Motor Vehicle Fees

Taxes and Fees

Motor vehicle titling and registration fees are done through your local county treasurers office.

New! Effective July 1, 2011, license fees will be changing for noncommercial passenger vehicles and trucks, noncommercial gross weight registered vehicles, motorcycles, trailers and motor homes. In addition to a rate increase, the fee reduction currently applied when a vehicle is 5 years old will change to a vehicle that is 10 years old. To view the new fees, please click on the links below. If you have any questions, please contact your local county treasurer.

Commercial license fees are not changing however, effective July 1, 2011, the fee reduction currently applied when a vehicle is 5 years old will change to a vehicle that is 10 years old for commercially licensed vehicles.

The Division of Motor Vehicles' is responsible for collecting the 3% motor vehicle excise tax. The tax is applied to the purchase price of all motor vehicles. The division also administers titling and registration, motor fuel tax, special fuel tax, interstate fuel tax, fuel tax refunds, prorate and commercial licensing and dealer licensing.

If you have any comments or questions about taxes or fees, email us at motorv@state.sd.us or call 605-773-3541.

Quick Links

Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration

Abandoned Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration

Rebuilt Motor Vehicles

Boat Titling and Registration

Physically Disabled Parking Permit and License Plate

Display of Original Issue Plates on Historic Vehicle

South Dakota Exempt Entities License Plates

South Dakota Organization/First Responder Decals

South Dakota Personalized License Plates

South Dakota Special License Plates

Manufacturer, Customizer and Dealer Temporary Permits

Dealer License

Motor Fuel Tax

Special Fuel Tax

Interstate Fuel Tax

Fuel Tax Refund

Prorate Licensing

Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration Fees - Used to apply for South Dakota title and registration.
Standard Fees	Title Fee - $5.00 Lien Fee - $5.00 Solid Waste Fee - $1.00 Mailing Fee - $5.00 Late Title Application Penalty Fee - $1.00 for every week past your 30 day grace period. Maximum fine of $50. Highway Patrol Fee - $1.00 Interest and Penalty fees are assessed against the 3% motor vehicle excise tax and 4% initial registration fee on applications made past your 30 day grace period. All fees are assessed from purchase date regardless of when an applicant applies for title and registration. Interest on the tax owed for each month or part thereof for which the tax payment is late is assessed at the rate of 1-1/4% or $5, whichever is greater, for the first month; and 1-1/4% per month thereafter on any application made after 30 days from the date of purchase. A one-time penalty equal to 10% of the tax or $10, whichever is greater, is automatically applied against any application made after 60 days from the purchase date.
Fees that will vary	License Plate Fees - These fees are based on the weight and year of the vehicle. Current Fee Schedules: non commercial vehicle (cars, pickups, vans), gross weight (trucks and vans), motorcycle/ATV, trailer, motorhome, commercial Fee Schedules Prior to July 1, 2011: non commercial vehicle (cars, pickups, vans), gross weight (trucks and vans), special plate, motorcycle/ATV, trailer, motorhome, commercial How are plates issued - License plates are issued based on the first letter of your last name which then correlates to a particular month. For example, someone with the last name starting with a "J" will be required to renew their plates in March of each year. A/B January C/D/E February F/G/J March H/I/O May K/L June M/N July P/Q/R August S September T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z November Wheel Tax - Click here to view which counties impose this tax.
Excise Tax	3.00% of purchase price on all motor vehicles - Assessed the first time a vehicle is titled.
Duplicate Title Fee	Title Fee - $10.00
form

Abandoned Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration Fees - Used to obtain a title on an abandoned vehicle.
Standard Fees	Title Fee - $5.00 Lien Fee - $5.00 Solid Waste Fee - $1.00 Mailing Fee - $5.00
Fees that will vary	License Plate Fees - These fees are based on the weight and year of the vehicle. Current Fee Schedules: non commercial vehicle (cars, pickups, vans), gross weight (trucks and vans), motorcycle/ATV, trailer, motorhome, commercial Fee Schedules Prior to July 1, 2011: non commercial vehicle (cars, pickups, vans), gross weight (trucks and vans), special plate, motorcycle/ATV, trailer, motorhome, commercial Wheel Tax - Click here to view which counties impose this tax.
Excise Tax	3.00% of purchase price on all motor vehicles - Assessed the first time a vehicle is titled.
Duplicate Title Fee	$10.00
form

Rebuilt Motor Vehicles - Cars, Trucks, Vans and Motorcycles
Standard Fees	Special Serial Number Fee - $25.00 (please make checks out to the Department of Revenue) Title Fee - $5.00 Lien Fee - $5.00 Solid Waste Fee - $1.00 Mailing Fee - $5.00
Fees that will vary	License Plate Fees - These fees are based on the weight and year of the vehicle. Current Fee Schedules: non commercial vehicle (cars, pickups, vans), gross weight (trucks and vans), motorcycle/ATV, trailer, motorhome, commercial Fee Schedules Prior to July 1, 2011: non commercial vehicle (cars, pickups, vans), gross weight (trucks and vans), special plate, motorcycle/ATV, trailer, motorhome, commercial Wheel Tax - Click here to view which counties impose this tax.
Excise Tax	3.00% of purchase price on all motor vehicles - Assessed the first time a vehicle is titled.
Duplicate Title Fee	$10.00
form

Return To Top

Boat Titling and Registration Fees - South Dakota boat title and registration application.
Standard Fees	Title Fee - $5.00 Lien Fee - $5.00 Solid Waste Fee - $1.00 Mailing Fee - $5.00
Fees that will vary	License Plate Fees - These fees are based on the length and propulsion of the boat. Fees
Excise Tax	3.00% of purchase price on all motor vehicles - Assessed the first time a vehicle is titled.
Duplicate Title Fee	$10.00
Boat Registration Application and Transfer of Ownership Form (MV - 607)

Physically Disabled Parking Permit and License Plate Fees - Used to apply for disabled person plates or permit.
Standard Fees	Title Fee - $5.00 Lien Fee - $5.00 Solid Waste Fee - $1.00 Mailing Fee - $5.00
Duplicate Title Fee	$10.00
form

Display of Original Issue Plates on Historic Vehicle - Used to request authorization to display original license plates.
Standard Fees	$10.00
form

South Dakota Exempt Entities License Plates - Used by public corporations and other exempt entities to obtain special license plates.

