South Dakota Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale may be required for a private car sale in South Dakota, depending on the situation. The Department of Revenue states the seller should provide the purchaser a bill of sale in every sale, and a bill of sale listing the applicant as purchaser serves as ownership evidence for titling when the applicant does not hold a title in their name or one properly assigned to them.
Compiled from South Dakota DMV guidance — verify current rules with the state · 2026-07-07 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Conditional
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
Form 1025 - Bill of Sale
Official form: Form 1025 - Bill of Sale (Motor Vehicle/Boat; formerly MV-016) · Free printable South Dakota template →
What a South Dakota car bill of sale must include
- date of sale
- seller name and address
- buyer name and address
- vehicle description (year, make, model)
- VIN
- title number
- purchase price
- seller signature
South Dakota follows the federal rule (vehicles fewer than 20 model years old) with disclosure made on the title assignment or on the state's separate Odometer Disclosure Form 1021.
Before you sign: run the VIN
Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours. The $9.99 Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model, and the original window sticker where available, in about a minute. One-time, no subscription. Run the report →
FAQ
Do you need a bill of sale to sell a car privately in South Dakota?
Sometimes. The Department of Revenue states the seller should provide the purchaser a bill of sale in every sale, and a bill of sale listing the applicant as purchaser serves as ownership evidence for titling when the applicant does not hold a title in their name or one properly assigned to them.
Does a South Dakota car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. South Dakota does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official South Dakota bill of sale form?
Yes — Form 1025 - Bill of Sale (Motor Vehicle/Boat; formerly MV-016) (linked above). You can also use any document that contains the same information.
What should a South Dakota car bill of sale include?
At minimum: date of sale; seller name and address; buyer name and address; vehicle description (year, make, model); vin; title number. South Dakota follows the federal rule (vehicles fewer than 20 model years old) with disclosure made on the title assignment or on the state's separate Odometer Disclosure Form 1021.
What should I check before signing the South Dakota bill of sale?
Confirm the VIN on the document matches the dashboard and door-jamb VIN character-for-character, and check the vehicle's history first: the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model and the original window sticker where available. Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours, so they're cheaper to find before you sign.
Sources: bill-of-sale, notarization, and odometer requirements from South Dakota DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above), with some details confirmed via official-domain search where the state site blocked direct access. Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "South Dakota Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/south-dakota, verified 2026-07-07.