logistics of buying a van in a different state?

[Motrukdriver]

Anybody done this (buy in one state, immediately register it in another)?

I'm in Missouri and bought a camper in Indiana.  I towed it home, took the title to the DMV, they looked it over and filled out the paperwork to get it changed to a Missouri title, issued me plates and we said our good byes.  About 2 weeks later I got my Missouri title in the mail.
When I brought my mother's Jeep here to Missouri from Ohio after she passed away it was basically the same process other than having to have an inspection and proof of insurance.  I just took the Jeep to my local wrench guy and got it inspected for the state sticker and when to State Farm and got it insured.  Same process, take the paperwork to the DMV and they check it over, issue plates say their good byes and a couple weeks later the new Missouri title arrives in the mail.
Now, if you are not in your state I don't know how you can go about getting it registered there without being there in person.  I suggest a call to your local DMV and let them give you the steps on that.  Might still have to go there in person to pick up your new plates.

[Kaylee]

Now, if you are not in your state I don't know how you can go about getting it registered there without being there in person.  I suggest a call to your local DMV and let them give you the steps on that.  Might still have to go there in person to pick up your new plates.

My plan is to drive to Oregon, and come back via SD, and do everything in person while physically in SD.

I'm assuming I would not be allowed to register it in OR, due to not being a resident.

I vaguely recall that SD has sales tax and OR doesn't, so I'd have to pay up.

[TWIH]

SD DMV regs:

SUMMARY: How to Register Your Car in South Dakota
Registering your vehicle in SD must be done in person at a DMV office. You will various documents including proof of your ownership. The fees for registration are based on vehicle type, age, and weight.

[/url][url=https://www.dmv.org/sd-south-dakota/dmv-office-finder.php][url=https://www.dmv.org/sd-south-dakota/car-registration.php#Fees-to-Register-Your-Car-in-SD
Read below for more information about registering a car in South Dakota.

You have 90 days from the day you move to the state to title and register your vehicle with the South Dakota Motor Vehicle Division (DMV).

To register your vehicle, you'll need:

Form MV-608

Damage Disclosure Statement

Salvage, Recovered Theft, and Uniform Damage Disclosure Statement (Form MV-610) your vehicle is:

Under 7 years old.
AND
Under 16,000 lbs. in gross weight.

Your current title certificate.
Payment for fees and taxes UNLESS you paid at least 4% tax to another state.

You will receive credit for taxes under 4% that you paid to another state.

Submit your documents in person at your local South Dakota county treasurer's office

If you buy a vehicle from a dealer or in a private sale, you must register it with the SD DMV within 30 days of the sale date. Usually, your vehicle dealer will take care of registration and titling paperwork for you. However, it is important to know what paperwork is required.

If you buy a vehicle privately, you'll need to submit registration and title documents yourself.
To register and title a vehicle, you'll need:

Application for Motor Vehicle Title & Registration (Form MV-608).
Proof of ownership:
A Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO).
A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO).
OR
The transferred certificate of title.

A Salvage, Recovered Theft, and Uniform Damage Disclosure Statement (Form MV-610) 
IF the vehicle:
Is under 7 years old.
AND
Weighs less than 16,000 lbs. in gross weight.

Odometer disclosure. This is usually included on the transferred title. 
Bill of Sale if you bought the vehicle in private sale.

Payment for title and registration fees

[TWIH]

Anyways, you can look it up to use the hyperlinks.
Yes it has to be registered in person.
Some SD counties also charge a “wheel tax” which is minimal, just another form of revenue.

Still a freaking lot cheaper than NC...

[TrainChaser]

From TWIH: "You have 90 days from the day you move to the state to title and register your vehicle with the South Dakota Motor Vehicle Division (DMV)."

How strict are they on this?

[TWIH]

Theyd only be “strict” if they could figure out when you moved there... I’m sure I could have milked my AZ plates till renewal in December but for what purpose? Same 3% of value tax in Sept or December...

Up in BC you have/had 30 days. I was up there in the mid 90’s (1994) from Wa state and right on time on day 30 an RCMP cruised by to see if I had changed my plates... in a town of 2,000 I guess having US plates stood out...

I see some out-of-state plates daily at jobsites, you know they are just running out their tabs...
Not military posts, just regular companies...

[Kaylee]

Has anyone here, registered a vehicle in SD?
If so, can you recommend an insurance agent?

My current agent was no help. I'm planning to call Geico, since they don't have agents, but they're flakes, so I'm open to any company.

Thanks for all the info guys & gals!

[TrainChaser]

"You have 90 days from the day you move to the state to title and register your vehicle with the South Dakota Motor Vehicle Division (DMV)."

What I was wondering was, if you get a P.O. Box or do whatever people do to establish a base there, would the DMV 'chat' with the USPS, or other organization? You know what they say about never assuming.

[Kaylee]

I'm in Residency chaos now, so I would just register the van in SD, without doing the full residency thing. I'm still researching all that (there's a lot of less-than-accurate claims at a certain "other" forum).

New Question:
Does anybody have (or know somebody trustworthy-ish who has) CarFax or some other means to run the VIN of my current car and tell me what's up?

I ran it thru a freebie site, and it just says "salvage title" (without any other info), but I never received one (4 years ago, a twerp mangled the bumper of my parked car, and the insurance company totalled it, but I refused to give it up).

I also recently found out I never received the regular Title when I bought it (more than a decade ago).
Given that my putative county of residency has known problems with its DMV (it's ranked as "evil"), I'm not willing to interact with them, in any way.

Given all that, it's looking like it might be simplest to just sell the old car to a junker, once I get to Oregon.

The only other option is to register it in Vermont, without a Title.

My Brain hurts!

[TrainChaser]

All of the rules and regulations are just to annoy, confuse and make money.

I agree with Richard Maybury, that there should only be two laws:
1. Do all you have agreed to do, and
2. Do not encroach on other persons or their property.

But politicians don't get rich on things like that.