Standard Fees

Plate Fee - $4.00

Mailing Fee - $5.00

form

South Dakota Organization/First Responder Decals - Used by organizations and first responders to apply for special decals for placement on their license plates.

Standard Fees

Minimum purchase of 100 sets of decals.

The organization must reimburse the department for the cost of decals plus an additional 15% administrative fee.

form

Return To Top

South Dakota Personalized License Plates - Used to apply for vanity plates.
Standard Fees (Cars, Trucks and Motorhomes)	Annual Fee - $25.00 Lien Fee - $5.00 Solid Waste Fee - $1.00 Mailing Fee - $5.00
Standard Fees (Motorcycle)	Annual Fee - $20.00 Lien Fee - $5.00 Solid Waste Fee - $1.00 Mailing Fee - $5.00
Fees that will vary	License Plate Fees - These fees are based on the weight and year of the vehicle. Current Fee Schedules: non commercial vehicle (cars, pickups, vans), gross weight (trucks and vans), motorcycle/ATV, trailer, motorhome, commercial Fee Schedules Prior to July 1, 2011: non commercial vehicle (cars, pickups, vans), gross weight (trucks and vans), special plate, motorcycle/ATV, trailer, motorhome, commercial Wheel Tax - Click here to view which counties impose this tax.
Excise Tax	3.00% of purchase price on all motor vehicles - Assessed the first time a vehicle is titled.
Duplicate Title Fee	Title Fee - $10.00 Mailing Fee - $5.00
form

South Dakota Special License Plates - Military (National Guard, Purple Heart, Prisoner of War, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Disabled American Veteran) Fire Fighter, Indian Tribal, Historic, Construction Vehicle, Gold Star, and Radio Plates.
Standard Fees	Click here
form

Manufacturer, Customizer and Dealer Temporary Permits - Used to apply for a temporary permit to display or sell certain vehicles at an event, e.g. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. - NOTICE OF FEE INCREASE
Standard Fees	Click here
form

Dealer License Fees - Used by a dealer to become licensed to do business in South Dakota.
Initial Fees	Click here
Renewal Fees	Click here
form

Out-of-State Dealer License Fees - Used by dealers who will be selling or displaying at special events in South Dakota.
Standard Fees	Click here

Return To Top

Motor Fuel Tax - Fuels in this category include Gasoline, 10% Ethanol Blend (Gasohol), Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), AVGAS (Aviation Gas), Jet Fuel, Compresses Natural Gas, (CNG), 85% Ethanol/Methanol Blend (E/M85) for Road Use and 85% Ethanol/Methanol Blend (E/M85) for Aircraft Use. These taxes are paid when an individual purchases the fuel at the pump or gas station.
Tax Rates
Gasoline	.22
Natural Gasoline	.22
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)	.20
AVGAS (Aviation Gas)	.06
Jet Fuel	.04
Compressed Natural Gas	.10
Ethyl Alcohol	.08
Methyl Alcohol	.08
Tank Inspection Fee	.02
form

Special Fuel Tax - Fuel in this category include Undyed Diesel Fuel. This tax is paid when an individual purchases the fuel at the pump or gas station.
Tax Rates
Undyed Diesel Fuel	.22
form

Interstate Fuel Tax - International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) decals
Standard Fees	Annual Fee - $.50 per set of decals. Must purchase new sets at the beginning of each calendar year.
form

Return To Top

Fuel Tax Refunds
	Click here

Prorate Licensing

The cost of a prorate license depends on two factors:

1. The fee schedule in each jurisdiction in which your vehicles travel;

2. The percent traveled in each jurisdiction of the total miles that your vehicles travel.

Because fees vary widely among jurisdictions, two carriers licensed in the same jurisdictions but differing in the proportion of miles traveled in each jurisdiction could have different licensing costs. For example, assume that vehicles of carrier �A� travel 80 percent of their miles in jurisdictions whose fee schedules are high and 20 percent of their miles in jurisdictions whose fees are low. In contrast, carrier �B�s� vehicles travel the same jurisdictions, but 80 percent of their miles are in jurisdictions whose fees are low and only 20 percent are in jurisdictions whose fees are high. If their vehicles are comparable, carrier �A� will pay a higher prorate license fee than will carrier �B�.

� Individual jurisdictions may base their fees on:

� The weight of the vehicle;

� Its model year;

� Its value;

� Some combination of weight, model year and value.

Because of these variations, the cost of a prorate license cannot be calculated without information from carriers about the number of miles their vehicles travel in each jurisdiction as well as specific vehicle information such as the weight, model year and value of their vehicles. This information is collected as part of the licensing process.

Return To Top

Who We Are | Forms | Publications | News Releases | State of South Dakota

South Dakota Department of Revenue

445 East Capitol Avenue

Pierre, SD 57501-3185

Phone: (605)-773-3541

Fax: (605)-773-2550

E-Mail Address: webman@state.sd.us