South Dakota: titling an imported car
South Dakota's May 2025 dealer manual says imports must clear Customs and lists the paperwork for conforming and non-conforming vehicles.
Sources checked 2026-10-17. Not legal advice; rules change.
At a glance
- Import ease (where verified): Process documented; 25-year treatment not stated in the sources read. Dealer manual lists CBP 7501, HS-7 and EPA 3520 papers; the 25-year exemption is not addressed.
- Kei / mini-truck: No kei or mini-truck rule found in the sources read. No kei or mini-truck rule found in the official pages read.
What the official sources say
- South Dakota DOR Dealer Manual (May 2025), 'Imported vehicles': vehicles must pass through a port of entry and be cleared by U.S. Customs. For Customs clearance you need the original bill of lading, bill of sale, foreign registration documents, any other vehicle documents, and a completed EPA Form 3520 or an English manufacturer's label on the vehicle stating it meets all U.S. emission requirements.
Source: South Dakota DOR Dealer Manual, pp. 30-31 - Same manual: a conforming vehicle (with a manufacturer's label) needs US CBP-7501 (or other acceptable entry summary), the NHTSA HS-7 declaration of conformity and supporting documents (bill of sale, title, odometer, etc.); a non-conforming vehicle is held until it meets safety standards and needs the 3520 form, 7501, HS-7 and supporting documents, and without a bond release letter also an NHTSA statement of conformity and an importer's Certificate of Fact with a 30-day period; Canadian vehicles need a Lien Quest.
Source: South Dakota DOR Dealer Manual, pp. 30-31
Not verified (do not rely on ImportClock for these)
- The source is a dealer manual; no individual-importer page was found, and it does not mention the 25-year exemption or kei vehicles.
- Fees and taxes for imports were not verified.