Second Hand Vehicle US Licensing

[Sheriffdoug]

Originally Posted by ANZAC

Those things are completely useless, at least in the US.

US and Australia are both signatories to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic:

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Geneva_C ... AL_TRAFFIC

Anzac,

I got the International License, I feel the same, never been asked for.

Doug

[BajaSportsmobile]

Cancel the Fresno Appointment!

California would be the last place to register a vehicle if given any other option. Because you are not a resident of California, you would have no good reason to register in the state.

I would suggest Clay County, South Dakota as the best solution for someone in your situation. I have used them multiple times for vehicles I do not have in CA. There are no inspections or smog certificates and no proof of insurance required. Here is Baja most expats are "from" South Dakota and Clay County.

The process is very easy and can be done all by mail to any address in any state (you do not have to visit SD or have an address there).

Contact them to ask questions - very friendly and helpful - unlike what you will experience in CA:

211 W. MAIN ST. SUITE 201
VERMILLION, SD 57069
PHONE: 605-677-7123
FAX: 605-677-7104
EMAIL: treasurer@claycountysd.org

You will need to send this form:
https://www.state.sd.us/eforms/secur...gistration.pdf

Your completed title, bill of sale (I've completed registration without one), most likely a weight certificate unless that info is on current title, your personal information and payment.

[Sheriffdoug]

Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile

Cancel the Fresno Appointment!

California would be the last place to register a vehicle if given any other option. Because you are not a resident of California, you would have no good reason to register in the state.

I would suggest Clay County, South Dakota as the best solution for someone in your situation. I have used them multiple times for vehicles I do not have in CA. There are no inspections or smog certificates and no proof of insurance required. Here is Baja most expats are "from" South Dakota and Clay County.

The process is very easy and can be done all by mail to any address in any state (you do not have to visit SD or have an address there).

Contact them to ask questions - very friendly and helpful - unlike what you will experience in CA:

211 W. MAIN ST. SUITE 201
VERMILLION, SD 57069
PHONE: 605-677-7123
FAX: 605-677-7104
EMAIL: treasurer@claycountysd.org

You will need to send this form:
https://www.state.sd.us/eforms/secur...gistration.pdf

Your completed title, bill of sale (I've completed registration without one), most likely a weight certificate unless that info is on current title, your personal information and payment.

Bajamobile,

About 4 years ago, got 2011 Chev 2500 srw longbed crew, my agent registered it in North Pole, Alaska, cheaper no questions asked. S.Dakota sounds good to me. Will download, fill out & fax forms, then call them and pay via card, monday/tuesday as I will be flying then, land LAX 6.30 CA time, 9.30am flight to Fresno, arrive 10.30am.

[REF]

That's all good advice, I concur on the CA registration, it is pretty well known that they have the most stringent vehicle restrictions and the fees are outrageous. It seems that Ramsay has given you one of the best solutions so far.....now all you have to do is loose the "G'day", watch a bunch of YouTube videos of people in SD and pick up the accent from your new place of residence to pull it off without a hitch, easy.
Here's a link to expat forum that talks about it, I believe that most are living or at least spend a lot of time in Mexico or Baja on the forum, so different scenario than what you're planning.....
http://www.expatforum.com/expats/mexico ... 534?page=2
....another forum for me to join, as I often dream of spending my winters in Baja and summers in AK, someday.......[emoji604]

[ANZAC]

And while you're driving around, South Dakota is really worth a visit.

[Sheriffdoug]

Originally Posted by REF

That's all good advice, I concur on the CA registration, it is pretty well known that they have the most stringent vehicle restrictions and the fees are outrageous. It seems that Ramsay has given you one of the best solutions so far.....now all you have to do is loose the "G'day", watch a bunch of YouTube videos of people in SD and pick up the accent from your new place of residence to pull it off without a hitch, easy.
Here's a link to expat forum that talks about it, I believe that most are living or at least spend a lot of time in Mexico or Baja on the forum, so different scenario than what you're planning.....
http://www.expatforum.com/expats/mexico ... 534?page=2
....another forum for me to join, as I often dream of spending my winters in Baja and summers in AK, someday.......[emoji604]

I use American accents in my bar here in Perth, Western Australia, all the time, except when U.S. Citizens are in the bar. Don't wish to offend them.

Most of us don't use G'day either.

Will check out the Forum thread, Thanks.

One of my customers names is Gary Day, hence, G'day!

[Sheriffdoug]

Originally Posted by Sheriffdoug

Bajamobile,

About 4 years ago, got 2011 Chev 2500 srw longbed crew, my agent registered it in North Pole, Alaska, cheaper no questions asked. S.Dakota sounds good to me. Will download, fill out & fax forms, then call them and pay via card, monday/tuesday as I will be flying then, land LAX 6.30 CA time, 9.30am flight to Fresno, arrive 10.30am.

Hi Ramsay,


Completed and Faxed South Dakota vehicle registration forms this morning. They are closed now.


I fly out of Perth to Sydney 11.50pm Monday evening our time, leave Sydney 6.30am AEST and arrive at LAX 6.30am(WST) Virgin Airlines at Tom Bradley Term. Depart for Fresno via US Airways/Skywest Airlines 9.40am(2870).

Will call Sth Dakota Treasurer upon arrival at Fresno because of different time zones.

Thank You for your help and ideas.

Cheers, Doug.

[StraightOuttaBallard]

I realize Ramsey has passed on... may he rest in peace.

Wondering how all of this worked out?

I plan on calling Clay County Tues AM...

all the $$$ that WA DMV wants I could do a lot with towards the van.

I have a buddy in Anchorage and he wants me to visit, but I'm gonna try SD again... Might be the perfect excuse for another road trip? or back up to ANC...

- Mike

Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile

Cancel the Fresno Appointment!

California would be the last place to register a vehicle if given any other option. Because you are not a resident of California, you would have no good reason to register in the state.

I would suggest Clay County, South Dakota as the best solution for someone in your situation. I have used them multiple times for vehicles I do not have in CA. There are no inspections or smog certificates and no proof of insurance required. Here is Baja most expats are "from" South Dakota and Clay County.

The process is very easy and can be done all by mail to any address in any state (you do not have to visit SD or have an address there).

Contact them to ask questions - very friendly and helpful - unlike what you will experience in CA:

211 W. MAIN ST. SUITE 201
VERMILLION, SD 57069
PHONE: 605-677-7123
FAX: 605-677-7104
EMAIL: treasurer@claycountysd.org

You will need to send this form:
https://www.state.sd.us/eforms/secur...gistration.pdf

Your completed title, bill of sale (I've completed registration without one), most likely a weight certificate unless that info is on current title, your personal information and payment.

[arctictraveller]

I know Ramsey had several vans registered in S/D, and I have no reason to believe the process has changed at all. As for registering in Alaska, Anchorage may require a smog cert, but I know for sure nowhere in South East does. I had a truck that never was in Alaska, but I was able to register it there anyway. I've registered my van to my Juneau PO box for years. I once renewed it and asked for a different mailing address since i was out of state when it expired, and the new registration came with that address in WA printed on the registration, when I really just wanted it mailed there but not changed on the actual registration paper, so it didn't seem to matter to them. Living in WA, may be a problem though, since they actively search for out of state license plates looking for people trying to avoid paying taxes. I got a letter from the Department of Revinue asking lots of questions about why my GMC truck was seen at Costco with AK plates. They had photos of it in the parking lot. I explained I was only on vacation, they had a ton of questions, wanted to know for how long etc. This was partly due to the fact that I own property in WA. Your results may vary..................

[moorefc]

As stated earlier, many Baja folks use S/D....Often the vehicles stay in baja and each year you just send in money and get new tabs mailed to the address of your choice...
Cheers