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# Fact brief: Does South Dakota require front license plates?
- URL: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/fact-brief-south-dakota-license-plates-front-rear-sd/
- Published: 2025-12-23T11:00:38.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-23T11:00:37.000Z
- Description: A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
- Author: Michael Klinski
- Tags: Fact briefs, #feature-5

## Yes.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/2025/01/WhiteFACT-BRIEF--500-x-200-px--2-1-1.png)

South Dakota is one of almost 30 states that requires front and back license plates on vehicles, though there are a couple of exceptions. 

Vehicles that are used for “occasional transportation, public displays, parades and related pleasure hobby activities” can use a rear-only plate. The plates cost $25 in addition to the normal registration cost. To qualify, drivers must provide their odometer reading at the time of registration and not exceed 7,500 miles in a year. 

Motorcycles are also only required to have one plate. 

Why use rear-only plates? Many owners don’t like how front plates take away from the aesthetic of their vehicles. But dual plates are touted as a way to assist law enforcement with crime. 

South Dakota offers more than a dozen different types of plates: construction, emblem, habitat conservation, Dignity sculpture, historical, amateur radio license, disabled person, firefighter, EMS, tribal, tribal veteran, veteran and several military plates.

*This fact brief responds to conversations such as* [*this one.*](https://www.reddit.com/r/SouthDakota/comments/1prmjf0/does%5Fhaving%5Fa%5Frear%5Fplate%5Fonly%5Factually%5Frequire/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

### **Source**

South Dakota Department of Revenue, [Personalized and Specialty Plates](https://dor.sd.gov/individuals/motor-vehicle/cars-trucks-vans/personalized-specialty-plates/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

South Dakota Department of Revenue, [License plate application](https://sddor.seamlessdocs.com/f/1304?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Lakota Times, [South Dakota specialty plates available July 1](https://www.lakotatimes.com/articles/south-dakota-specialty-plates-available-july-1/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

South Dakota laws, [32-5-98](https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/32-5-98?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Thompson Law Injury lawyers, [Which states require front license plates?](https://1800lionlaw.com/which-states-require-a-front-license-plate/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

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*This story was produced by *South Dakota News Watch*, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at* [*sdnewswatch.org*](http://sdnewswatch.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org) *and* [*sign up for an email*](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/email/) *to get stories when they're published. *Contact Michael Klinski* at michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org.*