• SD License Renewal Schedule

  Registration on commercial, non-commercial, trailers, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and boats are done on a staggered licensing system based on the first letter of the owner's last name or in the case of a business on the beginning letter of the business' name. Licenses are renewable up to 90 days before end of assigned month. Please bring renewal postcard, registration, or title for each vehicle you wish to license.Renewal months are as follows:

  • January: A, B
  • February: C, D, E
  • March: F, G, J
  • May: H, I, O
  • June: K, L
  • July: M, N
  • August: P, Q, R
  • September: S
  • November: T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

• Registering a Recently Purchased Vehicle

  When registering a vehicle you have recently purchased, in-state vehicle owners must provide either their SD driver's license or Social Security number of all individuals to be placed on the title. Businesses must provide their FEIN#. A bill of sale is also required for all private party purchases.
  
  

  The current law requires you to remove your license plates when trading or selling a motor vehicle, trailer, motorcycle, or commercially licensed vehicle, and transferring those plates to a NEWLY ACQUIRED vehicle. HOWEVER, your plate SHOULD NOT be put on your new vehicle until you transfer your title and pay any appropriate fees to your county treasurer's office.

• Selling a Vehicle

  If you sell a vehicle to another individual, business, company, etc., you will remove the plates and provide the new buyer with a seller's permit. This permit allows the new buyer to drive that vehicle for 45 days. These permits can be obtained free of charge from the treasurer's office or printed off the website, https://my605drive.sd.gov/tap/eservices/_/ and can be obtained when you know you are selling the vehicle.

• Title Transfers

  Titles with open liens cannot be transferred or duplicate titles applied for. Liens are indicated on the front lower portion of the title and can be released at the Treasurer's office with the proper documentation.

• Acceptable Payment Methods - Effective 9/1/17

  Cash
  Personal Checks (See exceptions below.)+
  Cashier's Checks
  Money Orders
  Credit/Debit cards (VISA, MasterCard, or Discover)++
  
  + No two-party checks, no counter/starter checks without pre-printed name and address, no out-of-state checks, and no checks with a personal mail box (PMB) will be accepted.
  ++Card processing fees are variable and will be added to your transaction.

• Administrative Fee for Certain Title Applications - Effective 8/10/2020

  Effective August 10, 2020, the Lake County Treasurer's Office will charge an administrative fee of $25.00 for any application for certificate of title made pursuant to SDCL 32-3-18, SDCL 32-3A-20 and SDCL 32-3A-21 that is received and processed entirely by mail, with the exception of those applications that are received from insurance companies or dealers licensed in South Dakota. This fee is authorized pursuant to Resolution #2020-12 of the Lake County Commission.

• Organizational Plates

  The State of South Dakota issues emblem specialty license plates. Vehicle owners with emblem specialty license plates can choose to purchase State approved emblems from a large number of entities to display on the license plate. Click here for more information about organizational plates. Click here for an approved sticker list.

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