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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 watercraft in South Dakota. If the watercraft was purchased from a seller that resides in a state that titles that type of watercraft, the title is required. 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.
  • 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.

You may pre-load your documents and get a quote on the state's 605Drive website. 
Below is a breakdown of the fees charged for title transfers:
  • Title Transfer Fee: $10.00
  • State Technology Fee: $2.00
  • Lienholder Notation Fee: $10.00 (if applicable)
  • Excise Tax: 3% (see below FAQ)
  • County Watercraft Fee: $3.00
  • Non-Resident Fee: $100.00 (if applicable)
  • Registration fees
    • In South Dakota registration fees for watercrafts are determine by the type and length of the watercraft. All watercraft with a motor attached (gas or electric) must be registered. Watercraft over 12 feet in length, with or without a motor, must be registered.
      • A non-motorized watercraft over 12 feet in length- $15.00 annual
      • A motorized watercraft under 19 feet in length- $25 annual
      • A motorized watercraft over 19 feet in length- $45 annual

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

You can obtain an estimate by pre-loading your documents on the state's portal: Home - my605Drive. 

*You will still need bring in\mail in all original paper documents and print the pre-application that is generated when pre-loading your documents. 

You may also call the Treasurer's Office at 605-394-2163 or send us an email through our Contact Us page. Please note that all quotes are based on the information you provide and are considered estimates.

Yes, you can request expedited service for a $25.00 administrative fee.
  • 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% 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

South Dakota Boating Handbooks are available at the Treasurer’s Office. These handbooks provide essential information for boaters, including:

  • Applicable boating laws in South Dakota.
  • Guidelines on how to display required boat numbers and registration decals.
  • Other important information for safe and lawful operation of watercraft on South Dakota waters.

For additional information beyond titling and registering a watercraft, please contact the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department, which can assist with questions on boating regulations and watercraft operation.

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

If the watercraft is brand new, instead of a certificate of title, you may have a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. If it was purchased from a seller that resides in a state that only registers that type of watercraft, the original paper registration or the properly assigned Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin is required.   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.

South Dakota requires boats over 12 feet long, or with a motor (gas or electric) to be titled and registered. A boat 12 feet and under, without a motor, is not titled or registered.

Canoes, kayaks, inflatables, sailboards and seaplanes that are under 12 feet long, and do not have a motor (gas or electric) are not titled or registered. If it is over 12 feet long, or if at any point a motor is attached, it must be registered.

No person may operate or give permission for operation of a nonmotorized boat over twelve feet in length or a motorboat on the waters of this state unless a registration validation decal is displayed on each side of the bow of the boat.

No person may operate or give permission for operation of a nonmotorized boat over eighteen feet in length or of a motorboat on the waters of this state unless the boat is numbered in accordance with this chapter and the identifying number set forth in the certificate of number is displayed on each side of the bow of the boat.

No person may operate or give permission for operation of a nonmotorized boat over twelve feet in length or a motorboat on the waters of this state unless a registration validation decal is displayed on each side of the bow of the boat. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

A completed purchase agreement or bill of sale is required for all title transfers and must include the watercraft information (year, make, model, complete HIN), 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/watercraft 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.

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

Section B: Fill in the watercraft information- full HIN, year, make, model, color, and boat type information

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

The South Dakota state statute for the Non-Resident fee went into effect on July 1st, 2024. The fee is $100.00 per title transfer for those who do not have a valid South Dakota driver's license or ID, or a physical address in South Dakota.
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 3% excise tax on most watercraft 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 watercraft 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 HIN 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 watercraft 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 an affidavit of value may be required (Form 1012)

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.

If the watercraft is transferred without consideration (no money exchanged) between spouses, between a parent and a child, or between siblings the watercraft is exempt from tax. Otherwise excise tax will be figured on the NADA clean retail value or affidavit of value if a NADA value cannot be obtained.

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 watercraft. 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 watercraft is titled or registered 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, a watercraft 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.

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 watercraft 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.