If an insurer or self insurer declares a vehicle to be a total loss but does not acquire ownership of the vehicle, the owner shall obtain a salvage title for the vehicle. The insurer or self insurer shall, in writing, notify the owner of the obligation to obtain a salvage title before the owner sells or transfers the title. If the owner sells or transfers the ownership of the vehicle without first obtaining a salvage title, the owner is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This section does not apply to any motor vehicle more than ten model years old or with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than sixteen thousand pounds.

Attorney's Note

Under the South Dakota Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class 1 misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $2,00
For details, see § 22-6-2

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 32-3-51.21

  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.

Source: SL 2005, ch 155, § 4; SL 2015, ch 157, § 10.