Title 32 — MOTOR VEHICLES
55 chapters · 1,941 sections in this title.
SDCL § 32-5-160 Certain military specialty plates not subject to annual registration fees--Maximum sets--Permissible vehicles
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Notwithstanding § 32-5-159 or any other contrary provisions of §§ 32-5-154 to 32-5-166 , inclusive, each veteran receiving the disabled veteran, Prisoner of War, Pearl Harbor survivor, or Purple Heart military specialty plates shall pay a ten dollar fee for the initial issuance o…
SDCL § 32-5-161 Reflectorized military specialty plates--Annual decals--Permissible vehicles--Display
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Each military specialty plate shall be reflectorized and validated with a decal each year in the same manner as a noncommercial license plate. Military specialty plates may only be used on automobiles, pickup trucks, or vans licensed pursuant to § 32-5-6 , motorcycles licensed pu…
SDCL § 32-5-162 Number and design of military specialty plates--Requirements
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Military specialty plates must be numbered and designed by the secretary, with the exception of the National Guard plate which must be designed by the adjutant general and approved by the secretary. The military specialty plates shall meet the following specific requirements: (1)…
SDCL § 32-5-163 Surrender of military specialty plates--Death of owner--Violation as misdemeanor
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Military specialty plates shall be surrendered to the county treasurer of the owner's residence if the owner no longer qualifies for the plate. The county treasurer shall notify the secretary who shall make the necessary changes in the registration system. The military specialty …
SDCL § 32-5-164 Transfer of ownership of vehicle with military specialty plate--Credit--Violation as misdemeanor
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If the ownership of a motor vehicle with a military specialty plate is transferred or assigned, the transferor shall remove the military specialty plates from the vehicle and shall receive a credit for the unexpired time on the registration when the plates are attached to another…
SDCL § 32-5-165 Destruction, salvage, or condemnation of vehicle with military specialty plate--Credit--Replacement--Violation as misdemeanor
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If a motor vehicle with a military specialty plate is destroyed by collision or fire, disposed of for salvage, or if rejected or condemned for use on the highways as the result of action by any inspection authority of this state, the registered owner of the motor vehicle shall re…
SDCL § 32-5-166 Duplicate military specialty plates upon loss, mutilation, or destruction
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If any military specialty plate is lost, mutilated, or destroyed, the owner of the registered vehicle may obtain a duplicate upon filing an affidavit showing such facts and after paying a ten dollar fee to the department. The fee shall be credited to the license plate special rev…
SDCL § 32-5-167 Emblem specialty plate--Application--List of emblems
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Any owner of a motor vehicle may apply for an emblem specialty plate if the owner meets the requirements of §§ 32-5-168 to
SDCL § 32-5-168 Eligibility for emblem specialty plates
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Any applicant for an emblem specialty plate listed in § 32-5-167 shall meet the following general requirements: (1) Be a resident of this state; (2) Possess a valid South Dakota driver license; (3) Comply with all state laws regarding registration and licensing; and (4) Pay any a…
SDCL § 32-5-168.1 State seal--Emblem set
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The state seal may be used as an emblem for emblem specialty plates under §
SDCL § 32-5-168.2 State seal emblem fee--Motor vehicle fund
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The county treasurer shall remit to the department the state seal emblem fees collected under §
SDCL § 32-5-168.3 State seal emblem design
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The state seal emblem shall be designed by the department and approved by the secretary in accordance with §
SDCL § 32-5-169 Reflectorized emblem specialty plates--Annual stickers--Permissible vehicles--Contents
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All emblem specialty plates shall be reflectorized and validated with a sticker each year in the same manner as a noncommercial license plate. The emblem specialty plates shall read, Place Approved Emblem Here, to designate where the emblem shall be placed on the plate. Emblem sp…
SDCL § 32-5-170 Fee for emblem specialty plates
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If the emblem specialty plates are requested at the time of initial application for title and registration of the vehicle, no additional fees are charged for the plates above the costs involved in registering the motor vehicle. If the emblem specialty plates are requested later o…
SDCL § 32-5-171 Transfer of ownership of vehicle with emblem specialty plate--Credit--Violation as misdemeanor
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If the ownership of a motor vehicle with an emblem specialty plate is transferred or assigned, the transferor shall remove the emblem specialty plates from the vehicle and shall receive a credit for the unexpired time on the registration if the plates are attached to another vehi…
SDCL § 32-5-172 Destruction, salvage, or condemnation of vehicle with emblem specialty plate--Credit-- Replacement--Violation as misdemeanor
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If a motor vehicle with an emblem specialty plate is destroyed by collision or fire, disposed of for salvage, or if rejected or condemned for use on the highways as the result of action by any inspection authority of this state, the registered owner of the motor vehicle shall rem…
