When selling a car in South Dakota, you’ll need to sign your title over to the new owner, report the ownership transfer to the DMV, and pay any requisite fees.

You may be thinking that selling a car privately will be a headache, but the process is pretty straightforward if you understand the steps involved.

Each state has its own set of rules for transferring legal ownership—and if you don't follow them, you could be held liable for the car long after it has left your control.

Fortunately, the car insurance comparison and broker app

Jerry

is here to explain everything you need to know about selling a car in South Dakota.

What you need to sell a car in South Dakota

If you’re looking to sell your car privately in South Dakota, you must sign the title over to the buyer and notify the DMV.

The first thing you’ll have to do upon selling your vehicle is to remove your license plate and obtain a Seller’s Permit for your buyer. This form can be obtained by creating an account on the

MySDcars website

You’ll then sign the title over to the new owner, ensuring you have the following information for the purchaser to take with them to their local county treasurer's office:

South Dakota Certificate of Title (or, if the original is unavailable, a duplicate title)

Purchase date

Selling price

Bill of Sale

Odometer Disclosure statement

Then, mail in a completed Notice of Vehicle Sold (SCDMV Form 416) to the appropriate location.

The Notice of Vehicle Sold form is intended to protect the last registered owner until the new buyer completes the ownership transfer.

Getting a pre-sale inspection

Selling a car in South Dakota does not require a smog certificate or an emissions test.

Even still, it may be a good idea to get a safety inspection before you sell the car so you and the buyer are on the same page when it comes to any mechanical issues.

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Documenting the sale

If you’re selling a car to a private buyer in South Dakota, you’ll have to fill out a Seller’s Report of Sale (Form MV2200) and submit it to your local county treasurer.

You’ll also have to either fill out a Bill of Sale form—which is highly recommended—or write down equivalent information (like the odometer reading and sale price) on the back of your title.

Signing the title over

If you have a clear title, the seller must submit an Application for Motor Vehicle Title and Registration and pay a $5 transfer fee and necessary taxes (4% of the vehicle cost).

If the title has a lien on it, the lienholder must give up their interest in the vehicle before it can be sold. Either the seller will pay off the loan in full or the lienholder has to release the lien.

If the title has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you can receive a replacement South Dakota title by filling out form MV010 and paying a $10 fee.

Reporting the sale

To report your sale, log onto the online

Vehicle Registration & Plates portal

. From there, select the vehicle sold and choose “report of sale” in the dropdown menu.

Finding affordable car insurance

After you’ve sold your car, make sure to take a look at your

car insurance

policy to review your rates and coverage for your next car.

If you want to save money by lowering your car insurance premiums, just use

Jerry

. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes from over 50 top providers and shows you the best rates to compare. The average Jerry user saves $879 a year on car insurance through comparison shopping!

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