Vehicle registration plates of South Dakota

The U.S. state of South Dakota first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1913, when the state began to issue plates.[2]

South Dakota
Current series
SloganGreat Faces. Great Places.
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial format1A1 234
1AB 123
10A 123
10A B12
44A BC1
(county-coded)
IntroducedJanuary 2016 (2016-01)
Availability
Issued bySouth Dakota Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division
History
First issuedJuly 4, 1913 (1913-07-04)[1]
(pre-state plates from 1905 to June 1913)

Plates are currently issued by the South Dakota Department of Revenue through its Motor Vehicle Division. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

1913 to 1975

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[3] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first South Dakota license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1913 Embossed black on white; vertical "SD" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 14100
1914 Embossed white on red; vertical "SD" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 20800
1915 Embossed yellow on black; vertical "SD" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 28700
1916 Embossed light green on black; "SD 1916" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 43000 First dated plate.
1917 Embossed beige on brown; vertical "SD" and "1917" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 67000
1918 Embossed brown on beige; vertical "SD" and "1918" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 84000
1919 Embossed silver on olive green with border line; vertical "SD" and "1919" at left and right respectively none 123456 1 to approximately 105000
1920 Embossed maroon on cream with border line; vertical "SD" and "20" at left and right respectively none 123456 30000 to approximately 139000 Serials below 30000 reserved for motorcycles and trucks. This practice continued through 1923.
1921 Embossed white on green; lines at top and bottom borders; vertical "SD" and "21" at left and right respectively none 123456 30000 to approximately 154000
1922 Embossed white on dark blue; lines at top and bottom borders; vertical "SD" and "22" at left and right respectively none 123456 30000 to approximately 150000
1923 Embossed black on gray with border line; vertical "SD" and "23" at left and right respectively none 123-456 30-000 to approximately 153-000
1924 Embossed silver on black with border line; vertical "SD" and "24" at left and right respectively none 123-456 20-000 to approximately 151-000 Serials below 20-000 reserved for motorcycles and trucks.
1925 Embossed black on tan with border line; vertical "25" and "SD" at left and right respectively none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First use of county codes.
1926 Embossed black on silver with border line; vertical "SD" and "26" at left and right respectively none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1927 Embossed black on turquoise with border line; vertical "27" and "SD" at left and right respectively none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1928 Embossed white on red with border line; vertical "SD" and "28" at left and right respectively none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1929 Embossed white on green with border line; vertical "29" and "SD" at left and right respectively none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1930 Embossed black on yellow with border line; vertical "SD" and "30" at left and right respectively none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1931 Embossed black on white with border line; vertical "31" and "SD" at left and right respectively none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1932 Embossed yellow on black with border line; vertical "SD" and "32" at left and right respectively none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1933 Embossed black on yellow with border line; "S. DAK. 1933" at bottom none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1934 Embossed yellow on black with border line; "S. DAK. 1934" at bottom none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1935 Embossed black on yellow with border line; "S. DAK. 1935" at top none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1936 Embossed white on brick red with border line; "S. DAK. 1936" at top none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1937 Embossed red on white with border line; "S. DAK. 1937" at bottom none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1938 Embossed white on blue with border line; "S. DAK. 1938" at bottom none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1939 Embossed blue on white; "SD" at bottom left and "39" at bottom right "RUSHMORE MEMORIAL" at bottom center 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1940 Embossed black on golden yellow; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1940" at top none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First use of the full state name.
1941 Embossed golden yellow on black; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1941" at bottom none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1942–44 Embossed black on golden yellow; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1942" at top none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, and for 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1945 Embossed green on white with border line; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1945" at bottom none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1946 Embossed white on black with border line; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1946" at top none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1947 Embossed black on unpainted aluminum with border line; "1947 SOUTH DAKOTA" at top none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1948 Embossed red on unpainted aluminum with border line; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1948" at top none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1949 Embossed blue on waffle-textured unpainted aluminum with border line; "1949 SOUTH DAKOTA" at top none 1-1234
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1950 Embossed black on orange with border line; "SOUTH DAKOTA '50" at top none 1-1234
1-A123
10-123
10-A12
10-1A2
10-12A		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1951 Embossed orange on black with border line; "'51 SOUTH DAKOTA" at top none 1-1234
1-A123
10-123
10-A12
10-1A2
10-12A		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1952 Embossed maroon on beige with border line; "S.DAK", Mount Rushmore decal and "1952" at top none 1-1234
1-A123
10-123
10-A12
10-1A2
10-12A		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First base to feature a graphic of Mount Rushmore in any form.
1953 Embossed beige on maroon with border line; "1953", Mount Rushmore decal and "S.DAK" at top none 1-1234
1-A123
10-1234
10-A123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1954 Embossed black on white with border line; "S.DAK.", Mount Rushmore decal and "1954" at top none 1-1234
1-A123
10-1234
10-A123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1955 Embossed white on green with border line; "1955", Mount Rushmore decal and "S.DAK" at top none 1-1234
1-A123
10-1234
10-A123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1956 Embossed green on beige with border line; "S.DAK.", Mount Rushmore decal and "1956" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First 6" x 12" plate.
1957–59 Embossed black on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "57" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1958 with maroon tabs, and for 1959 with red tabs.
1960 Embossed black on reflective tan with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "60" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1961 Embossed green on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "61" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1962 Embossed black on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "62" at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1963 Embossed red on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "63" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1964 Embossed dark blue on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "64" at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1965 Embossed green on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "65" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1966 Embossed dark blue on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "66" at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1967 Embossed maroon on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "67" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1968 Embossed light blue on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "68" at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1969 Embossed orange on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "69" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1970 Embossed dark blue on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "70" at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1971 Embossed green on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "71" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1972 Embossed black on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "72" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1973 Embossed red on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "73" at top none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1974 Embossed blue on reflective white with screened red and black Mount Rushmore graphic at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First screened graphic license plate in the United States. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1974 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time South Dakota was so honored.
Embossed blue on reflective white with stamped Mount Rushmore graphic at bottom none Issued in counties that had exhausted their supplies of screened graphic plates.
1975 Embossed red on reflective white with screened light blue and black Mount Rushmore graphic at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)

