Moving to Sioux Falls? A Car Guide for New Residents

Step 1: Title and register your car with the county treasurer

The South Dakota Department of Revenue says new arrivals have 90 days from their date of arrival to title and license a vehicle (SD DOR, Motor Vehicle). State law also treats anyone present in South Dakota for more than 90 days as a resident for vehicle registration (SDCL 32-5-47).

You title and register at the treasurer's office for the county where you live. Sioux Falls addresses fall in Minnehaha County or Lincoln County, so check your property or lease paperwork if you're not sure.

• Minnehaha County Treasurer: 415 N Dakota Ave, Sioux Falls, (605) 367-4211. Minnehaha only processes titles for Minnehaha County addresses.
• Lincoln County Treasurer: 104 N Main St, Suite 100, Canton, (605) 764-5701.

Contact details are from the state's county treasurer directory and the Minnehaha County title page.

For a vehicle coming from another state, the Department of Revenue lists your original out-of-state title, a copy of your driver license and your Social Security number, along with the state's title and registration application, Form 1001. Minnehaha County asks for a South Dakota driver license or valid passport, or a valid out-of-state driver license, for each owner. If a lender holds your title, call your treasurer before you go and ask how they want to handle it.

The title fee is $10, and plate fees are based on the vehicle's weight and year (SD DOR, Cars, Trucks and Vans). The Department of Revenue's title and registration steps for a typical car don't include a safety or emissions inspection; rebuilt vehicles are the exception (SD DOR, Motor Vehicle).

Step 2: Will you owe South Dakota's 4% excise tax?

South Dakota charges a 4% excise tax on the purchase price of a vehicle registered here, in place of sales tax (SDCL 32-5B-1). For a car you already own, the state looks at what you paid before.

The Department of Revenue says that if you titled and licensed the vehicle in another state, you get reciprocity. If your old state's tax rate is above South Dakota's, you won't pay additional tax. If you came from a state with no tax or a lower rate, you pay the difference to reach 4%.

Bring proof. State law says the treasurer will ask for a dealer affidavit, bill of sale, receipt or other proof that tax was paid. Without it, the treasurer collects the 4% tax on the vehicle's retail value from a national pricing guide, as of the day it entered the state (SDCL 32-5B-11).

Moving from a neighboring state? As of November 2026, Minnesota's vehicle tax is 6.875%, Iowa's fee for new registration is 5% plus $10, and Nebraska's state rate is 5.5%. All are above 4%, but the treasurer makes the final call on your paperwork.

Dig out the paperwork from when you bought the car before you go to the treasurer. A purchase agreement or old registration that shows the tax you paid can make the excise question a quick one.

Karigan Zietz, Title Clerk

Step 3: Get your South Dakota driver license

South Dakota considers anyone who has lived here for 90 days a resident for driver licensing (SDCL 32-12-26.1). New residents apply in person at a state driver exam station, by appointment or as a walk-in, according to the Department of Public Safety's required documents page (SD Department of Public Safety).

What DPS asks transfers from another state to bring:

• A completed application with your original signature.
• Proof of lawful status, such as a state-certified U.S. birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport. Originals only, no photocopies.
• If your current license has no gold star in the upper corner, your Social Security card or a W-2, 1099 or pay stub showing your full number.
• Two documents with your name and physical address, such as a utility bill, pay stub, rent receipt or bank statement (SDCL 32-12-3.5).

You turn in your out-of-state license when you apply, and if it has expired you take the knowledge test (SDCL 32-12-18). The fee for an original license is $38 (SDCL 32-12-16).

Step 4: Insurance that meets South Dakota law

Every driver or owner must keep proof of financial responsibility on the vehicle at all times, and most people do that with an insurance policy (SDCL 32-35-113). The policy must cover at least $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injuries in one accident and $25,000 for property damage (SDCL 32-35-70).

South Dakota policies must also include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at limits equal to your bodily injury coverage (SDCL 58-11-9, SDCL 58-11-9.4). These are minimums. Ask your agent whether higher limits make sense for you, and update your policy to your South Dakota address.

What car do you need for a Sioux Falls winter?

Sioux Falls winters bring snow, ice, wind and road salt. Rather than repeat it here, we cover drive types and tires in AWD vs. 4WD vs. FWD: What You Actually Need in South Dakota, and our techs' list of what to carry and check is in the Winter-Ready Checklist.

Before your first winter, check road conditions on SD511 when storms roll in. If the car you moved with needs help, our service center mounts winter tires and installs block heaters. Book service online any time, or call service at (605) 250-7474, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Buying a car after you move

If you buy a vehicle once you live here, South Dakota residents have 45 days from the purchase date to title it (Minnehaha County Treasurer). After that, the state charges $1 a week, up to $50, and adds interest and penalties on the excise tax (SD DOR).

Prices exclude tax, title, license and a $259 documentation fee. If you're replacing the car you moved with, you can value your trade online, and you can apply for financing before you visit.

A new address and a new job are a normal part of a car loan application. Apply online first, and we'll tell you what the lender wants to see so there are no surprises.

Kevin Marlow, Finance Director