Trailer Title Transfer and Registration in South Dakota – Pennington County

To title a new or used trailer in South Dakota, you will need the following:

• Ownership Document: Either the Title, Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, or registration.
• Proof of ownership is mandatory to title a new or used trailer in South Dakota. If the trailer was purchased from a seller in a state that requires a title, the title is needed. If it was purchased from a seller in a state that only requires registration, the original paper registration or a properly assigned Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin is acceptable.
• Purchase Agreement or Valid Bill of Sale.
• Proof of Weight

• If the title or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin does not list the weight, acceptable proof includes:

  • A weight slip from a scale.
  • A photo of the manufacturer’s specifications sticker or plate on the trailer that displays the weight.
  • A printout from the manufacturer showing the unladen, UVW, empty, or shipping weight for the specific make, model, and year.

  Note: Gross weight is not acceptable as proof of weight; only empty, unladen, or shipping weight is valid.

• South Dakota Motor Vehicle and Boat Title Application (MV-1001).
• Driver’s License or State-Issued ID for all owners. If using an out-of-state ID, a proof of Social Security Number is also required.
• Out of State Dealer Tax Assessment (Form 1004) if taxes were paid out of state at the time of purchase.

Additional documents may be required depending on the transaction. Note that any cross-outs, white-out, or alterations to documents may void them or require an affidavit for correction.

• Title Transfer Fee: $10.00
• Lienholder Notation Fee: $10.00 (if applicable)
• Excise Tax: 4% (see below FAQ)
• Reassignment of South Dakota Plates: $7.00
• County Wheel Tax: $5.00 per wheel
• Non-Resident Fee: $100.00 (if applicable)
• Registration\Highway Patrol\Solid Waste fees (see FAQ)

Yes, documents can be processed by mail. Here’s how:

If processing through the mail all documents will need to be mailed to our office. Paperwork mailed in is receipted in and worked in the order it is received- not necessarily on the day it arrives from your chosen carrier. Expect up to two weeks plus processing time. If additional documents are needed and mailed in, they will follow the normal mail process. Requests to the contrary are subject to Administrative fees.

It is the sender’s responsibility to follow up on processing to avoid interest and penalties. Title work starts accruing interest if not completed 45 days from your purchase date. We do not go by when the paperwork is mailed/received in our office. You are responsible to have all documents in and paid for. You are strongly encouraged to mail in advance to avoid penalties.

Once your paperwork has been reviewed you will be contacted for payment or for any missing documents. Please include valid contact information with your paperwork. A $3.00 long distance call fee may be applicable. We will reach out via email if an email address is given- watch your junk or spam folder so you don’t miss any correspondence regarding your transaction.

Transactions done through the mail will be charged a $25.00 administrative fee and a postage and handling fee to mail the plates and registration ($7.50 per set of plates and registration, $1.50 per registration only).

Please send documents to:

Pennington County Treasurer's Office
PO Box 6160
Rapid City, SD 57709

• Mark your documents as EXPEDITE in the cover letter and ensure all payments are included.
• Expedited requests are processed faster, but additional documents must also be marked for expedite service.

The following payment methods are accepted:

• Checks, Money Orders, and Cashier’s Checks (payable to Pennington County Treasurer).
• No counter, starter, PMB, or out-of-state checks will be accepted.
• Credit/Debit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover are accepted, with a 2.49% service charge.
• The issued card holder must be present with valid ID for the card to be accepted.
• Our system is not setup to take prepaid debit cards, gift cards or loaded employee payroll cards.
• Cash

Yes. A title is a legal document that is required to register a trailer in South Dakota. While the primary purpose of a title is to establish who owns the vehicle, titles also provide vehicle information such as make, model year, weight and the vehicle identification number (VIN). Both the buyer and seller must follow specific procedures to ensure the title is correctly transferred from one owner to the next.

If the trailer is brand new, instead of a certificate of title, you may have a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. Once the title transfer is completed you will receive a South Dakota title. If there is a lien holder the title will be held electronically until the lien is released.

If a vehicle is registered in another state that does not require a title for that trailer type, the ownership document may be the vehicle registration. The original paper registration from the seller will be required along with the bill of sale.

A completed purchase agreement or bill of sale is required for all title transfers and must include the vehicle information (year, make, model, complete VIN), the date of sale, sale price, seller name, buyer name, and be signed by the seller and buyer. Many states have a section on their titles to fill in the required information and a place for the seller and buyer to sign. If any of the required information is missing, or not filled out, a separate bill of sale will be needed (Form 1025).

If purchased from a dealer the purchase agreement will be needed. Any trade-in vehicle information will need to be listed on the purchase agreement for calculating excise tax.

Any cross outs, white out, or other alterations to documents may void them or require an affidavit for correction.

