Selling or junking a car in South Dakota, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles using Duplicate Title Application (Form 1002); it can be done online.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. A private seller must give the buyer a free temporary seller's permit (valid 45 days) so the buyer can drive the vehicle until it is registered; failing to provide it is a misdemeanor. Permits are available online or from the county treasurer, and the state offers a Seller Report of Sale form (1024) and a Bill of Sale form (1025).
- Deal with your plates. Pennington County's treasurer office says plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle, so they should be taken off a sold vehicle.
- File the Seller - Report of Sale. Sellers can report a vehicle sale using Form 1024 or through the state's online Vehicle Registration & Plates portal, which also lets them print a seller's permit.
How to sign over a title in South Dakota
A private seller must give the buyer a free temporary seller's permit (valid 45 days) so the buyer can drive the vehicle until it is registered; failing to provide it is a misdemeanor. Permits are available online or from the county treasurer, and the state offers a Seller Report of Sale form (1024) and a Bill of Sale form (1025).
Official page: dor.sd.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in South Dakota
Owners who were issued a paper title and lost it complete the Duplicate Title Application, which the state offers as an online fillable form.
- Form: Duplicate Title Application (Form 1002) — download
- Available online: yes
- Official page: dor.sd.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
Seller - Report of Sale
Sellers can report a vehicle sale using Form 1024 or through the state's online Vehicle Registration & Plates portal, which also lets them print a seller's permit.
- Form: Form 1024
- Can be filed online: yes
- Official page: sddor.seamlessdocs.com
Why it matters: release of liability when selling a car.
License plates after you sell
Plates stay with you, the seller, not the car. Pennington County's treasurer office says plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle, so they should be taken off a sold vehicle.
Source: pennco.org
Selling a car without a title in South Dakota
South Dakota offers a bonded title for vehicles 30 years old or older with no record on file; the owner requests a valuation from the Motor Vehicle Division, buys a surety bond, and applies at the county treasurer.
Official page: dor.sd.gov
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South Dakota title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in South Dakota?
Owners who were issued a paper title and lost it complete the Duplicate Title Application, which the state offers as an online fillable form. The form is Duplicate Title Application (Form 1002).
Do I need to notify South Dakota when I sell or junk my car?
South Dakota uses the Seller - Report of Sale. Sellers can report a vehicle sale using Form 1024 or through the state's online Vehicle Registration & Plates portal, which also lets them print a seller's permit.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in South Dakota?
Pennington County's treasurer office says plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle, so they should be taken off a sold vehicle.
Can I junk a car without a title in South Dakota?
South Dakota offers a bonded title for vehicles 30 years old or older with no record on file; the owner requests a valuation from the Motor Vehicle Division, buys a surety bond, and applies at the county treasurer. Confirm the details with the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles.
Official sources
- South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles — homedor.sd.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titledor.sd.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (Duplicate Title Application (Form 1002))dor.sd.gov
- Duplicate Title Application (Form 1002) formsddor.seamlessdocs.com
- Seller - Report of Salesddor.seamlessdocs.com
- License plates after a salepennco.org
Summarized from official South Dakota government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.