Title to a car is the official record and proof of ownership of the car. Transferring the title to a car is necessary when a seller sells the car to a buyer—or when divorcing spouses are transferring the title from both spouses to one spouse. Your state’s department of motor vehicles will usually make the forms necessary to transfer the title/change vehicle ownership available on its website—with some additional information to guide you through the process.
In South Dakota, the title to a car is a legal document that establishes a person or entity as the legal owner of the vehicle. When a car is sold, given as a gift, inherited, or if there is a change in ownership due to divorce, the title must be transferred to the new owner. The process of transferring a car title in South Dakota is overseen by the South Dakota Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To transfer a title, the seller must complete the seller's section on the title certificate, including the odometer reading if the car is less than ten years old. The buyer must then submit the completed title, along with a bill of sale and payment for the title transfer fee, to the DMV. If the title transfer is due to divorce, the process may involve additional legal steps, such as a court order or agreement that specifies the transfer of the vehicle. The South Dakota DMV provides forms and detailed instructions for title transfers on its website.