South Dakota

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As of early 2026, the standard South Dakota license plate features a scenic design highlighting Mount Rushmore, representing a continuation of the theme reissued in 2023. The plate generally includes a white, blue, and stylized image background promoting state tourism, with, in many cases, a dark blue or black "South Dakota" wordmark and, in some cases, a four-letter/one-number format, with, in some cases, a large space for emblems.

Key Features of Current South Dakota Plates:

Design: The standard, non-commercial plate showcases Mount Rushmore National Memorial as part of a scenic, tourism-focused design.

Reissue: New designs were most recently reissued starting January 1, 2023, for standard, non-commercial, and emblem plates.

Format: Standard plates generally feature a combination of letters and numbers, often with a four-letter/one-number format (e.g., AAAA0) observed on recent issues.

Front/Rear: South Dakota requires both front and rear plates for most vehicles, though only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Optional Plates: As of early 2026, legislation has been passed to allow optional solid-color plates (solid black with white letters or solid white with black letters) for an additional $100 fee.

Specialty and Emblem Plates:

Emblem Plates: These allow for a specific decal on the left side of the plate, such as "In God We Trust" or various organizational emblems, while sharing the same standard numbering format.

Habitat Plates: Optional, voluntary plates supporting conservation, featuring options like deer, pheasant, meadowlark, or pasque flower decals.

Tribal Plates: Special plates, such as the Rosebud Sioux Tribe or Oglala Lakota, are available to honor Native culture.

Veteran Plates: Options include special designs for veterans, such as the Bronze Star plate, which has a distinct, plain white base.