The Guide to Legal Car Modifications in South Dakota

ARENA Creative / Shutterstock.com

If you live in South Dakota or plan to do so in the near future, you need to be aware of the laws that cover vehicle modifications. Understanding and complying with the following laws will help keep your vehicle street legal when driving on South Dakota roads. Failing to comply with these standards can be considered a class 1 or class 2 misdemeanor, with fines ranging from $500 - $1,000 and/or 30 days to 1 year in jail.

Sounds and noise

South Dakota does place limitations on the amount of sound that vehicles can produce.

Sound systems

South Dakota does not have specific guidelines for sound systems. However, it is unlawful to cause annoyance, inconvenience or alarm due to unreasonable noise levels. These levels, however, are subjective and not clearly defined.

Mufflers

  • Mufflers are required on all vehicles and have to prevent unusual or excessive noise.
  • Motor vehicles with exhaust cutouts are not permitted on the highways.

Tip: Always check with local county laws in South Dakota to make sure you are following any municipal noise ordinances that may be more stringent than state-level laws.

Frame and suspension

South Dakota does not restrict frame height, suspension lift height or bumper height. However, vehicles cannot exceed 14 feet in height.

Engine

South Dakota does not have any engine modification or swap regulations and does not require emissions testing.

Lighting and windows

Lights

  • License plates on the rear of vehicles must be illuminated with white light.

  • Red, blue, and green lights are permitted on authorized vehicles only, not passenger vehicles.

  • One spot lamp is permitted that does not hit the road surface over 100 feet in front of the vehicle.

  • Amber flashing lights are permitted within three inches of the license plates for drivers with disabilities. These lamps can only be used when the disabled driver is the person operating the vehicle.

Window tinting

  • Non-reflective tint is permitted on the windshield above the AS-1 line from the manufacturer, or to the lowest level of the sun visor when flipped down.

  • Mirrored and metallic/reflective tints are not permitted.

  • Front side windows must allow over 35% of the light to pass through.

  • Back side and rear windows must let more than 20% of light to pass through.

  • Sticker identifying legal tint levels is required on each tinted window between the glass and film.

Antique/classic car modifications

South Dakota offers historical vehicle plates that have the following requirements:

If you want to make sure your vehicle is street legal under the laws in South Dakota, YourMechanic can provide the mobile mechanics to help you install the new parts. You can also ask our mechanics what modifications may be best suited to your car using our free online Q&A system, Ask a Mechanic.


The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

The Guide to Legal Car Modifications in Washington
ARENA Creative / Shutterstock.com If you have a modified vehicle and live in Washington or plan to do so in the near future, you need to know the laws that govern the changes that you can make....
South Dakota Speed Limits, Laws, and Fines
Following Following is an overview of the laws, limits, and fines as they relate to speeding traffic violations in the state of South Dakota. Speed limits in South Dakota As of April 2016, South Dakota is one of just six...
How to Prepare for the South Dakota Driver’s Written Test
You You can’t get your license in South Dakota without first passing your driver’s written test and then taking the road test. When it comes to the written test, many people feel that it is going to be difficult and...

Related questions

Does my 02 civic have shocks or struts or both?
Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 2002 Honda Civic. Your car has struts all the way around. There are pros and cons to lowering your vehicle (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-are-the-dangers-of-lowering-my-car). Make sure that you consider everything before moving forward with this...
I am looking to Turbocharge my 2008 Chevy Cobalt with manual transmission.
Hello. It is indeed possible to turbocharge this vehicle. Adding a turbocharger will definitely increase your horsepower. The main thing you need to keep in mind is that this will put added stress on the engine. Due to the mileage...
I want to put an exhaust system on my car but it is not street legal, what can I do?
When it comes to this type of exhaust system, there is no workaround that will make it legal. If these exhaust components do not have the air quality resource tag on them, then they cannot legally be used on the...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com