DocDraft Logo

South Dakota Vehicle Bill of Sale

South Dakota's DOR Bill of Sale Form 1025 sets the price for the 4% vehicle excise tax.

Introduction

A South Dakota vehicle bill of sale records a private-party car sale, the parties, the vehicle, the price, and the as-is terms. South Dakota publishes an official named form for this, the Bill of Sale Form 1025, issued by the Department of Revenue (DOR), Motor Vehicle Division. You print the completed form and submit it with your title paperwork to your local county treasurer's office, which handles titling and registration under DOR oversight. A bill of sale listing the applicant as purchaser is one of the accepted bases for the title application, so the form is effectively required. The detail that sets South Dakota apart is the tax. Under SDCL 32-5B-4, the purchaser and seller submit the bill of sale to the county treasurer to establish the taxable purchase price for the 4% motor vehicle excise tax, and if no bill of sale is submitted the tax is assessed on the retail value stated in a nationally recognized dealers' guide instead. The figure on Form 1025 therefore drives what you owe. The bill of sale itself is not notarized, and Form 1025 contains no notary block. Title must be transferred within 45 days of purchase. DocDraft drafts a South Dakota vehicle bill of sale from your facts, attorney review available.

0/5000

Key Things to Know

  1. 1

    South Dakota publishes an official named form, the Bill of Sale Form 1025, issued by the Department of Revenue (DOR), Motor Vehicle Division. You print the completed form and submit it with your title paperwork to the applicable county treasurer's office. A separate Odometer Disclosure Form 1021 is also published by the DOR for the mileage statement.

  2. 2

    A South Dakota vehicle bill of sale does not need to be notarized. The official Form 1025 contains no notary or acknowledgment block, and no DOR or statute source states a notarization requirement for the bill of sale. The bill of sale itself is not notarized; check SDCL 32-3 for any title-signature (certificate-of-title assignment) rules that may apply to the title itself.

  3. 3

    Odometer disclosure follows the federal baseline under 49 CFR 580. South Dakota handles it on a separate Odometer Disclosure Form 1021, published by the DOR Motor Vehicle Division, rather than integrating it into the Bill of Sale Form 1025. Complete Form 1021 alongside the bill of sale.

  4. 4

    South Dakota levies a 4% motor vehicle excise tax on the purchase price of the vehicle. The bill of sale establishes that purchase price for the county treasurer, so the 4% rate applies to the figure written on Form 1025 when you title and register.

  5. 5

    Titling and registration are handled through your local county treasurer's office, under DOR Motor Vehicle Division oversight, not a central state DMV. Title must be transferred within 45 days of the date of purchase, with penalty and interest after the deadline.

  6. 6

    A bill of sale is effectively required for a private-party transfer. A bill of sale listing the applicant as purchaser is one of the accepted bases for the title application, and SDCL 32-5B-4 requires the purchaser and seller to submit a bill of sale to the county treasurer to establish the taxable purchase price.

  7. 7

    The standout South Dakota rule is that the bill of sale is tax-determinative. Under SDCL 32-5B-4, if no bill of sale is submitted to the county treasurer, the 4% excise tax is assessed on the retail value stated in a nationally recognized dealers' guide instead of on the actual price paid, which is typically higher.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Bill of Sale in South Dakota, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Bill of Sale guide walks through them.

Open the Bill of Sale guide

Customize your Bill of Sale Template with DocDraft

SOUTH DAKOTA VEHICLE BILL OF SALE (Form 1025)

South Dakota Department of Revenue Bill of Sale Form 1025, issued by the DOR Motor Vehicle Division. Print the completed form and submit it with your title paperwork to the applicable county treasurer's office. A bill of sale listing the applicant as purchaser is an accepted basis for the title application.

SELLER Name: [SELLER NAME] Address: [SELLER ADDRESS]

BUYER (PURCHASER) Name: [BUYER NAME] Address: [BUYER ADDRESS]

VEHICLE VIN: [VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER] Year: [YEAR] Make: [MAKE] Model: [MODEL] Body Style: [BODY STYLE] Color: [COLOR] License Plate (if any): [PLATE]

SALE PRICE The Seller sells the vehicle to the Buyer for $[SALE PRICE], receipt of which is acknowledged. Note: Under SDCL 32-5B-4, the purchaser and seller submit this bill of sale to the county treasurer to establish the purchase price for South Dakota's 4% motor vehicle excise tax (SDCL 32-5B-1). If no bill of sale is submitted, the excise tax is assessed on the retail value stated in a nationally recognized dealers' guide instead. State the price accurately. Confirm the current rate with the DOR.

ODOMETER DISCLOSURE Federal law (49 CFR 580) requires the Seller to state the mileage at transfer. South Dakota handles the odometer disclosure on the separate DOR Odometer Disclosure Form 1021. Complete Form 1021 alongside this bill of sale. Odometer reading: [ODOMETER] miles.

AS-IS Unless a written warranty is attached, the Seller sells this vehicle AS-IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY of any kind, and the Buyer accepts it in its present condition.

