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LicensePlates South Dakota

Replacement License Plate in South Dakota

What is a License Plate Replacement in South Dakota?

A replacement issues a license plate outside the annual renewal cycle when the original is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. The South Dakota Department of Revenue processes duplicates through local county treasurer offices, each with its own fee and affidavit requirement.

  • South Dakota is a two-plate state. Passenger vehicles have plates on the front and back; motorcycles have one (SDCL § 32-5-98). If only one plate is missing, the remaining plate must be surrendered when applying for a duplicate set.
  • The department issues duplicate plates that have the same number as the originals (SDCL § 32-5-99). Your number stays with you.
  • Replacement is not a renewal. The fee is fixed by law and separate from annual registration and weight-based license fees.

When Do You Need to Replace Your South Dakota License Plate?

The law requires immediate action after a plate is lost, damaged, or destroyed. There is no specific deadline for a damaged plate window, but the law expects prompt filing (SDCL § 32-5-99).

  • Lost or stolen plates require a mandatory police report. The department may not issue duplicates until the loss or theft is reported to law enforcement.
  • Plates that are physically damaged, destroyed, or rendered illegible are also subject to replacement. Driving without visible plates is a class 2 misdemeanor under SDCL § 32-5-98, punishable by a fine up to $500 or 30 days in jail (SDCL § 22-6-2).
  • New residents must register within 90 days of arriving in South Dakota (SD DOR Motor Vehicle page).
  • Changing plate type or vehicle class requires new plates through the standard registration process at the county treasurer’s office.

How to Get a Replacement License Plate in South Dakota

Before visiting the county office, prepare your current registration and photo ID. As per the police report rule mentioned in the section above, stolen or lost plates require a law enforcement report before the county can process a duplicate.

  • In person: Visit your local county treasurer’s office. Complete an affidavit for a duplicate plate or registration sticker. Surrender the remaining plate if only one is missing. Pay $10; the county issues replacement plates with the same number and current validation sticker.
  • By mail: Send the completed affidavit and payment (check or money order made out to your county treasurer) to your county treasurer’s office. Add $12 for mailing plates per set and $2.50 for a registration sticker. Allow approximately two weeks for processing.
  • South Dakota does not offer online replacements for lost, stolen, or damaged plates. The my605Drive portal handles renewals and duplicate titles but not duplicate plate requests.

Can You Replace South Dakota License Plate Online?

No. Replacing a duplicate plate requires an in-person visit or mailing an affidavit to your county treasurer’s office. The my605Drive portal covers registration renewals, new plate purchases, and duplicate titles, but not replacement of lost, stolen, or damaged plates.

There is one narrow exception: plates lost in the mail after initial purchase can be replaced free of charge through the Application for Replacement (Lost in Mail) form, submitted within 90 days of the issue date. This form does not cover plates lost or stolen after receipt.

For standard replacement, drivers must directly contact their county treasurer’s office. The mail-in package requires:

  • A completed affidavit for a duplicate plate or registration sticker
  • Payment by check or money order made out to the county treasurer, plus $12 for mailing plates

The county office is the sole channel for this transaction.

How Much is License Plate Replacement in South Dakota?

The base fee by law is straightforward, but mailing fees and a new technology fee add layers that increase the total beyond the base figure.

  • Standard duplicate plates cost $10 per set (SDCL § 32-5-99). Vehicles licensed under SDCL §§ 32-5-8, 32-5-9, and 32-5-9.1 pay $2 instead.
  • Personalized plates also have a duplicate fee of $10 (SDCL § 32-5-89.5). Specialty duplicates may require a new application for plate type and a $12 mailing and handling fee.
  • A $2 technology fee applies to qualifying transactions starting July 1, 2025 (SD DOR Title, Fees and Registration).
  • Mail orders add $12 per set of plates for mailing and $2.50 for a registration sticker.
  • Duplicate registration cards, if needed separately, cost $4 at the county treasurer’s office.
  • South Dakota does not have a statewide county surcharge on duplicate plate fees, although some counties charge a 2.5% credit card processing fee for card payments.

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