Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are there times I won’t be allowed to renew registration?
South Dakota residents who have a suspended license, do not have some form of the required documentation, or are unable to pay the registration fee will not be allowed to renew their registrations. If you fail to receive the car registration renewal notice, or have any questions on registration renewal, contact a local South Dakota DMV office or County Treasurer’s office.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Can somebody else renew my registration for me?
South Dakota does allow the process of renewing vehicle registration to be completed by someone other than you. They may only do so when renewing online or by mail. You will need to make a payment of the renewal fee with your debit or credit card and give the required personal information to the individual who will renew vehicle registration. Vehicle registration renewals done at a local South Dakota DMV office or local County Treasurer’s office require your presence along with your valid driver’s license.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Do boats need to be registered?
South Dakota policy is for all boats over 12 feet long and motor boats of any length to be titled and registered within 45 days of purchase. In order to register your boat, you need to complete a South Dakota Boat Title and Registration Application and submit it along with a payment for the required fee to your local County Treasurer’s office.

For more information: How to Register a Boat or Water Craft in South Dakota

Do I need to file a police report if my registration was lost or stolen?
South Dakota residents should report lost or stolen car registration to local law enforcement officials before they apply for duplicate car registrations. After you file the police report, you will be given a copy to bring to a local South Dakota DMV office.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Do I need to return my license plate if I move out of the state?
South Dakota residents who move out-of-state, do not have to return their license plates. If you do not need your license plate and would like to return it, you may surrender it at a local South Dakota County Treasurer’s office.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in South Dakota

Do I need to turn in my damaged registration?
Drivers in South Dakota are required to submit the damaged registration card or certificate to the South Dakota DMV office when applying for a duplicate car registration. You must also provide:
  • A South Dakota driver’s license
  • Make and model of the vehicle
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
  • License plate number

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Does a motorized scooter need to be registered?
South Dakota requires motorized scooters to be registered within 30 days of purchase. To register your motorized scooter, you will need to fulfill the same conditions for registering motorcycles and submit the following to your County Treasurer’s office:

o Completed Power of Attorney document, as addition to the application if the application is signed by an authorized agent

  • Proper identification
  • Completed Bill of Sale
  • Payment for the fee

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in South Dakota

Does my vehicle qualify for a smog inspection?
The state of South Dakota does not require you to inspect your motor vehicle for emissions of any kind.

For more information: Vehicle Emissions Testing in South Dakota

How can I renew my vehicle registration?
In South Dakota renewing car registrations may be done online, by mail, or in person at a local County Treasurer’s office. Drivers may also use any of the ten Self Service Terminal locations throughout the state. Individuals renewing car registrations will require:
  • Car registration renewal notice,
  • South Dakota driver’s license number and date of birth
  • Payment for the renewal fee

Additional documents might be needed, depending on a drivers situation and method of applying for a car registration renewal.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

How can I transfer my registration to another state?
Residents of South Dakota who are moving to another state, must have their vehicle registration and title transferred to their new state. You must contact the DMV from your new state in order to find out the requirements for a successful transfer of your vehicle registration.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in South Dakota

How do I apply for a disabled person parking placard or plates?
South Dakota drivers may apply for disabled person parking placard or plates, by mail or in person at a local South Dakota DMV office. You will need to submit the following:

o Medical certification on Section D, completed by a doctor

  • Proof of residency:

o South Dakota driver’s license

o South Dakota utility bill

  • Payment for the required fee:

o Disabled placards are free

o Disabled license plates: $5

For more information: Information for Disabled Drivers in South Dakota

How do I file a police report if my car registration was stolen?
Residents of South Dakota who have a stolen car registration must contact a local law enforcement agency to file a police report. The law enforcement officials will take your statement and will supply you with a copy of the police report. You are required to take this police report to your local South Dakota DMV office when applying for car registration replacement, so that the DMV can have it on file.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

How do I obtain a duplicate car registration?
South Dakota residents dealing with stolen, damaged or lost vehicle registrations, must apply for a duplicate vehicle registration at a local County Treasurer’s office. You will only be required to provide the following:
  • South Dakota driver’s license
  • Make and model of the vehicle,
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
  • License plate number.

There is possibility that you will not have to pay fee for the duplicate registration card. Contact the County Treasurer’s office or the South Dakota DMV office before applying for a duplicate car registration for additional information.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

How do I obtain car registration?
South Dakota residents are required to visit a local South Dakota DMV office to get car registrations for their new vehicles. Drivers will need to bring the following:

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in South Dakota

If I do not renew on time, will there be an additional fee?
If you do not renew vehicle registration on time in South Dakota, you may receive a traffic citation from a law enforcement official in addition to the late fee associated with an expired registration. For additional details contact the South Dakota DMV office.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Is there a different process I must follow if I lost personalized plates?
Residents of South Dakota who have stolen, damaged or lost personalized license plates, should follow the same procedure as for regular plates. It is mandatory to file a police report for lost or stolen plates with a local law enforcement agency. You should prepare the following:

If your license plates were damaged, you should submit them along with the obligatory documentation to a local South Dakota DMV office. If you are not able to visit the DMV office, you may mail the documents and payment to the address given on the affidavit form.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Should I carry the registration on me or in the car?
South Dakota requires drivers to carry car registration documents in their motor vehicles at all times.

