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.
, plates are 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 Prestate ImageDates issuedDescriptionSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1905 to 1912 (prestate)Riveted metal numbers on black leather plate, "SD" riveted on right123451 to approximately 13500
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 in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first South Dakota license plate that complied with these standards. ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1913Embossed black on white; vertical "SD" at rightnone123451 to approximately 141001914Embossed white on red; vertical "SD" at rightnone123451 to approximately 208001915Embossed yellow on black; vertical "SD" at rightnone123451 to approximately 287001916Embossed light green on black; "SD 1916" at rightnone123451 to approximately 43000First dated plate.1917Embossed beige on brown; vertical "SD" and "1917" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 670001918Embossed brown on beige; vertical "SD" and "1918" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 840001919Embossed silver on olive green with border line; vertical "SD" and "1919" at left and right respectivelynone1234561 to approximately 1050001920Embossed maroon on cream with border line; vertical "SD" and "20" at left and right respectivelynone12345630000 to approximately 139000Serials below 30000 reserved for motorcycles and trucks. This practice continued through 1923.1921Embossed white on green; lines at top and bottom borders; vertical "SD" and "21" at left and right respectivelynone12345630000 to approximately 1540001922Embossed white on dark blue; lines at top and bottom borders; vertical "SD" and "22" at left and right respectivelynone12345630000 to approximately 1500001923Embossed black on gray with border line; vertical "SD" and "23" at left and right respectivelynone123-45630-000 to approximately 153-0001924Embossed silver on black with border line; vertical "SD" and "24" at left and right respectivelynone123-45620-000 to approximately 151-000Serials below 20-000 reserved for motorcycles and trucks.1925Embossed black on tan with border line; vertical "25" and "SD" at left and right respectivelynone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)First use of county codes.1926Embossed black on silver with border line; vertical "SD" and "26" at left and right respectivelynone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1927Embossed black on turquoise with border line; vertical "27" and "SD" at left and right respectivelynone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1928Embossed white on red with border line; vertical "SD" and "28" at left and right respectivelynone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1929Embossed white on green with border line; vertical "29" and "SD" at left and right respectivelynone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1930Embossed black on yellow with border line; vertical "SD" and "30" at left and right respectivelynone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1931Embossed black on white with border line; vertical "31" and "SD" at left and right respectivelynone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1932Embossed yellow on black with border line; vertical "SD" and "32" at left and right respectivelynone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1933Embossed black on yellow with border line; "S. DAK. 1933" at bottomnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1934Embossed yellow on black with border line; "S. DAK. 1934" at bottomnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1935Embossed black on yellow with border line; "S. DAK. 1935" at topnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1936Embossed white on brick red with border line; "S. DAK. 1936" at topnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1937Embossed red on white with border line; "S. DAK. 1937" at bottomnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1938Embossed white on blue with border line; "S. DAK. 1938" at bottomnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1939Embossed blue on white; "SD" at bottom left and "39" at bottom right"RUSHMORE MEMORIAL" at bottom center1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1940Embossed black on golden yellow; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1940" at topnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)First use of the full state name.1941Embossed golden yellow on black; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1941" at bottomnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Embossed black on golden yellow; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1942" at topnone1-123410-1234Coded 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.1945Embossed green on white with border line; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1945" at bottomnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1946Embossed white on black with border line; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1946" at topnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1947Embossed black on unpainted aluminum with border line; "1947 SOUTH DAKOTA" at topnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1948Embossed red on unpainted aluminum with border line; "SOUTH DAKOTA 1948" at topnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1949Embossed blue on waffle-textured unpainted aluminum with border line; "1949 SOUTH DAKOTA" at topnone1-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1950Embossed black on orange with border line; "SOUTH DAKOTA '50" at topnone1-12341-A12310-12310-A1210-1A210-12ACoded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1951Embossed orange on black with border line; "'51 SOUTH DAKOTA" at topnone1-12341-A12310-12310-A1210-1A210-12ACoded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1952Embossed maroon on beige with border line; "S.DAK", Mount Rushmore decal and "1952" at topnone1-12341-A12310-12310-A1210-1A210-12ACoded by county of issuance (1 or 10)First base to feature a graphic of Mount Rushmore in any form.1953Embossed beige on maroon with border line; "1953", Mount Rushmore decal and "S.DAK" at topnone1-12341-A12310-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1954Embossed black on white with border line; "S.DAK.", Mount Rushmore decal and "1954" at topnone1-12341-A12310-123410-A123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1955Embossed white on green with border line; "1955", Mount Rushmore decal and "S.DAK" at topnone1-12341-A12310-123410-A123Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1956Embossed green on beige with border line; "S.DAK.", Mount Rushmore decal and "1956" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)First 6" x 12" plate.1957–59Embossed black on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "57" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Revalidated for 1958 with maroon tabs, and for 1959 with red tabs.1960Embossed black on reflective tan with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "60" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1961Embossed green on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "61" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1962Embossed black on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "62" at bottomnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1963Embossed red on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "63" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1964Embossed dark blue on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "64" at bottomnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1965Embossed green on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "65" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1966Embossed dark blue on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "66" at bottomnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1967Embossed maroon on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "67" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1968Embossed light blue on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "68" at bottomnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1969Embossed orange on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "69" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1970Embossed dark blue on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "70" at bottomnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1971Embossed green on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "71" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1972Embossed black on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "72" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1973Embossed red on reflective white with border line; "S.DAK.", stamped Mount Rushmore graphic and "73" at topnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1974Embossed blue on reflective white with screened red and black Mount Rushmore graphic at bottomnone1-1234510-1234Coded 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 bottomnoneIssued in counties that had exhausted their supplies of screened graphic plates.1975Embossed red on reflective white with screened light blue and black Mount Rushmore graphic at bottomnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1976 to present