How Much Do South Dakota License Plates Cost?

When you buy a used car in South Dakota, you’ll get new license plates when you register the vehicle. Standard South Dakota passenger vehicle plates are included in the registration fee of $120.

South Dakota also has a variety of specialty and personalized plates to choose from, which cost more. Additional taxes and fees apply to both new and renewal registrations.

Let’s get into the details of license plate costs in the great state of South Dakota.

South Dakota’s passenger license plates cost $0 to $25, depending on what type of plate you choose.

Here are the options South Dakota offers for passenger vehicle plates:


The fees vary based on plate type. Additional registration fees apply on top of the base plate costs.

In South Dakota, the standard passenger vehicle plate is included with the registration fee. Meaning that it’s free…sort of.

You'll receive the classic plates when:


For more info on South Dakota’s license plate types, visit the official South Dakota Department of Revenue page.

Want to make a statement? Personalized plates cost $25, on top of the regular license plates fee. They are also referred to as vanity plates, allowing you to customize your ride with a unique letter and number combo.

When selecting the lettering for your custom South Dakota plate, there are some restrictions:

Show some support for a cause with special license plates. You can sport a plate that supports your favorite South Dakota cause, tribal, or organization.

A South Dakota specialty plate fee is $10 to $25, plus a $7.50 license plate mailing fee.

Here are the available specialty plate categories:

1. Tribal plates
2. Firefighter license plates
3. Amateur radio plates
4. Dignity sculpture plates

South Dakota offers over 15 different military license plates to honor those who served, including:

South Dakota provides disabled license plates to accommodate residents with permanent disabilities. Eligible South Dakota veterans can get disabled plates at no extra cost beyond regular registration fees.

In South Dakota, commercial license plates range from $50 to over $1,000 per year depending on vehicle type and weight class.

In South Dakota, motorcycle license plates cost up to $24. This covers the registration and plate needed to legally operate a motorcycle.

Trailer license plates in South Dakota cost $50 per year. This provides the required registration and plate for legal trailer operation.

Recreational vehicle (RV) license plates cost $90 per year in South Dakota. This annual fee covers motor home plates and registration.

When you sell your used car in South Dakota, you must dispose of your old plates properly.

Here are the options for old South Dakota plates:

1. Return: county treasurer’s will take back the old plate when issuing a new one. This is the safest option.
2. Recycle: remove any stickers and recycle the plate through local recycling.
3. Keep: some choose to save the old plate as memorabilia. Be sure to invalidate any active stickers first.
4. Transfer: South Dakota allows you to put your old plate on another vehicle you own. Make sure to check with your county treasurer’s office for the proper paperwork for a plate transfer.

It’s always a good idea to deface your old license plate before returning or recycling it. This prevents someone else from illegally using it. Always remove registration stickers before disposing of your plate.

See our state-by-state guide to license plates to learn which states require removal from the vehicle and which states allow the plates to remain with the vehicle when it’s sold.

Here are some interesting facts about South Dakota license plates:

To register your vehicle at a South Dakota DOT branch office, you must show proof of used car insurance.

The first time you register a passenger car, you need to transfer the title if you’ve just acquired it.

Here are the fees you may owe when you register a car in South Dakota. Note that you’ll owe South Dakota sales tax the first time you register a car that you purchase, whereas most other fees are due annually.

Transferring a vehicle's title in South Dakota is a two-part process.

1. The seller signs over the certificate of title after you pay them for the car.
2. You complete the title transfer at the county treasurer's office. At the same time, you apply for a new title, pay sales taxes and fees, complete the registration process, and apply for new license plates.

The seller will provide you with the following South Dakota paperwork:


Once the seller has provided you with all the paperwork, you need to visit your local South Dakota county treasurer and submit the following:


For more information about title transfers, read our South Dakota title transfer guide.

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