BajaNomad - South Dakota domicile

South Dakota domicile

msdmer - 8-8-2019 at 08:15 AM

Hi Folks,

I am on my way to South Dakota to get my car and driver's license registered. Can anyone advise where in South Dakota is the best place to do this?

Thanks!

AKgringo - 8-8-2019 at 08:36 AM

I don't have an answer for you, but to clarify your question, I presume you are looking for the best mail forwarding service to claim as your "domicile"?

I don't think it would matter which town you are going to claim as your home.

By the way, welcome to the forum!

[Edited on 8-8-2019 by AKgringo]

BornFisher - 8-8-2019 at 08:42 AM

For a good time, go to Sturgis right now!

msdmer - 8-8-2019 at 09:16 AM

I don't have an answer for you, but to clarify your question, I presume you are looking for the best mail forwarding service to claim as your "domicile"?

****Thanks*****Yes, to domicile and mail forwarding service.

[Edited on 8-8-2019 by AKgringo]

South Dakota

bajaguy - 8-8-2019 at 09:43 AM

Do a search here. Several years ago Udo Winkler posted detailed instructions

jedge42 - 8-8-2019 at 09:54 AM

We use America's Mailbox https://americasmailbox.com/ right outside of Rapid City. Works great for us. They have a few motel-style rooms and an RV park where you can stay and they will provide a form showing that you stayed the one night you need to get a driver's license.

No connection to the company, just a satisfied customer ...

jake

boe4fun - 8-8-2019 at 10:11 AM

What Jake said.

msdmer - 8-8-2019 at 10:45 AM

Thank all of you for the information. I spoke with America's Mailbox on the phone and they basically said that is was so complicated that it would be better to hire them!!

Fernweh - 8-8-2019 at 10:55 AM

It is very easy to do, anybody who can read and write and has driven a car before......

In order to get a SD Drivers License, very Important: you need to show your original Social Security Card, not a copy........I found out the hard way. They might still accept a current 1099 issued to you.

Address in SD:

Thank you for your payment! You regular scheduled mailing services have resumed. If you have any questions regarding your account or would like to update your forwarding address, please contact us at office@dakotapost.net or you can reach us at 800-477-2664 during regular business hours and a customer service representative will be happy to assist you.

DakotaPost greatly appreciates your business!

[Edited on 8-8-2019 by Fernweh]

msdmer - 8-8-2019 at 11:04 AM

It is very easy to do, anybody who can read and write and has driven a car before......

In order to get a SD Drivers License, very Important: you need to show your original Social Security Card, not a copy........I found out the hard way. They might still accept a current 1099 issued to you.

****************So, do you mean I have to get a mailing address service there first, or can I use hotel address?
Thanks

SFandH - 8-8-2019 at 12:13 PM

Here's another business similar to America's Mailbox. Located in Sioux Falls.

https://dakotapost.net/

You get an address with a mailbox from one of these services and use that address to register your car and get a license.

[Edited on 8-8-2019 by SFandH]

jedge42 - 8-8-2019 at 01:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Fernweh

It is very easy to do, anybody who can read and write and has driven a car before......

In order to get a SD Drivers License, very Important: you need to show your original Social Security Card, not a copy........I found out the hard way. They might still accept a current 1099 issued to you.

I agree that it is fairly easy to do, but America's Mailbox (and, I'm sure, plenty of other businesses) make it super simple.

One thing to note: I have not had my Social Security card for several decades and did not need to show it for my SD license. I had a valid CO license at the time (and, perhaps, a passport along for the ride, though I don't remember needing it), which perhaps helped.

An important piece of the puzzle is that you need some form filled out that shows you stayed a night in SD. I am not sure what the requirements are for that, but presumably that can be dealt with at other motels or whatever.

jake

AKgringo - 8-8-2019 at 01:15 PM

So for a fee, a motel will provide a document for the DMV that you were there, and another one for your wife that you were alone? :?:

BajaParrothead - 8-8-2019 at 06:23 PM

My stuff is registered in Pennington County, but I also use Americas mailbox.

boe4fun - 8-11-2019 at 07:37 AM

What Jake said.

Alan - 8-11-2019 at 07:54 AM

I'm a little curious why you are going through all these gyrations to register your vehicle?

I simply called them and explained that I lived in SoCal and had a vehicle I kept in Baja and that I wanted to register it in South Dakota. She asked the make, model and year so she could determine registration costs. Shed said to send that amount along with the pink slip and then asked where I wanted the plates sent.

In just over a week I received my new SD plates along with my new pink slip showing my CA address.

Why are you getting the drivers license? Mexico doesn't care if your Drivers License matches you license plate, only that they are current.

South Dakota knows a good deal when they see it. They are happy to take my money knowing I'm never going to drive on and wear out their roads just for about 50 cents worth of metal.

[Edited on 8-11-2019 by Alan]

RocketJSquirrel - 8-11-2019 at 08:19 AM

I confess, I had the same questions as Alan above. Never had a problem in the States either with the fact that my driver's license is not from the same state as the plates on my car. This seems like a lot of time and money expended unnecessarily.

AKgringo - 8-11-2019 at 08:39 AM

I agree that Mexico, and CBP don't care if the state drivers license matches the registration. I have vehicles, and residence addresses in both Alaska, and California, but you can't legally have a D.L. in both states.

Driving a S.D. plated car in CA with a CA address and license will probably get you a ticket if you are pulled over for any reason.

Lee - 8-11-2019 at 12:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

Driving a S.D. plated car in CA with a CA address and license will probably get you a ticket if you are pulled over for any reason.

Yes, if you are pulled over in California.