1976 to present
Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1976–80 Embossed blue on reflective white with screened blue and white Mount Rushmore graphic and three red stripes at top none AB:1234 Coded by county of issuance (AB)
1981–86 Embossed red on reflective white with screened dark blue Mount Rushmore graphic at bottom right; county name on sticker at top none ABC:123 AAA:001 to BRP:599; CAB:001 to approximately KAS:888
(see right)		 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1981 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time South Dakota was so honored. Letter Q not used in serials; all three-letter combinations from 1983 onwards were consonant-vowel-consonant.[4]
1987–90 Embossed red on reflective white with screened blue Mount Rushmore graphic at bottom right Celebrate the Century (optional) 1AB 123
10A 123		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Commemorated South Dakota's 100 years of statehood. Numeric county codes reintroduced. Letters I, O and Q not used in serials; this practice continues today.[4]
1990–95 Embossed green on reflective gradient gold and white with Mount Rushmore graphic at top right Great Faces. Great Places. 1A 1234
10 A123
10 AB12		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1996 – December 1999 Embossed green on reflective white with large gold Mount Rushmore graphic in background Great Faces. Great Places. 1A12345
10A1234		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
January 2000[5] – late 2003 Embossed blue on reflective red, white and blue with blue Mount Rushmore graphic at bottom none 1AB 123
10A 123
10A B12		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
late 2003 – December 2005 As above, but with serial screened
January 2006 – December 2015 Screened dark blue on reflective full-color Mount Rushmore graphic Great Faces. Great Places. 1AB 123
1AB C12
10A 123
10A B12
10A BC1		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2006 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the third time South Dakota was so honored. Serials in each county continued from where the 2000 base left off.
January 2016 – present Screened dark blue on reflective beige Mount Rushmore graphic[6] Great Faces. Great Places. 1A1 234
1AB 123
10A 123
10A B12
44A BC1		 Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)

