South Dakota Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator
South Dakota taxes a vehicle purchase at 4% of the price — the Department of Revenue lists the motor vehicle excise tax as “4% of the purchase price on all motor vehicles.” The buyer has 45 days to title it, and the seller has a job too: printing a seller’s permit so the buyer can drive legally in the meantime. The DOR notes that “Failure of a seller to provide the permit to a purchaser upon sale of a vehicle is a class 2 misdemeanor.”
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- South Dakota pre-selected
How it works
- 01 South Dakota is already selected
The governing-law clause names the state; change it only if the sale happens elsewhere.
- 02 Enter the item and the parties
Vehicle, boat or general item — VIN and odometer, or HIN — plus price, payment method, seller and buyer.
- 03 Review clause by clause
The as-is terms, the seller’s title warranty and, for vehicles, the federal odometer statement.
- 04 Download, then file South Dakota’s paperwork
Word & PDF on your device; the state steps and forms are listed below, each cited to the source.
What South Dakota actually requires
South Dakota rules for a private sale
Last verified September 30, 2026- Deadline and tax 45 days; 4% of the purchase price
“If you have recently purchased a vehicle, titles must be updated within 45 days from the date of purchase.” Vehicles registered in South Dakota “are subject to the 4% motor vehicle excise tax,” which the DOR lists as “4% of the purchase price on all motor vehicles.”
South Dakota DOR — All Vehicles: Title, Fees & Registration; Cars, Trucks & Vans
- Late interest and penalty Interest after 45 days; 10% after 60
A one-time penalty “equal to 10% of the tax or $10, whichever is greater,” is applied to any application made more than 60 days after purchase. For interest after 45 days, two DOR pages give different rates: the title-fees page says “1% or $5, whichever is greater, for the first month; and 1% per month thereafter,” while the cars, trucks and vans page says “1-1/4% or $5.” Confirm the current rate with your county treasurer.
South Dakota DOR — All Vehicles: Title, Fees & Registration; Cars, Trucks & Vans
- Seller’s permit Valid 45 days; required from the seller
“A seller’s permit allows the new owner to drive legally while waiting to apply for title,” printed by the seller through the online Vehicle Registration & Plates portal or at the county treasurer. “The seller’s permit is valid for 45 days. The seller has 45 days to deliver title.” Failing to provide the permit to the purchaser upon sale is a class 2 misdemeanor. If more time is needed, a 5–15 day temporary permit costs $1 per day from a county treasurer.
- Damage disclosure No longer mandated since July 1, 2015
South Dakota used to require a Damage Disclosure Statement on every sale. The DOR now says: “Effective July 1, 2015, damage disclosure is no longer mandated. Damage disclosure will remain noted on titles issued before July 1, 2015.”
How this document fits South Dakota’s paperwork
Official form: The DOR accepts a bill of sale as one of three ways to show you are the buyer: “An applicant must have either a title in the applicant’s name, a title properly assigned to the applicant or a bill of sale that lists the applicant as the purchaser of the vehicle.” It publishes no mandatory bill-of-sale form for a private vehicle sale.
Write the actual price on the bill of sale: the 4% excise tax is computed on it. A bill of sale naming the buyer is also one of the three documents the DOR accepts as proof of who the purchaser is. On the day of the sale the seller prints the seller’s permit for the buyer — skipping it is a misdemeanor — and delivers the title within 45 days. The buyer titles the vehicle within the same 45 days to avoid interest, and within 60 to avoid the penalty.
FAQ
South Dakota bill of sale questions
- Is a bill of sale required in South Dakota?
- Not always, but it counts. The DOR says an applicant must have a title in their name, a title properly assigned to them, or a bill of sale that lists them as the purchaser. If the seller has not yet delivered the title — they have 45 days — a bill of sale is the buyer’s proof of the purchase and its price.
- What is a South Dakota seller’s permit?
- A permit the seller prints — online through the Vehicle Registration & Plates portal or at the county treasurer — that lets the new owner drive legally while waiting to apply for title. It is valid for 45 days. The DOR says failing to provide it to the purchaser upon sale is a class 2 misdemeanor.
- How much is the excise tax on a used car in South Dakota?
- 4% of the purchase price. It is paid when the buyer titles the vehicle, which must happen within 45 days of the purchase; after that, interest accrues, and after 60 days a one-time penalty of 10% of the tax or $10, whichever is greater, is added.
- Do I need a damage disclosure statement in South Dakota?
- Not any more. The DOR says that effective July 1, 2015, damage disclosure is no longer mandated, although it remains noted on titles issued before that date.
- Does a South Dakota bill of sale need to be notarized?
- The DOR pages we read do not require a notarized bill of sale. The title application itself must be signed by the record owner or an authorized agent, and an agent needs a power of attorney attached.
- Is this legal advice?
- No. Free Contract Generator provides self-help templates and general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Vehicle-transfer rules are set by each state and change; confirm the current rule with the agency cited and consult a licensed attorney for advice about your situation.