SDCL § 32-5-173 Duplicate emblem specialty plates upon loss, mutilation, or destruction
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If any emblem specialty plate is lost, mutilated, or destroyed, the owner of the registered vehicle may obtain a duplicate upon filing an affidavit showing such facts and after paying a ten dollar fee to the department. The fee shall be credited to the license plate revolving fun…
SDCL § 32-5-174 Retention time for emblem specialty plates
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Each emblem specialty plate authorized by § 32-5-167 shall be retained for the same period of time as plates referred to in §
SDCL § 32-5-175 Application for emblem to be used on emblem specialty plate
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Any entity applying for an emblem to be used on the emblem specialty plate shall submit an application, on a form prescribed by the secretary, to the department. Each application shall include a completed emblem design with the entity's logo and the entity's name, or in the case …
SDCL § 32-5-176 General requirements for emblem specialty plates
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Any entity applying for an emblem to be used on an emblem specialty plate listed in § 32-5-167 shall meet the following general requirements: (1) The primary activity or interest of the entity serves the community, contributes to the welfare of others, and is not offensive or dis…
SDCL § 32-5-177 Specific additional requirements for emblem specialty plates
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Any entity applying for an emblem to be used on the emblem specialty plate shall also meet the following specific additional requirements for the respective emblem specialty plate: (1) To qualify for an organization emblem, the entity shall be a nonprofit corporation, or a group …
SDCL § 32-5-178 Emblem specialty plates--Administration--Fees--Violation as misdemeanor
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Upon approval of an application and design for an emblem, the department may furnish the emblems to the entity or authorize the entity to produce the entity's approved emblem. If the department furnishes the emblem, the entity shall purchase no fewer than one hundred sets of embl…
SDCL § 32-5-179 Special interest motor vehicle plates--Application
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Any person who is a resident of this state and is the owner of a special interest motor vehicle may apply to the county treasurer of the applicant's county of residence for a special interest motor vehicle license plate. The application shall be on a form prescribed by the secret…
SDCL § 32-5-18.1 Licensing and compensation requirements applicable to highway construction or reconstruction--Special permits not required while engaged in construction
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All highway construction projects, whether being construction upon a new highway location or reconstruction of an existing highway, shall be treated in an identical manner as a public highway of this state for purposes of licensing and compensation of vehicles used on such projec…
SDCL § 32-5-180 Design of special interest motor vehicle plates--Decals--Rear plates
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The special interest motor vehicle plate shall be issued in place of the regular plates issued pursuant to §
SDCL § 32-5-181 Fees for special interest motor vehicle plates
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In addition to the noncommercial annual registration fees, each applicant for a special interest motor vehicle license plate shall pay an annual twenty-five dollar fee. All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be credited to the license plate special revenue fund. Source…
SDCL § 32-5-182 Contents of application for special interest motor vehicle plate--Renewal
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An application for a special interest motor vehicle license plate, as provided for in § 32-5-179 , shall include a signed affidavit wherein the applicant attests to the following: (1) The motor vehicle for which the special interest motor vehicle license plate is sought is driven…
SDCL § 32-5-183 Misuse of special interest motor vehicle plate
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If an applicant misuses the special interest motor vehicle license plate by not adhering to the special interest motor vehicle license plate requirements, that applicant shall surrender to the department all special interest motor vehicle license plates in his or her possession a…
SDCL § 32-5-184 Dignity sculpture special plates
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Any owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state and who has complied with all of the laws of this state in relation to the registration of a motor vehicle may receive plates bearing a special design depicting the Dignity sculpture upon approval of the design by the D…
SDCL § 32-5-185 Fee for Dignity sculpture plates
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A ten dollar administrative fee shall be charged for the special plates and deposited into the license plate special revenue fund. Source: SL 2017, ch 131 , § 2.
SDCL § 32-5-186 Lost, stolen, or mutilated Dignity sculpture plate
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If a Dignity sculpture license plate is lost, mutilated, or destroyed, the owner of the registered vehicle may obtain a duplicate set of plates upon filing an affidavit showing the fact the license plate was lost, mutilated, or destroyed and after paying a ten dollar fee to the d…
SDCL § 32-5-187 Electric bicycle exempt from chapter
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An electric bicycle, as defined in § 32-20B-9 , is exempt from this chapter. Source: SL 2019, ch 135 , § 10.
