Selling or buying a vehicle in South Dakota? A bill of sale is required by law for all private party vehicle sales — and South Dakota charges 4.5% sales tax on the purchase price.
This free template is formatted for South Dakota’s requirements, including Form 1025 fields, and works alongside the Certificate of Title at your county treasurer’s office.
Click Get This Template below to open it in Google Docs, then click Use Template to save a copy to your Drive.
For templates for all 50 states, visit the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Templates →
On this page:
- What Is a South Dakota Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?
- Is a Bill of Sale Required in South Dakota?
- South Dakota-Specific Requirements
- Free South Dakota Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Template
- How to Fill Out the Template
- How to Transfer a Car Title in South Dakota
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a South Dakota Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?
A South Dakota motor vehicle bill of sale is a written record of a private vehicle sale.
South Dakota’s official form is Form 1025. The bill of sale must include the date and price of the sale, buyer and seller information, and both parties’ signatures. It is submitted to the county treasurer’s office along with the signed title and Form MV-1001 (Application for Motor Vehicle Title and Registration).
Is a Bill of Sale Required in South Dakota?
Yes. South Dakota requires a bill of sale (Form 1025 or equivalent) for all private party vehicle sales. The seller must provide a bill of sale to the buyer at the time of the transaction. The South Dakota Department of Revenue states: “In addition to the title, when selling a vehicle, the party selling the vehicle should provide to the purchaser a Bill of Sale.”
South Dakota-Specific Requirements
1. 45-Day Deadline
The buyer must apply for a new South Dakota title within 45 days of purchase at their local county treasurer’s office. New residents have 90 days from establishing residency to transfer their out-of-state title.
2. Sales Tax: 4.5%
South Dakota charges 4.5% sales tax on the purchase price of a privately sold vehicle. Tax is paid at the county treasurer’s office at the time of title transfer. The purchase price on the bill of sale is used to calculate the tax.
3. Seller: Report of Sale
After the sale, the seller should log in to the online Vehicle Registration & Plates portal, select the vehicle that was sold, and choose “Report of Sale” in the dropdown menu to notify the state of the transfer.
4. Odometer Disclosure
Odometer disclosure is required for vehicles 9 model years old or less. Complete the odometer disclosure section on Form MV-1001 (Application for Motor Vehicle Title and Registration).
5. Where to Transfer
Title and registration is handled at the local county treasurer’s office. South Dakota does not have centralized DMV offices for vehicle title transactions — each county handles its own motor vehicle registrations.
6. Electronic Lien & Title System
South Dakota operates an Electronic Lien & Title (ELT) system. Lienholders participating in the ELT system receive electronic title records instead of paper titles. For questions about the ELT process, email DOR.DMVELT@state.sd.us.
7. Notarization
South Dakota does not require notarization for a standard private party vehicle bill of sale. Notarization is optional but recommended for high-value sales.
Free South Dakota Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Template
This template opens in Google Docs. Click Use Template to save a copy to your Drive, fill it out digitally, or print and complete by hand.
How to Fill Out the Template
Enter the seller’s name exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Title. Enter the buyer’s name exactly as they want it on the new title.
In Section 3, copy the VIN character by character. Enter the full agreed purchase price in Section 4 — South Dakota calculates 4.5% sales tax on this figure.
Both parties sign Section 11. The seller should also report the sale through the SD online Vehicle Registration & Plates portal.
For a complete field-by-field walkthrough of every section, see: How to Fill Out a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale →
How to Transfer a Car Title in South Dakota
For the Seller
Sign the title over to the buyer, completing all required sections. Provide this bill of sale to the buyer. Report the sale through the SD online Vehicle Registration & Plates portal.
For the Buyer
Within 45 days of purchase, visit your local county treasurer’s office with the signed title, this bill of sale, completed Form MV-1001 (Application for Motor Vehicle Title and Registration), odometer disclosure (if required), valid SD ID, proof of insurance, and payment for the 4.5% sales tax and title/registration fees.
Lost Title
Apply for a duplicate title at your county treasurer’s office before proceeding. Contact the South Dakota Department of Revenue at dor.sd.gov/motor-vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. South Dakota requires the seller to provide the buyer with a bill of sale (Form 1025 or equivalent) for all private party vehicle sales. It must include the date and price of the sale, buyer and seller information, and both parties’ signatures.
45 days from the date of purchase. New residents from out of state have 90 days from establishing residency. The transfer is completed at the county treasurer’s office.
South Dakota charges 4.5% sales tax on the purchase price. Tax is paid at the county treasurer’s office at the time of title transfer.
The seller logs in to the South Dakota online Vehicle Registration & Plates portal, selects the vehicle that was sold, and chooses ‘Report of Sale’ in the dropdown menu to notify the state of the ownership transfer.
No. South Dakota does not require notarization for a standard private party vehicle bill of sale. Notarization is optional but recommended for high-value sales.
Yes. South Dakota’s official form is Form 1025, but any bill of sale that includes the date and price of the sale, buyer and seller information, and both parties’ signatures is acceptable. This template meets all South Dakota requirements.
This template and all information on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Contact your county treasurer’s office or the South Dakota Department of Revenue at dor.sd.gov/motor-vehicle to confirm current requirements before completing your transaction.