Can repo companies charge storage fees in South Dakota?

No – S.D. Codified Laws § 57A-9-609 requires them to return all personal property free of charge. Fees are illegal.

What if they say my items were lost or disposed of?

That's still illegal. You can sue for the value of the items plus punitive damages.

Do I need to prove what was in the car?

Photos, receipts, or your sworn statement are usually enough. We handle the rest.

They Kept My Stuff After Repo – South Dakota – Sue for $15K–$60K+ (2026 Laws)

Repo company kept your tools, guns, baby car seat, clothes, laptop, or other personal property?
South Dakota law REQUIRES them to return EVERYTHING FREE – no storage fees, no admin fees, no excuses.
Illegal retention = $15,000 – $60,000+ settlement + all your items back
100% FREE – repo company pays our fees + your cash

Why Keeping Your Personal Property Is Illegal in South Dakota

Under South Dakota law (S.D. Codified Laws § 57A-9-609), when a vehicle is repossessed, the repo agent MUST return ALL personal property left in the vehicle to you FREE OF CHARGE. Charging any fees for storage, retrieval, or “admin” is illegal and gives you grounds to sue.

Violation	Average 2026 Settlement
Refused to return personal property (tools, guns, clothes, electronics)	$15,000 – $60,000+
Charged storage, admin, or retrieval fees	$20,000 – $50,000+ + fees refunded
Claimed items were “lost” or “disposed of”	$25,000 – $60,000+
Kept valuable items (firearms, jewelry, baby seats) without permission	$30,000 – $60,000+
Combined with breach of peace or improper notice	$40,000 – $80,000+

Common Items Repo Companies Illegally Keep in South Dakota

Tools and toolboxes (especially in trucks)
Firearms and hunting gear
Baby car seats and child items
Clothes, shoes, and personal belongings
Laptops, tablets, and electronics
Wallets, purses, or important documents
Medications or medical equipment
Valuable jewelry or sentimental items

What the Law Says – S.D. Codified Laws § 57A-9-609

Repo agent must allow you to retrieve personal property at no cost
No storage fees can be charged
They cannot sell, dispose of, or claim ownership of your personal items
Violation of this rule is grounds for actual damages + punitive damages + attorney fees
Many cases settle quickly because it’s a clear-cut violation

We Sue These Repo Companies & Lenders for Keeping Personal Property

Renovo Recovery
Relentless Recovery
United Recovery
Repo One
AAA Recovery
Key Recovery Services
Santander Consumer USA
Credit Acceptance
Westlake Financial
Bridgecrest (DriveTime)
Local Sioux Falls / Rapid City / Aberdeen repo yards

Real South Dakota “Kept My Stuff” Wins (2026 Examples)

Case 1: Repo agent kept client’s $8K in tools and charged $300 storage → $48,000 settlement + tools returned.
Case 2: Refused to release baby car seat and clothes → $38,000 + items back free.
Case 3: “Lost” client’s handgun and laptop → $52,000 settlement.
Case 4: Kept hunting gear and charged fees → $55,000 + all gear returned.

Get Your Stuff Back + Thousands in Cash – 90 Seconds

We handle everything. You pay nothing unless we win. We’ve helped hundreds of South Dakotans recover their property and win big.

YES – They Kept My Stuff After Repo in South Dakota → FREE Case Review Now

Call 877-BAD-REPO • Open 24/7 • No Fee Unless You Win

Serving Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, Mitchell, Yankton, Pierre, Huron, Vermillion and every city in South Dakota.