SDCL § 32-5-188 Electric motor vehicle--Annual fee--Definitions
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In addition to the license fees paid pursuant to the provisions of this chapter for a motor vehicle, the owner of an electric motor vehicle shall pay an annual fee of fifty dollars. The fee shall be paid at the time of annual registration as otherwise provided in this chapter. Ho…
SDCL § 32-5-189 Nonresident off-road vehicles--Decal--Use of vehicle on public highways--Where affixed
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A non-resident owner of an off-road vehicle not currently registered for on-road use, that meets the requirements of § 32-20-13 and is brought into the state for noncommercial use on the public highways of this state, shall purchase a decal. The decal allows the off-road vehicle …
SDCL § 32-5-190 Nonresident off-road vehicles--Application--Fee
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Application for the decal authorized by § 32-5-189 shall be made to the department or a county treasurer. The application shall be on a form approved by the secretary and contain the names of all owners, each owner’s social security number, a description of the off-road vehicle w…
SDCL § 32-5-191 Off-road vehicles--Distribution of fees collected
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If the application required by § 32-5-190 is processed solely by the department, the fee shall be deposited into the state motor vehicle fund. If the application is processed by a county treasurer and reviewed by the department, half of the fee shall be deposited in the state mot…
SDCL § 32-5-192 Retired firefighter specialty plates--Requirements--Design
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Any owner of a motor vehicle, who is a resident of this state, who served as a firefighter for more than ten years, and who has complied with all the laws of this state in relation to the registration of a motor vehicle, may receive plates bearing a special number and design or a…
SDCL § 32-5-193 Retired firefighter specialty plates--Application--Penalty for falsifying
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Any person applying for a retired firefighter plate shall submit an application, on a form prescribed by the secretary, and signed by the local fire chief, to the county treasurer of the applicant's county of residence. Any applicant who submits a falsified application is guilty …
SDCL § 32-5-194 Habitat conservation specialty plates
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Any owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state and who has complied with all of the laws of this state in relation to the registration of a motor vehicle may receive habitat conservation specialty plates. The specialty plates must be issued only upon proof of paymen…
SDCL § 32-5-195 Habitat conservation specialty plates--Fee
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An administrative fee of ten dollars must be charged for habitat conservation specialty plates. The fee must be deposited into the license plate special revenue fund. Source: SL 2024, ch 113 , § 2, eff. Mar. 1, 2025.
SDCL § 32-5-196 Habitat conservation specialty plates--Design
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The habitat conservation specialty plate must be designed by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks and approved by the secretary of the Department of Revenue. The specialty plates must be reflectorized and designed to have a habitat conservation emblem placed on the plate. The h…
SDCL § 32-5-197 Habitat conservation specialty plates--Administration--Emblem fee--Game, fish and parks fund
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The Department of Game, Fish and Parks, and its agents, may sell the habitat conservation emblems and are responsible for the administration of the habitat conservation emblem. Fees for the habitat conservation emblems must be set by rules promulgated by the Game, Fish and Parks …
SDCL § 32-5-198 Habitat conservation specialty plates--Emblem use--Violation as misdemeanor
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No emblems other than a habitat conservation emblem may be used on the habitat conservation specialty plate. The habitat conservation emblem may not be affixed to any other emblem specialty plate. Misuse of the habitat conservation emblems or use of unauthorized emblems or sticke…
SDCL § 32-5-199 Habitat conservation specialty plates--Transfer or replacement
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Habitat conservation specialty plates must be transferred and replaced in the same manner as emblem specialty plates pursuant to §§ 32-5-171 to 32-5-173 , inclusive. Source: SL 2024, ch 113 , § 6, eff. Mar. 1, 2025.
SDCL § 32-5-2 Application for registration--Contents--Failure to provide information as misdemeanor--Acceptance of incomplete or erroneous form prohibited
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Every owner, or with written authorization, any other person as defined by subdivision 2-14-2(18) on behalf of and as the agent for the owner, of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, truck tractor, road tractor, trailer or semitrailer, or recreational vehicle or trailer, which is operate…
SDCL § 32-5-2.1 Staggered registration of noncommercial vehicles
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The annual registration of noncommercial vehicles shall be staggered throughout the year excluding the months of April, October, and December. Source: SL 1987, ch 215 , § 1; SL 2018, ch 177 , § 1.
SDCL § 32-5-2.10 Seller's report of sale--Violation as misdemeanor
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At the time of sale of a vehicle, the seller shall file a report of sale with the department indicating the purchaser's name and address. Failure to file such a report is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 2007, ch 173 , § 12, eff. July 1, 2008.
SDCL § 32-5-2.11 Fee for reassignment of license plate
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A five dollar fee shall be assessed for any reassignment of a license plate or set of plates. Source: SL 2009, ch 150 , § 2.
SDCL § 32-5-2.2 Determination of month to register vehicle
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The first letter of the owner's last name shall determine the month in which a noncommercial vehicle owner shall register the vehicle. For a corporation or limited liability company, the first letter in its name shall be used. The registration shall proceed as follows: January A,…
SDCL § 32-5-2.3 Repealed by SL 2007, ch 173 , §§ 1, 49, eff
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July 1, 2008. 32-5-2.4 Renewal of registration during assigned month--Expiration of staggered license plates or validation stickers--Violation as misdemeanor. 32-5-2.5 Registration of acquired motor vehicle--Application. 32-5-2.6 Early renewal--Fee for late renewal. 32-5-2.7 Remo…