Same if you are pulled over (in Colorado) with a Colorado DL and out of state plated vehicle with your name on the registration. Big no no.

Citation will require a court appearance explaining why this is so.

del mar - 8-11-2019 at 12:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alan

I'm a little curious why you are going through all these gyrations to register your vehicle?

I simply called them and explained that I lived in SoCal and had a vehicle I kept in Baja and that I wanted to register it in South Dakota. She asked the make, model and year so she could determine registration costs. Shed said to send that amount along with the pink slip and then asked where I wanted the plates sent.

In just over a week I received my new SD plates along with my new pink slip showing my CA address.

Why are you getting the drivers license? Mexico doesn't care if your Drivers License matches you license plate, only that they are current.

South Dakota knows a good deal when they see it. They are happy to take my money knowing I'm never going to drive on and wear out their roads just for about 50 cents worth of metal.

[Edited on 8-11-2019 by Alan]

metal? mine are made out of some kind of cardboard :coolup:

so has anyone been cited driving in california for having ca. DL with SD plates, is it just a ticket or is a appearance necessary?

RocketJSquirrel - 8-11-2019 at 02:09 PM

Geez, I've not been pulled over for probably 30 years. So I don't worry too much on this stuff. Guess I need to start driving faster, wear cooler shades, carry that 16-oz can of beer a bit higher.

Alan - 8-11-2019 at 06:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by del mar

Quote: Originally posted by Alan

metal? mine are made out of some kind of cardboard :coolup:

so has anyone been cited driving in california for having ca. DL with SD plates, is it just a ticket or is a appearance necessary?

My SD plated car stays in Baja (with metal license plates). CA would love to see me driving it in their state. Anything that adds to the State coffers. If they can't tax it or regulate it, they prohibit it!

RocketJSquirrel - 8-11-2019 at 06:15 PM

I've been driving my Baja-based SD-plated car in California for years. Never a problem. Never even been pulled over. Hey! Wouldn't that be "profiling"?

[Edited on 8-12-2019 by RocketJSquirrel]

msdmer - 8-12-2019 at 12:19 PM

Thanks Folks!

I got my license and plates by going through Dakota Post--Easy peasy!

Here's another business similar to America's Mailbox. Located in Sioux Falls.

https://dakotapost.net/

You get an address with a mailbox from one of these services and use that address to register your car and get a license.

[Edited on 8-8-2019 by SFandH]

SFandH - 8-12-2019 at 12:38 PM

Quote: Originally posted by msdmer

Thanks Folks!

I got my license and plates by going through Dakota Post--Easy peasy!

License through the mail? Or do you mean registration?

Lee - 8-12-2019 at 03:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RocketJSquirrel

I've been driving my Baja-based SD-plated car in California for years. Never a problem. Never even been pulled over. Hey! Wouldn't that be "profiling"?

[Edited on 8-12-2019 by RocketJSquirrel]

Maybe you've posted that you have a California DL's? If you do, and you're stopped with out of state plates, while driving in California, you will be given a citation (summons) to appear in court. You will need to convince a judge why you have a legitimate need to have a out of state plate.

Improbable you'll be stopped for SD plates while driving but for a common traffic infraction.

If you don't have a California DL, the point is moot.

If your vehicle is driven in Baja most of the year and you can prove this, bring proof.

How the CHP operates:
www.chp.ca.gov/notify-chp/cheaters-out-of-state-(out-of-state-registration-violators)

thebajarunner - 8-12-2019 at 03:48 PM

My dad used to be in the trailer sales biz.
He had customers that registered in SoDakota
His first caution was "You better have plates on the tow rig that match the trailer, otherwise no cop will let you pass by without a ticket"

I have friends here in Central Cal that have registered their expensive cars in Nevada. Periodically the cops will send teams around and note Nevada plates parked in residential areas. They usually get a "Fix-it" ticket, which if they can prove Nevada residence gets cancelled.

I don't run plates on the front of my Porsche, it was not really designed for front plates. Couple months ago the local cops made the rounds of the parking lots and garages and cited all cars without front plates.

AKgringo - 8-12-2019 at 03:56 PM

It was quite a few years ago, but my dad got called out for registering his motorhome at my sisters house in Portland, although the house in Nevada County had been his only residence since 1947! I don't know the details, and he has since passed away, so that is all I will ever know.

It might be more of a local thing, I got checked twice within a six month period when I first started snow birding down here, but nothing in the last eight years or so.

Both times I was asked how long the car had been in CA, but since I have an AK DL, and claim that I drive it home annually, no citations were ever issued for anything.

SFandH - 8-12-2019 at 03:57 PM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner

I have friends here in Central Cal that have registered their expensive cars in Nevada.

Can they get an insurance policy with a CA address and Nevada plates?

AKgringo - 8-12-2019 at 04:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH

Can they get an insurance policy with a CA address and Nevada plates?

No problem, but different companies have different requirements and state requirements also vary. With my company, I have separate policies for Alaska and California.

My AK policy only has the cars I register and store there. The CA policy has both CA and AK plated cars that I primarily drive or store down here.

For what it is worth, it is cheaper to register a car in Alaska, but insurance is cheaper in California!

[Edited on 8-12-2019 by AKgringo]

msdmer - 8-13-2019 at 03:31 AM

*****"License through the mail? Or do you mean registration"

I went in person

bajatrailrider - 8-14-2019 at 09:27 AM

I got all my rigs lic in S Dakota by mail then they called me took credit card number. So easy as far as driving in so cal never had a problem. 12 years before that new truck had OR plates. Again no problem even my Mex plated truck zero problems to drive in USA. With me having CA and Mex lic zero problems with SD plates