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in South Dakota

What are the most common reasons why I would need to replace my registration?
In South Dakota, the most common reasons to replace vehicle registration are:
  • Your registration certificate was lost, stolen or damaged
  • Your license plate was lost stolen or damaged
  • Your validation sticker was lost, stolen or damaged

You may apply for a duplicate vehicle registration at any local County Treasurer’s office.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

What are the required fees for my vehicle registration?
South Dakota has standard vehicle registration fees:
  • Title fee: $5
  • Lien Notation: $5
  • Solid Waste: $1
  • Mailing: $5
  • Highway Patrol: $1
  • Late Title Application: $1 for every week after the grace period

There are also different monthly auto registration fees according to the motor vehicle’s weight and manufactured date:

  • 1 to 2,000 pounds:

o Zero to nine years old: $3

o Ten years of age and older: $2.10

  • 2,001 to 4,000 pounds:

o Zero to nine years old: $6

o Ten years of age and older: $4.20

  • 4,001 to 6,000 pounds:

o Zero to nine years old: $9

o Ten years of age and older: $6.30

  • Above 6,000 pounds:

o Zero to nine years old: $12

o Ten years of age and older: $8.40

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in South Dakota

What are the required fees to get replacement registration?
Fees for a replacement registration in South Dakota vary and you should contact the County Treasurer’s office or the South Dakota DMV office before applying for a duplicate car registration for additional information.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

What are the required fees to renew my registration?
In South Dakota, the fees for a vehicle registration renewal vary according to the weight and age of your vehicle. You can find the information about the registration fee written on the car registration renewal notice which you will receive prior to the expiration date.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

What documents do I need to present to get a replacement car registration?
In South Dakota, you can get a car registration replacement in person at a local County Treasurer’s office by providing:
  • Your South Dakota driver’s license
  • Your vehicle information:

â—¦ Model of the vehicle

â—¦ Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

â—¦ License plate number

You may not have to pay any fee for a duplicate registration card. Contact the County Treasurer’s office or the South Dakota DMV office before applying for a duplicate car registration for additional information of possible fees.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

What documents do I need to present to get new registration?
To register car in South Dakota, you will need to present the following to any County Treasurer’s office:
  • Proof of ownership:

â—¦ Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO)

â—¦ Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO)

â—¦ The transferred certificate of title

For more information: How to Register a Vehicle in South Dakota

What documents do I need to present to renew my car registration?
When applying to renew car registrations in South Dakota you should have the following documentation:
  • Car registration renewal notice
  • Your South Dakota driver’s license
  • Proof of identification
  • The registration from the previous year
  • Proof of insurance
  • Proof of passing the emissions tests (only in areas where required)
  • Proof of your new address, in case that you have changed it
  • Cash or money order for the registration renewal fees

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

What should I do if I have not received my registration tags or stickers?
South Dakota residents who have successfully completed the renewing car registration process but have not received their registration tags or stickers, should contact a South Dakota DMV office.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

When does my car registration expire?
South Dakota has a vehicle registration renewal system based on the first letter of your last name, which is connected to a month of the year. Below are listed the corresponding months and letters:
  • January: A, B
  • February: C, D, E
  • March: F, G, J
  • May: H, I, O
  • June: K, L
  • July: M, N
  • August: P, Q, R
  • September: S
  • November: T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Where can I find a local tax county collector office?
Each county in South Dakota has a number of County Treasurer’s offices for drivers to obtain a duplicate vehicle registration. These offices are throughout the state, and you can choose the most convenient location from this list to complete your vehicle registration replacement.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Will I need to fill out an application to replace my car registration?
In South Dakota you are not obligated to complete any applications or forms when applying for a car registration replacement. You will be only required to provide information pertaining to your South Dakota driver’s license, the make and model of the vehicle, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and the license plate number.

For more information: How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Will I receive a renewal registration notice in the mail?
The South Dakota DMV does mail out car registration renewal notices prior to the expiration date of your vehicles registration. Drivers also have the option to register on the South Dakota government website by providing their drivers license number and date of birth, in order to receive the car registration renewal notice via email. If you fail to receive the car registration renewal notice, contact any local South Dakota DMV office or your local County Treasurer’s office.

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota

Will my registration expire on my birthday or birth month?
In South Dakota vehicle registrations do not expire on the owners birthday or birth month, but on a predetermined month connected with the first letter of your last name. The month and letter designations are:
  • January: A, B
  • February: C, D, E
  • March: F, G, J
  • May: H, I, O
  • June: K, L
  • July: M, N
  • August: P, Q, R
  • September: S
  • November: T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

For more information: How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in South Dakota