State guide
South Dakota
South Dakota's Department of Revenue has a dedicated abandoned-vehicles page that covers abandoned titles for removal agencies, unpaid repair-bill vehicles, and a separate landowner route for certain older vehicles acquired with property. Local reporting is often handled by city parking, code enforcement, or police pages rather than the state DMV.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- When a vehicle counts as abandoned
- South Dakota says an abandoned motor vehicle is any motor vehicle left on a public street or highway, or left on private property without the permission of the landowner or tenant.
- Removing one from private property
- A removal agency may not remove an abandoned vehicle from private property without written permission of the landowner or tenant.
- Getting title to an abandoned vehicle
- A removal agency can obtain an abandoned title after certified-mail notice and 30 days unclaimed; landowners may instead use mechanics-lien procedures or, for certain 11-year-old-plus vehicles acquired with property, apply for title with notice, affidavit, application, and fee.
- State agency
- South Dakota Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division; local county treasurer's office for filing
- Official forms or instructions
- Official page →
Official resources in South Dakota
Official state instructions on abandoned vehicle definitions, notice deadlines, title transfer to removal agencies, Form 1026, and landowner title situations.
Official DOR manual with added details on mechanics-lien procedures and landowner title documents.
Official DOR page covering bonded titles, county treasurer filing, and title application basics.
Official online Notice of Abandoned, Unpaid Repair Bill, or Auction Agency form.
Official Sioux Falls page with a city link to report abandoned vehicle concerns online.
Key facts for South Dakota
- South Dakota defines an abandoned motor vehicle as one left on a public street or highway, or on private property without the landowner's or tenant's permission.
- For abandoned-title eligibility, a removal agency must send certified-mail notice to the owner and any possible lienholder within 45 days of removal.
- If notice is not sent within 10 days after removal, storage may not be charged beyond the 10-day period until notice is mailed.
- Title transfers to the removal agency after 30 days from the date notice was sent if the owner fails to claim and remove the vehicle.
- A vehicle left on private property and not reclaimed by the owner is handled through mechanics-lien procedures unless towed by a removal agency.
- For a vehicle 11 years old or more acquired with purchased property, the landowner may apply for title with notice, affidavit of facts, title application, and fee.
City abandoned-vehicle reporting in South Dakota
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report an Abandoned Vehicle Minnehaha County | Sioux Falls | Not published* | Official Sioux Falls parking-violations page says residents can report abandoned vehicle concerns to the City online. |
| Abandoned Vehicles Minnehaha County | Sioux Falls | Not published* | Official Sioux Falls ordinance page for abandoned vehicles under Chapter 93. |
| Rapid City Police Department Pennington County | Rapid City | 605-394-4131 | Official Rapid City police page lists non-emergency dispatch for reporting non-emergency incidents. |
| Rapid City Code Enforcement Pennington County | Rapid City | Not published* | Official Rapid City page lists abandoned junk and vehicles and explains how to file a complaint. |
| How can I report an abandoned vehicle? Brown County | Aberdeen | (605) 626-7911 | Official Aberdeen FAQ says to call dispatch and an officer or patrolman will be sent to check the vehicle. |
| RequestTracker - Community Development Brown County | Aberdeen | Not published* | Official Aberdeen request portal for concerns related to code enforcement and building inspection. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If you are a landowner with a vehicle left on your land, first determine whether it was towed by a removal agency or whether mechanics-lien or land-purchase rules apply.
- Use Form 1026 for abandoned, storage, unpaid repair bill, or auction-agency notice situations.
- File title paperwork through your county treasurer's office, not directly with the state central office.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from South Dakota's population center, for comparison only):
- Sioux City Report - Abandoned Vehicle, Iowa · about 163 miles
- Sioux City Phone Directory - Abandoned Vehicles, Iowa · about 163 miles
- Report a Problem, Nebraska · about 215 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.South Dakota Department of Revenue - Abandoned Vehicles
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the South Dakota page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.