Clay County, SD Vehicle Registration & Wheel Tax (2026)
In Clay County (Vermillion), you pay South Dakota's statewide registration (a weight- and age-based fee) and 4% excise tax at purchase, plus a county wheel tax of $4 per wheel — about $16 on a standard 4-wheel car (capped at $16). The wheel tax is the county-specific piece; everything else is uniform statewide.
Verified July 2026 from official sources. How we verify fees.
What you'll pay in Clay County
- County wheel tax: $4/wheel (cap $16) = $16 on a car
- Excise tax at purchase: 4% (statewide)
- Registration fee: weight & age based (statewide)
- Reduced 10% for vehicles over 10 model years old (statewide)
How the wheel tax works
South Dakota lets each county levy a wheel tax under SDCL 32-5A-1, up to $5 per wheel and $60 per vehicle. Clay County charges $4 per wheel with a $$16 cap, so a standard 4-wheel car pays $the $16 cap. It's collected by the county treasurer with your registration. The 4% excise tax and the weight/age registration fee are the same in every county. Estimate the purchase cost on our South Dakota title & tax page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the wheel tax in Clay County, SD?
$4 per wheel with a $16 per-vehicle cap, so a standard 4-wheel car pays $16. It's added to your registration by the county treasurer.
What else does vehicle registration cost in Clay County?
The statewide pieces: a 4% motor-vehicle excise tax at purchase and a weight- and age-based registration fee (reduced 10% once a vehicle is over 10 model years old). Those don't vary by county — only the wheel tax does.
Is there a sales tax on cars in Clay County?
South Dakota charges a 4% motor-vehicle excise tax in place of the general sales tax on vehicles — the same statewide.