South Dakota title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in South Dakota
The short answer
In South Dakota, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official South Dakota sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does South Dakota ask of sellers?
In South Dakota, a replacement title (form Form 1002) costs $10, and you file the Report of Sale (online portal or Seller - Report of Sale Form 1024) at the time of sale. Each card links to the official page it came from.
- After the sale
- Report of Sale (online portal or Seller - Report of Sale Form 1024), at the time of sale.
- Official source
- License plates
- South Dakota is a plate-with-owner state, so the seller keeps the plates and can transfer them to their next vehicle.
- Official source
What do you do if you have the title?
Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.
What if the title is lost or damaged?
South Dakota replacement titles come from the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles, using form Form 1002 (Duplicate Title Application), for a fee of $10. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in South Dakota.
For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.
What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?
If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles can tell you which estate papers South Dakota accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Report the sale to South Dakota (Report of Sale (online portal or Seller - Report of Sale Form 1024), at the time of sale), so tickets and tolls for the car stop coming to you.
- Plates: South Dakota is a plate-with-owner state, so the seller keeps the plates and can transfer them to their next vehicle.
- Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.
Title rules change, so confirm them with the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in South Dakota?
Usually not. In South Dakota you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in South Dakota when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in South Dakota?
Apply to the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles with form Form 1002 (Duplicate Title Application), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $10, according to the agency.
Can I sell a car in South Dakota with just a bill of sale?
A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.