South Dakota License Plate Lookup

Performing a license plate lookup is crucial when buying or selling a vehicle. This process could reveal the vehicle’s history, including numbers of previous owners, accident reports*, and recalls associated with it. License plate lookup tools pull information from official databases to try and produce detailed vehicle history reports.

Uncovering damage reports and repair quote records is another significant benefit of conducting a license plate lookup. This information can include title brands, recalls, and detailed data about damage the vehicle has sustained, such as from floods, hail, or fire. Knowing this information upfront can save buyers from future headaches and financial burdens due to potentially undisclosed damages.

Using a license plate lookup could help prospective buyers have a better understanding of a vehicle’s history, helping prevent fraud and potential safety issues.

South Dakota plate lookup services

Free vs. paid lookups

For South Dakota license plate lookups, there are free and paid options. Free lookups are often available through public databases and state-provided services. These can provide basic vehicle information like make, model, and year, which can be useful for initial checks before making a purchase. Free services generally include details from public records but might lack comprehensive reports or deeper insights into the vehicle’s history and condition.

Paid lookups, on the other hand, usually offer more detailed reports that cover aspects such as purchase history, accident records*, and liens on the vehicle. Paid services aggregate data from multiple sources, including insurance and repair quote records. The cost of a paid lookup can vary but they usually provide deeper insights.

Types of South Dakota license plates

Standard plates

Since the beginning of 2023, the standard license plate in South Dakota features black lettering on a reflective full-color Mount Rushmore graphic with a blue sky background. “South Dakota” is written in red script at the top, with the slogan “Great Faces. Great Places.” directly below in black text. The serial format of the license plates varies based on the county where the plate was issued.

Specialty plates

South Dakota offers a wide variety of specialty license plates that cater to military personnel, tribal members, and various other organizations and causes. These plates allow vehicle owners to show their affiliations, support specific groups, or represent their communities. Below are the main categories of specialty plates available in the state.

Military Plates

South Dakota honors its veterans and active-duty military members with a variety of military plates. These plates recognize specific branches of the armed forces and notable achievements, such as the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, or Medal of Honor. Veterans and active-duty personnel can apply for plates that display their branch or a specific honor. Many of these plates come with an initial $10 fee, along with standard vehicle registration fees. Renewal fees typically only include the cost of vehicle registration.

Tribal Plates

Residents of South Dakota can also obtain tribal license plates, which feature emblems from various Sioux tribes, including the Cheyenne River Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, and Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribes. Both tribal members and non-members can display these plates, which have an initial $10 fee and no renewal fees, though the standard vehicle registration fees still apply. Tribal Veteran plates are also available to honor Native American veterans, with similar fee structures.

Emblem Plates

Emblem plates are available to vehicle owners who want to support approved nonprofit organizations. These plates allow for the placement of organization decals, which can be used to raise funds for the nonprofit. To apply, the organization must meet specific requirements, and vehicle owners can obtain these plates through their county treasurer’s office. The cost typically includes regular registration fees along with additional costs that may support the organization’s cause.

Other Specialty Plates

This category covers plates that support various causes and organizations, including the Dignity Sculpture, Amateur Radio, and Firefighter plates. These plates usually involve a small initial fee, such as $10, and an additional cost for mailing the plate. Vehicle owners may also apply for a rear plate only, which is available to vehicles that meet specific mileage restrictions. Specialty plates can be personalized for an additional fee, allowing owners to add a custom message to their plate.

Personalized plates

South Dakota residents can apply for personalized vehicle license plates, which must consist of between one and seven characters. Accepted characters include letters, numbers, and special characters like the dash, space, and ampersand. Certain plates, such as military and university plates, come with a stationary logo that cannot be moved. Applicants should be aware that including the International Symbol of Access reduces the number of characters that can be displayed on the plate. Each personalized combination needs to be unique.

Choosing your plate

When picking a personalized plate, it’s wise to submit multiple options. Your initial preference might already be taken since each combination must be unique. Visit the South Dakota Department of Revenue’s website (SDCARS) and use the “CK A PL8” function to check the availability of your desired plate options.

Fees and additional costs

The annual cost for a personalized plate is $25, in addition to the regular license plate fee. Comparing this to standard plates, the personalized option carries an extra fee due to the custom nature of the design.