Non-passenger plates

2006 to present
Image Type Design Slogan Serial format Notes
City Government Modified blue Mount Rushmore base. none CTY1234
Commercial Modified blue Mount Rushmore base. none 12345 A
County Government Modified blue Mount Rushmore base. none CO 1234
CO12345
Fire Department Modified blue Mount Rushmore base. none FD 1234
School Modified blue Mount Rushmore base. none S 1234
Oglala Sioux Tribe government Modified blue Mount Rushmore base. none OST 123
OST1234
State Government Modified blue Mount Rushmore base. none AB123 State seal at left, state flag bottom right corner.

Optional plates
Image Type Design Slogan Serial format Notes
Veteran Modified blue Mount Rushmore base. VETERAN 1234A Logo for branch of service at left.

County coding
County 1925–55 1956–75, 1987–present 1976–80
Minnehaha 1 1 MA, ME, MH, MN, MO, MX, MZ
Pennington 51 2 PA, PB, PE, PG, PN, PX, PY, PZ
Brown 7 3 BN, BR, BW
Beadle 3 4 BD, BE
Codington 15 5 CD, CT
Brookings 6 6 BG, BK
Yankton 63 7 YA, YN
Davison 18 8 DN, DV
Lawrence 41 9 LA, LW
Aurora 2 10 AU
Bennett 4 11 BT
Bon Homme 5 12 BH
Brule 8 13 BL
Buffalo 9 14 BF
Butte 10 15 BU
Campbell 11 16 CA
Charles Mix 12 17 CM
Clark 13 18 CK
Clay 14 19 CL
Corson 16 20 CN
Custer 17 21 CU
Day 19 22 DA
Deuel 20 23 DU
Dewey 21 24 DW
Douglas 22 25 DG
Edmunds 23 26 ED
Fall River 24 27 FR
Faulk 25 28 FA
Grant 26 29 GT
Gregory 27 30 GY
Haakon 28 31 HK
Hamlin 29 32 HN
Hand 30 33 HD
Hanson 31 34 HS
Harding 32 35 HR
Hughes 33 36 HU
Hutchinson 34 37 HT
Hyde 35 38 HY
Jackson 36 39 JA
Jerauld 37 40 JE
Jones 38 41 JN
Kingsbury 39 42 KG
Lake 40 43 LK
Lincoln 42 44 LN
Lyman 43 45 LY
McCook 44 46 MC
McPherson 45 47 MP
Marshall 46 48 ML
Meade 47 49 MD
Mellette 48 50 MT
Miner 49 51 MR
Moody 50 52 MY
Perkins 52 53 PK
Potter 53 54 PT
Roberts 54 55 RB
Sanborn 55 56 SA
Spink 56 57 SP
Stanley 57 58 ST
Sully 58 59 SU
Tripp 59 60 TR
Turner 60 61 TU
Union 61 62 UN
Walworth 62 63 WL
Ziebach 64 64 ZB
Shannon /
Oglala Lakota		 – 65 SN
Washabaugh
(until 1983)		 – 66 WB
Todd – 67 TD

References
  1. "Local News Notes". The Mitchell Capital. Mitchell, SD. July 10, 1913. p. 4. County Treasurer Rogers reports that to date, 340 autos have been registered under the new law which went into effect July 4th....
  2. "Old South Dakota License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  3. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  4. Tanner, Eric N. "South Dakota Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  5. "Inmate Made License Plates To Debut in January" (PDF). South Dakota Department of Corrections. December 13, 1999. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  6. "Some South Dakotans not happy with new license plate design". Rapid City Journal. March 8, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
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