South Dakota’s license plate with vehicle system is almost at an end. Effective July 1, 2008, the state will convert to a license plate with owner system.

The new license plate with owner system was first approved by the South Dakota Legislature in 2005, and since that time, the state Division of Motor Vehicles has been working with computer technicians and county treasurers’ offices to develop a new computer system called SDcars (South Dakota Customized Automated Registration System) to accommodate the change. Part of the process includes converting the Division’s more than four million records from the old system to the new; that conversion is scheduled to take place this coming weekend.

Hillmer says the Division anticipates using the first week of July to resolve any issues that may occur with the conversion. She and county treasurers statewide are asking the public to plan ahead when it comes to conducting their vehicle title and registration business this week and the following week.

“People need to remember that county treasurers’ offices will be closed to title and registration business on June 30 to allow for the conversion. So if they need to title and register vehicles during the month of June, they have until this Friday, June 27, to do it. We’re also asking people scheduled for registration in July and August to either come in by then or wait until after July 7 to conduct their business,” said Hillmer.

With the new license plate with owner system, the plates on a vehicle belong to the titled owner(s) of the vehicle. If the vehicle is sold, the seller keeps the plates for use on the next vehicle they acquire as long as it is the same type of vehicle. For more information on “Keep Your Plate – July ‘08” and the SDcars system, log on to SDcars.org.