If a boat trailer and a watercraft are purchased together, either separate bills of sale, or a break down of which amount is for the watercraft and which amount is for the trailer, will be required. 

A South Dakota Motor Vehicle and Boat Title Application must be included with all title transfer paperwork. If you have purchased from a South Dakota dealer this should already be included in your title paperwork. If there is more than one buyer both people may need to sign depending on how the names are connected.

Names connected by ‘AND’ or without any designation require both buyers to sign the application.

Names connected by ‘OR’ require only one signature

Instructions for filling out the application

Section A: Mark whether this a boat or motor vehicle transfer (for a trailer mark motor vehicle)

Section B: Fill in the vehicle information- full VIN, year, make, model, color, and write the number of wheels and

Length x width after the color

Section C: For each owner fill out the name, address and South Dakota Driver’s License or ID number, or full SSN. If more than one owner fill in the ownership type (or, and, trust, trustee, or DBA)

Section D: Title mailing address if different than the owner’s address

Section E: Contact name, email address and phone number

Section F: Skip this section

Section G: If there is a lien holder fill in their name and address as it should appear on the title

Section H: Printed name and signature of the owners

There is not a provision for extension on the 45-day requirement. Interest and penalties will accrue on the motor vehicle excise tax. All fees are assessed from the purchase date regardless of when an applicant applies for title and registration.

In lieu of sales and use taxes, South Dakota imposes a 4% excise tax on most trailer transactions unless exempt. The excise tax is based on the purchase price listed on the bill of sale, purchase order, sales contract, or on the NADA clean retail value.

Purchase price is defined as total consideration of the trailer price and all accessories not charged tax- including but not limited to rebates, document fees, extended warranties, service contracts and GAP Waiver. Trade in allowances are deducted from the total purchase price only if verified by VIN on the purchase contract AND if that trade in was titled in the name of the applicant.

Exclusions: Discounts are not rebates and are therefore not excise taxable. Insurance is not excise taxable.

If the trailer was purchased for a nominal amount (less then fair value) excise tax may be calculated based on the NADA clean retail value of the vehicle. If a NADA value can not be obtained a statement of value may be required.

If the vehicle is transferred without consideration (no money exchanged) between spouses, between a parent and a child, or between siblings the vehicle is exempt from tax. Otherwise excise tax will be figured on the NADA clean retail value.

A valid bill of sale still needs to be completed and late fees will accrue if not transferred within 45 days from the date of sale.

If the deceased’s estate is going through probate the court appointed personal representative will need to sign as seller on the title and the PR paperwork sealed by the courts will be needed to show they have authority to sell the trailer. The original paper title will be required to transfer the title, along with a valid bill of sale. If the title has been lost the personal representative may apply for a duplicate title.

If the deceased’s estate is NOT going through probate a Succession Affidavit will need to be filled out by the qualifying heir. Section C of the affidavit lists the requirements to qualify for transfer by succession, including it having been at least 30 days from the date of death and the estate not going through the courts. If the trailer is titled in another state, the succession process will need to be done in that state (if the state allows it) before it may be transferred in South Dakota. If it is titled in South Dakota the title may be transferred by succession without the original paper title if it is unable to be located.  

Yes, South Dakota title and registration statutes do not expressly prohibit an out-of-state applicant from titling and registering here. However, your state may prohibit registering your trailer in another state. No refunds will be issued for any reason.

If you have an out of state driver’s license or ID you will need to provide a clear copy of proof of your social security number. Acceptable proof is a copy of your social security card or a W2, 1098,1099, paystub or military orders with the full SSN on them.

Yes, a trailer may be titled in a trust’s name. A copy of the trust paperwork showing the name of the trust, the trustees and the signature page will be required. All trustees will be listed on the title along with the trust and must provide either a South Dakota driver’s license or ID, or an out of state driver’s license or ID and proof of SSN. Depending on how the trust documents read all trustees may be required to sign.

In South Dakota plates stay with the owner, not the trailer. If you purchase a new trailer, you may transfer the license plates from a sold or destroyed trailer if they are not expired. Once the plates have expired and are not on a trailer they become dead and cannot be transferred.  

Permanent trailer plates may not be transferred to a new trailer.

If the trailer is under 3,000 lbs, you will go through the homemade trailer process. You will need to get a VIN application from our office, stamp the assigned VIN on the trailer and have it inspected and signed off by a peace officer. You will need to bring the completed VIN application, and a weight ticket to our office. You will need to know the number of wheel and the length and width of the trailer. If processing through the mail you will also need to complete the South Dakota Motor Vehicle and Boat Title Application and include the number of wheels and length x width after the color.

If the trailer weighs over 3,000 lbs you will go through the rebuilt process. Please contact our office for assistance with rebuilts.

No, South Dakota does not title or register tow dollies.