaction itself but also protects the buyer and the seller should there be any issues involving the vehicle.
For example, if the seller had an unpaid parking ticket registered against the vehicle when sold, the buyer can prove that they were not the owner at the time of the incident. The South Dakota bill of sale must be signed by both parties to be considered valid.
Buyers will also need to have a South Dakota bill of sale when registering and titling the vehicle. Alongside the South Dakota bill of sale, the buyer will also need to complete Form 1021 (Odometer Disclosure Statement), if the vehicle is less than 10 years of age or less than 16,000 pounds in weight.
If you are having someone else register and title the vehicle for you, they will need to complete Form 1023 (Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney)
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Creating a South Dakota Bill of Sale
The South Dakota Department of Motor Vehicles provides its own version of a South Dakota bill of sale that you can use. You may also create your own South Dakota bill of sale form. It must provide the following details:
- Vehicle Information: make, model, year, VIN, and title number
- The amount that the vehicle was sold for
- The date of the sale
- Full legal names and addresses of the buyer and the seller
- Signatures of both the buyer and the seller
Registering a Vehicle in South Dakota
Once the sale of the vehicle has taken place, the buyer will need to have the title transferred to their name. This must be done within 45 days from the date of the sale. Registering after this time frame will incur a late fee, which you will be charged for every week that the vehicle is overdue for registration. The penalty fee is $1.00 per week up to a maximum of $50. You can register your vehicle at your local County’s Treasurer’s Office, or by using the DMV vehicle registration and plates portal.
Documents Required to Register a Vehicle in South Dakota
When registering your vehicle for the first time, you will need to provide the following documentation:
- A current and valid Driver’s License
- Form 1025 (South Dakota Bill of Sale)
- A completed Form 1021 (Odometer Disclosure Statement)
- Certificate of Title – if the original document is not available or has been lost, you can request a duplicate from your local County Treasurer’s Office, using Form 1002 (Duplicate Title Application) for a fee of $10.00.
- A completed Motor Vehicle Title and Registration Application (Form 1001)
- Anyone registering the vehicle on your behalf must complete Form 1023 (Vehicle Power of Attorney)
- Funds to cover the correct Registration Fees
- Proof of Vehicle Insurance with a licensed provider. The policy must have the following Minimum Requirements:
- * Cover for Bodily Injury – $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
- * Cover for Property Damage – $25,000 per accident
- * Cover for Uninsured Drivers – $25,000 per individual
Emissions Testing in South Dakota
The State of South Dakota does not require a vehicle emissions inspection to be done on non-commercial motor vehicles.
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