South Dakota

South Dakota defines an off-road vehicle as any self-propelled, two or more wheeled vehicle designed primarily to be operated on land other than a highway. The term includes all terrain vehicles, dune buggies, and any vehicle whose manufacturer's statement of origin or manufacturer's certificate of origin states that the vehicle is not for highway use. It does not include a farm vehicle as defined in § 32-3-2.4, a multi-passenger quadricycle, or an electric bicycle as defined in § 32-20B-9.

SDCL 32-20-1(4), checked 2026-10-01. Official text for South Dakota, SDCL 32-20-1(4), external site

An "off-road vehicle" (defined as any self-propelled, two or more wheeled vehicle designed primarily to be operated on land other than a highway) must be titled; the Department of Revenue issues a certificate of title for off-road vehicles the same as for other motor vehicles under chapter 32-3. On registration the statute's own words are: "Off-road vehicles need not be registered and licensed for use upon the highways except as provided in § 32-20-13." One place-scoped limit in the same section applies only to lands owned, leased, or controlled by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, and any highway ditch located within: no person may operate an off-road vehicle there except on a designated off-road vehicle area or designated trail.

SDCL 32-20-12; SDCL 32-20-1(4), checked 2026-10-01. Official text for South Dakota, SDCL 32-20-12; SDCL 32-20-1(4), external site

For highway ditches, the statute's own words on the "off-road vehicle" (defined as any self-propelled, two or more wheeled vehicle designed primarily to be operated on land other than a highway) are: "A person twelve years of age or older may operate an off-road vehicle in a highway ditch if the vehicle is operated as close as possible to the outer edge of the highway right-of-way." The same section adds that no person may operate an off-road vehicle in a highway ditch along the interstate highway system; on any lands owned, leased, or controlled by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, or any highway ditch located within, except on a designated off-road vehicle area or designated trail; or in a highway ditch that is designated as part of the state snowmobile trails system or a public bike trail.

SDCL 32-20-12; SDCL 32-20-1(4), checked 2026-10-01. Official text for South Dakota, SDCL 32-20-12; SDCL 32-20-1(4), external site

No person may operate an off-road vehicle on a public street or highway except for crossing from one side of the road to the other. Section 32-20-13 names three vehicles that may be licensed as a motorcycle under chapter 32-5 to be used on a public highway: an all-terrain vehicle with four or more wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of two hundred cubic centimeters or more; an off-road vehicle with two wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of one hundred twenty cubic centimeters or more; and an all-terrain vehicle, with four or more wheels, propelled by an electric motor that draws power from a battery that is capable of being recharged. Before being licensed, the vehicle must meet the light, brake, and other vehicle accessory requirements of chapters 32-15, 32-17, and 32-18 that apply to motorcycles. The section does not apply to a golf cart, a low-speed vehicle, or a toy or youth off-road vehicle, and a vehicle licensed under it may not be operated on the interstate highway system.

SDCL 32-20-12; SDCL 32-20-13, checked 2026-10-01. Official text for South Dakota, SDCL 32-20-12; SDCL 32-20-13, external site

An electric bicycle is a bicycle or a tricycle equipped with a seat or saddle, with operable pedals for propulsion, and with an electric motor of seven hundred fifty watts or less. Class I and Class III motors provide assistance only when the person is pedaling and cease at twenty and twenty-eight miles per hour respectively; a Class II motor is capable of propelling the bicycle without the person pedaling and ceases to provide assistance at twenty miles per hour.

SDCL 32-20B-9, checked 2026-10-01. Official text for South Dakota, SDCL 32-20B-9, external site