To title an imported vehicle, the following documents are required:

  • US CBP-7501 (or another acceptable Entry Summary) to confirm customs clearance.
  • NHTSA HS-7 DOT Declaration of Conformity
  • Completed EPA Form 3520
  • Proof of weight for vehicles and trailers, which may be a weight ticket.
  • Proof of ownership (see the next question for details).

    • The person taking title must be listed as the Importer of Record.

      You will need the foreign document of ownership. Depending on the country that the vehicle is coming from this might be your registration.

      For a brand-new purchase that has not yet been registered in the applicant’s name overseas the original Manufacturers Certificate of Origin will be required.

      With proof of ownership, we are happy to assist you with a ONE time temporary permit payable by cash only at $1.00 per day- minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 15 days should you need the additional time to retrieve your correct documents.

  • South Dakota Motor Vehicle and Boat Title Application (MV-1001).
  • Current odometer reading if the vehicle is less than 20 years old.
  • Bill of sale or purchase agreement containing the VIN, sale date, sale price, buyer’s name, and seller’s signature.

For non-conforming vehicles (those held until they meet U.S. safety standards), you will need:

  • A Bond Release letter from NHTSA confirming the vehicle’s conformity.
  • If a Bond Release letter is unavailable, submit a NHTSA Statement of Conformity and a Certificate of Fact from the importer, attesting that NHTSA guidelines were followed within a 30-day period.

Yes, vehicles imported from Canada require:

  • A Canadian Carfax report verifying lien status.
  • For non-motorized or off-road/ATV vehicles, a signed letter from the Canadian province stating that no lien exists.

The excise tax is assessed on:

  • The purchase price on the bill of sale if purchased within the past six months.
  • The current NADA book value if purchased more than six months ago. If no NADA book value is available, the purchase price will be used.
  • If the vehicle has previously been titled or registered in the U.S. by the applicant, proof of tax paid in another U.S. state may be submitted for tax reciprocity.

Note: There are currently no military exemptions to the excise tax in South Dakota.

Registration fees are prorated from the date of title transfer to the owner’s annual renewal month. If the transfer occurs within 90 days of the renewal month, fees will be calculated through to the following year. Renewal months are determined by the first letter of the owner’s last name or the first letter of the company name.

For more details on registration costs, please refer to the registration FAQ section.

Note: There are no active-duty military discounts for vehicle registration in South Dakota.

Yes, mail-in processing is available. Please note the following:

  • Documents are processed in the order received; allow up to two weeks for processing.
  • Additional documents submitted by mail will follow the normal process unless expedited arrangements are requested.
  • Include valid contact information, as a $3.00 long-distance call fee may apply if follow-up is needed.
  • A $25.00 administrative fee and a postage/handling fee of $7.50 per set of plates and registration or $1.50 for registration only will apply.

Please send documents to:

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

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% 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