April-2006--Many people have complained that they called SD DMV and were told they can not register. Please don't call there!! Only use the number below. This one county in SD seems to be the only place that is doing out of state registration!

The more you piss off the state MV in SD the more likely they will clamp down on Clay county!  This year we renewed and got our new plates with no problem.

Both of our cars are now wearing red, white and blue South Dakota plates. We did this for a bunch of reasons. There is some confusion about the law in Mexico and if you must  have a current registration on a U.S.  plated vehicle. 

If you expect to at any time visit the U.S. with the vehicle you will need a current registration and insurance which can only be obtained if the vehicle has an up to date registration.  It is our understanding that Mexican law does require that U.S. plated vehicles  have a current registration. This is despite the current status of your FM3. As far as the government is concerned if your FM3 is current your importation sticker is current.  This has nothing to do with your vehicle's registration!  If you are stopped and your registration is expired you may under Mexican law be ticketed and fined. This has happened to drivers in tourist areas, such as Puerta Vallarta. 

For registration, South Dakota does not require a vehicle inspection or proof of current U.S. insurance. You can register and renew annually via the internet and mail following the steps below.

This is the form page of the South Dakota website    http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/motorvehicle/forms.htm

This is the phone number and address: 1-605-677-7123

Clay County Treasurer

211 W. Main St.

Suite 201

Vermillion, S.D. 57069

You will need to download these forms from the page listed above:

Affidavit for Vehicle/Boat Registration - Statement of Fact, also used to correct an error that may have been made on documentation.

Uniform Damage Disclosure Statement - Disclosure of damage on qualifying vehicles.

You fill out the forms.  You get the VIN number of your vehicle. You call the treasurer at the phone number above. The very nice lady there will tell you how much it costs to transfer your title and the cost to register your vehicle for the balance of the current year, i.e. to transfer a '02 Jeep Wrangler was $55.00 US to title and register.

You then FED-EX her your existing title, and the forms with a check to the above address.  You can Fed-Ex from Barbara's Bazaar here in Ajijic. You need a U.S. Address where they will then  mail your new title, registration and plates. The plates and registration should be in the mail and to the U.S. address within a week. The new S. D. title should be to the stateside address within two weeks. Whomever or whatever is handling your stateside address will then Fed-Ex them here to you.

Purchasing a new car stateside: You can buy a car in most states in the U.S. and have it titled in S.D. by the dealer. This then allows you to only pay 3% sales tax to S.D. not whatever is the sales tax of the state you buy it in! For example, if you buy a car in Texas, you then save 5% of their 8% sales tax.  If you buy a car privately you will pay S.D. a 3% registration tax on the purchase price listed on the transferred title.