South Dakota license plate laws and regulations

Key laws and regulations

South Dakota law requires all motor vehicles to have a clearly legible and securely fastened license plate displayed at the rear of the vehicle. The exception is for motorcycles, which may also have a front plate. Vehicles must have plates that are valid and not expired. Properly transferring license plates during vehicle ownership changes is required by law. South Dakota is a “plate with owner” state, meaning license plates transfer with the owner, not the vehicle, when a new vehicle is purchased.

Visibility and condition requirements

License plates must be kept free from dirt, obstructions, and any forms of alterations that can impair the ability to read them. According to South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) 32-5-98, it is unlawful to display a plate in any manner that reduces its legibility or impedes its view. Plates must be securely fastened in a manner to prevent them from being lost or detached.

Ethical considerations and privacy laws

South Dakota’s privacy laws around license plate lookup are informed by the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). A written request must be submitted to the South Dakota Motor Vehicles Division before vehicle records can be released. The DPPA restricts the release and use of personal information, with allowable uses including for government agency operations, verification by businesses, fraud prevention, and legal proceedings. Unauthorized public dissemination of vehicle information is prohibited, balancing the utility of license plate lookups with protecting individual privacy.

These regulations help license plates in South Dakota serve their purpose for vehicle identification while safeguarding the privacy of vehicle owners.

Vehicle registration and license plate fees

When registering a vehicle in South Dakota, there are several fees and requirements to keep in mind. South Dakota imposes various charges based on factors like the type of vehicle, its weight, and its intended use. Additionally, the state enforces an excise tax, and there are penalties for late registration. Understanding these fees and the necessary paperwork ensures you stay compliant with the state’s vehicle registration regulations.

General Vehicle Registration Fees

• Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Fee: 4% of the vehicle’s purchase price.
• Title Fee: $10.
• Lien Notation Fee: $10.
• Late Title Application Fee: $1 per week after a 45-day grace period (with a maximum fine of $50).
• Duplicate Title Fee: $10.

If you have recently purchased a vehicle, registration fees must be paid within 45 days of the purchase date. Failure to do so results in interest and penalty fees, which are as follows:

• Interest: 1% or $5, whichever is greater, for the first month after 45 days, then 1% per month thereafter.
• Penalty: A one-time penalty of 10% of the tax or $10, whichever is greater, if registration is completed after 60 days.

License Plate Fees

• Solid Waste Fee: $1.
• Highway Patrol Fee: $1.
• Plate Mailing Fee: $7.50.
• Electric Vehicle Fee: $50 annually (applies to electric vehicles charged from an external source).
• Wheel Tax: Based on your county, check with your local county office for specific rates.

Starting July 1, 2024, non-residents who title vehicles in South Dakota will be required to pay an additional Non-Resident Fee of $100 unless they provide proof of residency, such as a South Dakota driver’s license.

Required Documentation for Vehicle Registration

When registering a newly purchased vehicle in South Dakota, the following documents are required:

1. Certificate of Origin (for new vehicles) or title (if used).
2. Lender information (if financed), including lender name, address, loan number, and fax number.
3. Verification of Tax Assessment by Out of State Dealer form or a DMV receipt for taxes paid.
4. Purchase agreement.
5. Odometer Disclosure (for brand-new vehicles).

For recently purchased vehicles, registration fees must be paid within the 45-day window. DakotaPost can assist in this process by acting as your proxy, ensuring all necessary documentation and fees are properly submitted.

Conducting a South Dakota license plate lookup is essential for anyone involved in buying or selling vehicles by providing access to critical information such as numbers of previous owners, accident reports*, and specific vehicle issues. This tool could help safeguard against potential fraud and undisclosed damages. By leveraging lookup services, vehicle buyers may achieve greater transparency and confidence in their transactions.

*Disclaimer: Bumper reports are based upon data available and may include historical accident records from 33 state-level agencies, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, to the extent such specific data has been compiled, digitized locally and is available. We strongly recommend your own due diligence and checking additional sources for states not listed above. As a reminder, even for states where we may have data, we cannot guarantee the comprehensiveness/accuracy of the information provided and you should not rely solely on our data in order to determine whether or not a vehicle was ever involved in an accident.