Buying a Car In South Dakota From Out Of State

Buying a vehicle in South Dakota from out of state requires obtaining the title, registering it, and paying the required fees.
Written by Thidas Senanayaka
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
South Dakota is one of the easiest states in which to register your car, regardless of whether you bought it in South Dakota or another state. Similarly, it’s fairly easy to buy a car in South Dakota from out of state. 
If you’re thinking of buying a new or used vehicle, buying from out of state may increase your options—especially if in-state dealers don’t have what you’re looking for. This will require some extra legwork on your end when it comes to titling the new vehicle.
In South Dakota, the process is actually simpler than in most states. Here to walk you through it all is
Jerry
, the
trustworthy comparison app
for car insurance savings. Read on to find out how to buy a car in South Dakota from out of state, along with a few tips for saving on your
car insurance
premiums no matter where you live. 
Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
icon4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars
icon4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

How to buy a car out of state as a South Dakota resident

It’s getting more and more common to buy cars from out of state. The reasons may vary from increased choices to your preferred car not being available in your own state. 
To drive it, though, you’ll need to go through your home state’s registration and titling process as you would with a car you bought in-state. 
There’s generally two ways for you to buy a car (regardless of what state you’re in): through a dealer or through a private sale from an individual. 
If you buy from a dealer, they may help complete the titling and registration process for you—though it’s still a good idea to know about the process in case you go through a private sale instead.
For any title transfer from out-of-state to South Dakota, you will need:
You won’t need proof of your Social Security number if you have a South Dakota driver’s license or ID. For new purchases, your original ownership document has to show that the vehicle has been transferred to you. It can be either a Certificate of Title (usually for used cars) or a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (if it is a new car). If the car is less than 20 years old, you’ll also need an Odometer Disclosure Statement (form MV-1021) signed by both the buyer and seller. 
Then, you’ll have to fill out a purchase agreement or valid bill of sale with the date, purchase price, make and model of the car, VIN number, and both the signatures of the buyer and seller.
Your dealer will usually fill out an
Out of State Dealer Tax Payment Verification
form (MV-1004) if they paid taxes on the sale out of state at the time of purchase. 
You will have to pay the South Dakota excise tax instead of the standard sales tax, which amounts to 4% of the total purchase price
The title and registration application must be completed within 45 days of the purchase date (whether you do it or the dealer does it for you). This date cannot be extended. If you go over the registration window, you will start accruing interest on the excise tax. 
Registration is handled by your local county treasurer’s office (the county where your mailing address is). For example, if you’re in Pennington County, the mailing address is:
Pennington County Treasurer
130 Kansas City St. Suite 250
Rapid City, SD 57701
Your
registration fees
for the car will be based on model year, weight, and tire count. Your title application fee will cost $10, with a solid waste fee and highway patrol fee of $1 each. 
Additional fees may apply depending on whether there is a lien on your vehicle or you’re mailing your documents.
MORE: South Dakota electric vehicle incentives

How to buy a car in South Dakota if you live out of state

You can also buy a car in South Dakota if you live in a different state. Your local state’s laws will apply when it comes to your registration process and taxes owed. You’ll just need to figure out how to legally move your vehicle from South Dakota to your state of residence. 
South Dakota lets you buy a temporary permit that allows you to drive your car for between 5 to 15 consecutive days. It will cost you $1 for each day the permit is requested, with a minimum fee of $5. When you’re driving with a temporary permit, be sure to keep your title or bill of sale ready for inspection in case you’re stopped by the police. 

What if I don’t have a physical title?

South Dakota requires original paper titles for all transactions without any exceptions to the rule. If your vehicle is financed and you don’t have the original title, you can request a Title Request Form from your local county treasurer’s office to send to the lienholder, who will send the original title to the office.

Tips for buying a vehicle out of state

Registration isn’t the only thing to worry about when buying a car out of state. Here are a list of things you should do—and they apply to in-state purchases as well:
  • Make sure you know what your tax obligations are
  • Get a valid insurance policy (you’ll need car insurance coverage right away)
  • Obtain the title to the car
South Dakota may not require you to get a smog or safety inspection, but it’s a good idea to get both of these done anyway. Protecting yourself by confirming your car’s safety and purchasing the right insurance coverage is of the utmost importance. 
Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
icon4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars
icon4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

How to save on car insurance in South Dakota

South Dakota has strict
insurance coverage requirements
for bodily injury, property damage, and uninsured motorist coverage—and many drivers choose to up their coverage limits or purchase additional types of coverage. 
Luckily, getting the best coverage doesn’t have to break the bank.
Jerry
, a licensed car insurance brokerage app, can do all the hard work for you to make sure you’re not overpaying for the coverage you need. 
All you have to do is answer a few questions and Jerry will compare real-time quotes from the country’s top providers to find policies at competitive rates that work for you. If you have an existing policy, Jerry can even save you a headache by helping you switch over. 
 “Using
Jerry
is a super straightforward process, and at each step, you can see exactly what coverage you’re paying for. Thanks to Jerry, I’m paying $900 less each year while keeping full coverage for my new car!” —Martin H.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
avatar
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
rating primary
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
Reduce your monthly car payments in minutes?
Find out if Jerry can reduce your payments by an average of $150/month
Check your rate!

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings