Only bonded towing companys can apply for titles here and very few of them mess with it for outside concerns. A good friend with a towing company still does it for other people. It took 2-3 months and yesterday mine got here. He was only going to charge me $45, I gave him $100, well worth it. I normally never mess with untitled cars except for parts cars. I made an exception when I found the panel, just had to have it.

 

Nice to know there is a way to get another title in SD when the original is not available. What information did you need to provide other than the VIN?

 

Technically the vehicle needs to be in his yard. I think he sends pictures and the serial number to start. Then they do a state search, if nothing comes up a national search. If they come up with the last registered owned a certified letter has to be sent. Hopefully they do not accept it. If they do accept it they have 30 days to redeem it for the bill against it.
Then it gets advertised in the paper for 2 weeks, maybe 4 depending on the title ***** whim. After that they issue a title.
Since my truck had sat on a ranch in Montana for 40-50 years, it didn't show up on the national search so there was no certified letter needed.

 

That is quite an extensive process. Nice yours did not show up in a database that might have caused issues. My cousin is looking for the title to my grandfather's '46 1 ton that we are resurrecting near Winner SD. We do have the license plate from 1967 when it was last registered and the truck has always been in our family. Hopefully he finds the title so we can prove ownership in the event we register it again at some point. Thanks for sharing your experience.