BajaNomad - Benefits to licensing vehicles in South Dakota?

Benefits to licensing vehicles in South Dakota?

DT.IN.LB.BAJA - 5-31-2009 at 08:24 AM

I am going to be moving to Baja full time soon and I am wondering why people license there vehicles in South Dakota please share any information and or your experiences
thank you!!

bajamigo - 5-31-2009 at 08:31 AM

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=34311#pid3587...

oladulce - 5-31-2009 at 01:25 PM

South Dakota registration can be done by mail, rates are low, no smog check, and they don't require proof of insurance. Other states are similar but require you to bring the vehicle,trailer atv, etc to the DMV for verification of the VIN the first time you transfer from another state.

South Dakota is considered "friendly" towards full time RVers and fulltime mexico dwellers or anybody else without a US physical address. There are several mail forwarding services throughout SD that you can use as your US "domicile" for the purposes of fed taxes, credit cards, etc. Excise tax is 3% so Sd becomes the residence for folks who are buying new expensive RV's also.

The disadvantage of switching everything over to South Dakota is the drivers license must be renewed in person every 5 years. South Dakota doesn't care if your drivers license and vehicle registration are from the same state, but be aware that in many states it's illegal if you're caught with a non-matching DL and car registration, so it also depends where you plan to have your US driver's license if you'll be keeping one. We called the Calif CHP a couple of days ago and he confirmed : if you have a CA DL, your vehicle can not be registered in your name in another state.

Some of the rules vary between the different counties in South Dakota and their auto registration is done by the county treasure's office, not a DMV.

RV forums such as these discuss the topic frequently and give lots of first hand experience.
http://www.rv.net/forum/
http://www.rvnetwork.com/

[Edited on 5-31-2009 by oladulce]

BMG - 5-31-2009 at 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oladulce

...in many states it's illegal if you're caught with a non-matching DL and car registration, so it also depends where you plan to have your US driver's license if you'll be keeping one. We called the Calif CHP a couple of days ago and he confirmed : if you have a CA DL, your vehicle can not be registered in your name in another state.

I don't think that is quite accurate. It is not legal to be a resident of a state and keep a vehicle there that is registered in another state. This is usually done to avoid taxes and fees.

The last ticket I got was in CA driving with my ID license and SD plates. (A rolling stop. Hard habit to break!) No problem, just had to mail in my $118 fine. I might have had a problem if I had been in Idaho though since that is my U.S. residency state.

I don't plan on getting a SD driver's license though.

oladulce - 5-31-2009 at 02:08 PM

I see what you mean BMG, I didn't explain that very well. California cares if you have a CA driver's license and are driving your car that is registered in another state.

It looks like we'll be flying to Sioux Falls soon to get our DL's. whoo hoo. This time around I'd rather not have any unexpected snafus because our domicile address, driver's licenses, registration etc don't match (such as insurance denial or something). We'll have 5 years before DL renewal is due to figure out if there's a better way to do this.

[Edited on 5-31-2009 by oladulce]

Bob and Susan - 5-31-2009 at 02:56 PM

remember when you drive in california later.,..

you'll be a visitor and its easier to give a ticket to a visitor than a resident :light:

"they" will be watching you... :lol:

chuckbolton - 6-1-2009 at 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DT.IN.LB.BAJA
I am going to be moving to Baja full time soon and I am wondering why people license there vehicles in South Dakota please share any information and or your experiences
thank you!!

SD also has no income tax-- so if u have legal residence there-- no state income tax-- im told vehicles must be registered in the state the are garaged in. so i have vehicles registered in mo and ks. but have a SD license

oxxo - 6-1-2009 at 04:17 PM

California Highway Patrol may be "profiling" South Dakota plates. Profiling is a double edged sword. The CHP is well aware of smog requirement avoidance and CA vehicle registration avoidance with SD plates. If you own any property in CA - house, boat, car, business - everything is cross linked now via computer and you may be vulnerable. The subterfuge is becoming too popular. At this time California is looking for any means to raise revenue. Be careful what you wish for, you may become the target.

out of state traffic tickets

jbcoug - 6-1-2009 at 04:28 PM

Bob and Susan,

Actually in most states you are less likely to get a ticket as a visitor than as a resident. As a resident you are more likely to pay a ticket since you drive there daily and have a high risk of being stopped again with an outstanding ticket and possibly warrant. Visitors passing through frequently don't pay fines because they are not likely to be stopped again in that state, and if stopped in their home state they aren't going to be held and extradited over a out of state traffic ticket. Some states may hold out of state drivers until the fine is paid, but that is rare. Most officers are not in a rush to write tickets to out of state drivers that aren't likely to pay.

John

NEW MEXICO ...

cristobal - 6-2-2009 at 10:59 AM

If SOUTH DAKOTA on your registration and drivers license causes too many RED FLAGS to pop up ... there is always
NEW MEXICO as an alternate. :yes:

One of my friends just missed on his smog test here in CALIFORNIA. They needed $100 for this and a $100 for that, retest and pretty soon they're talking about real money. :wow:

He got an extension ... took a trip to TEXAS ... stopped in NM ... registered the vehicle, got a NEW license and if asked ...
He lives in NEW MEXICO ... but works here. :bounce:

So far ... No Problems ...