South Dakota Vehicle Registration: County Wheel Tax (2026)
South Dakota's 4% excise and weight-based registration are statewide — but 51 of 66 counties add a wheel tax(up to $5/wheel, $60/vehicle). On a 4-wheel car that's $8 to $60 depending on the county. Find your county below.
Wheel-tax rates verified July 2026 from the SD DOR county wheel-tax table (SDCL 32-5A-1). Car figure is a standard 4-wheel vehicle.
| County (seat) | Per wheel / cap | Wheel tax on a car |
|---|---|---|
| Minnehaha (Sioux Falls) | $4/wheel, $60 cap | $16 |
| Pennington (Rapid City) | $5/wheel, $60 cap | $20 |
| Lincoln (Canton) | $5/wheel, $60 cap | $20 |
| Brown (Aberdeen) | $4/wheel, $16 cap | $16 |
| Brookings (Brookings) | $4/wheel, $20 cap | $16 |
| Codington (Watertown) | $2/wheel, $8 cap | $8 |
| Meade (Sturgis) | $5/wheel, $60 cap | $20 |
| Lawrence (Deadwood) | $2/wheel, $8 cap | $8 |
| Yankton (Yankton) | $5/wheel, $60 cap | $20 |
| Davison (Mitchell) | $5/wheel, $60 cap | $20 |
| Hughes (Pierre) | $2/wheel, $60 cap | $8 |
| Beadle (Huron) | $2/wheel, $8 cap | $8 |
| Union (Elk Point) | $4/wheel, $48 cap | $16 |
| Clay (Vermillion) | $4/wheel, $16 cap | $16 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the South Dakota county wheel tax?
A tax counties may levy on each wheel of a registered vehicle (SDCL 32-5A-1), up to $5 per wheel and $60 per vehicle. 51 of the state's 66 counties charge it; the per-wheel rate and cap are set by each county's ordinance, so a 4-wheel car pays anywhere from $8 to $60 depending on the county.
Does South Dakota vehicle cost vary by county?
The 4% motor-vehicle excise tax at purchase and the weight/age-based registration fee are the same statewide. What varies is the county wheel tax — that's the county-specific line item.
Which South Dakota counties have no wheel tax?
Fifteen of the 66 counties charge no wheel tax at all. In those counties you pay only the statewide registration fee and excise tax.
How much is the wheel tax on a car?
For a standard 4-wheel car it's 4 × the county's per-wheel rate, capped at the county's per-vehicle maximum. For example, a $4/wheel county with a $16 cap charges $16; a $2/wheel county with an $8 cap charges $8.