DATE OF SALE: [DATE]

SIGNATURES Printed Name of Seller: [SELLER NAME] Signature of Seller: ______________________________ Date: __________

Printed Name of Buyer: [BUYER NAME] Signature of Buyer: ______________________________ Date: __________

The Buyer should title and register the vehicle within 45 days of purchase through the local county treasurer's office, submitting this bill of sale and the Odometer Disclosure Form 1021 with the title paperwork.

South Dakota Requirements for Bill of Sale

Official Bill of Sale Form 1025

South Dakota publishes the Bill of Sale Form 1025, issued by the Department of Revenue (DOR), Motor Vehicle Division. You print the completed form and submit it with your title paperwork to the applicable county treasurer's office. A bill of sale listing the applicant as purchaser is an accepted basis for the title application, so the form is effectively required for a private-party transfer.

No Notarization Required

A South Dakota vehicle bill of sale does not need to be notarized. The official Form 1025 contains no notary or acknowledgment block, and no DOR or statute source states a notarization requirement for the bill of sale. The bill of sale itself is not notarized; check SDCL 32-3 for any certificate-of-title assignment signature rules that may apply to the title document itself.

Vehicle Description and Parties

Identify the vehicle by VIN, year, make, model, body style, and color, and identify the seller and buyer (purchaser) by name and address, with the sale price and the date of sale recorded on Form 1025.

Odometer Disclosure on Form 1021

Odometer disclosure follows the federal baseline under 49 CFR 580 and is handled on a separate DOR Odometer Disclosure Form 1021, not integrated into the Bill of Sale Form 1025. Complete Form 1021 alongside the bill of sale and submit it with your title paperwork to the county treasurer.

4% Motor Vehicle Excise Tax on the Price

South Dakota levies a 4% motor vehicle excise tax on the purchase price of the vehicle under SDCL 32-5B-1. The bill of sale establishes that purchase price for the county treasurer under SDCL 32-5B-4, so the 4% rate applies to the figure written on Form 1025. Confirm the current rate with the DOR.

The Bill of Sale Sets the Tax Basis

Under SDCL 32-5B-4, the purchaser and seller submit the bill of sale to the county treasurer to establish the taxable purchase price. If no bill of sale is submitted, the 4% excise tax is assessed on the retail value stated in a nationally recognized dealers' guide instead of on the actual price paid, which is typically higher. State the price accurately on Form 1025.

Title Within 45 Days at the County Treasurer

Titling and registration are handled through your local county treasurer's office, under DOR Motor Vehicle Division oversight, not a central state DMV. Title must be transferred within 45 days of the date of purchase, with penalty and interest after the deadline.

Documents to Bring to the County Treasurer

Bring the completed Bill of Sale Form 1025, the Odometer Disclosure Form 1021, and your title paperwork to the county treasurer, and pay the 4% motor vehicle excise tax computed on the stated purchase price. Keep a copy of the bill of sale as supporting documentation of the price and the as-is terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, effectively. A bill of sale listing the buyer as purchaser is one of the accepted bases for the title application to the county treasurer, and under SDCL 32-5B-4 the purchaser and seller must submit a bill of sale to establish the taxable purchase price. Without it, the 4% motor vehicle excise tax is assessed on the dealer-guide retail value instead. South Dakota publishes the Bill of Sale Form 1025 for this purpose.

No. A South Dakota vehicle bill of sale does not need to be notarized. The official DOR Bill of Sale Form 1025 contains no notary or acknowledgment block, and no DOR or statute source states a notarization requirement for the bill of sale. The bill of sale itself is not notarized; check SDCL 32-3 for any certificate-of-title signature rules that may apply to the title document.

Yes. South Dakota publishes the Bill of Sale Form 1025, issued by the Department of Revenue (DOR), Motor Vehicle Division. You print the completed form and submit it with your title paperwork to the applicable county treasurer's office. A separate Odometer Disclosure Form 1021 is also published for the mileage statement. A bill of sale listing the applicant as purchaser is an accepted basis for the title application.

South Dakota levies a 4% motor vehicle excise tax on the purchase price of the vehicle under SDCL 32-5B-1. The purchase price is established by the bill of sale submitted to the county treasurer under SDCL 32-5B-4. If no bill of sale is submitted, the tax is assessed on the retail value stated in a nationally recognized dealers' guide instead. The figure on Form 1025 sets the basis. Confirm the current rate with the DOR.

You title and register a vehicle in South Dakota through your local county treasurer's office, under Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division oversight, within 45 days of the date of purchase. Bring the completed Bill of Sale Form 1025, the Odometer Disclosure Form 1021, and your title paperwork, and pay the 4% motor vehicle excise tax computed on the purchase price.

A South Dakota vehicle bill of sale should identify the seller and buyer, describe the vehicle by VIN, year, make, model, body style, and color, state the sale price, and include the date of sale and both signatures. Record the odometer reading on the separate Form 1021. The official Form 1025 is not notarized. State the price accurately, because the bill of sale establishes the purchase price for the 4% excise tax.