What to Do If You Have Not Received Your Registration Sticker in South Dakota
As a South Dakota resident owning a legal vehicle, your South Dakota DMV registration sticker should be renewed once a year, before the expiration date approaches. One of the main reasons that a DMV sticker was not received is that the registration renewal process was not done prior to the expiration date. If you did not get the decal for your license plate, this could mean that the vehicle was not registered properly or that the personal information on your records has not been updated.
In South Dakota, there are no grace periods, so there could be consequences to not obtaining a valid registration decal before your expiration date. You can renew your car registration sticker online, in person or by mail up to 90 days before it expires. It is important for you to obtain an updated decal because it serves as proof that you have approval from the state to operate your vehicle. In South Dakota, your DMV sticker replacement should be placed on the bottom right corner of your license plate and should be visible.
If your registration sticker was not received, it is still your responsibility to replace it as soon as possible. Traveling with expired or missing registration in South Dakota can result in a traffic stop and citations for driving without valid registration. If you have recently moved and now have a new address, or have married since last year’s registration, there is a possibility that your personal information needs to be updated with the DMV. To learn more about common reasons that your license plate sticker was not received in South Dakota, the steps you should be taken to replace the decal and the places that can issue a replacement decal, refer to the sections below.
Common Reasons for a Registration Sticker Not Received in South Dakota
If you are wondering why you have not gotten your South Dakota car tag sticker, there are a few possibilities that explain why you never got the updated decal. If your car sticker was not received, it is important that you check and make sure all of your personal information has been updated on your driving records. Address changes play a role in car stickers not being distributed to you.
If your place of residence or mailing address has changed, this information should have been updated prior to renewing your registration sticker. In order for you to obtain your new decal for vehicle registration, you should make sure to renew you registration online, by mail, through a self-service terminal or in person each year. When you renew your vehicle registration, you should receive a new decal.
Some people may refer to this action as renewing car license plates or a car plate sticker renewal, since many people also renew any special license plates they may have during this time.
Can I legally drive if my South Dakota registration sticker was not received?
In South Dakota, it is against the law to drive with an expired registration tag. You will not be granted a grace period after your registration expires, so it is your responsibility to renew your registration sticker online, in person at a South Dakota county treasurer’s office, by mail or at a self-service terminal. If your DMV registration sticker was not received, contact your local county treasurer’s office and ask about obtaining a temporary sticker.
Additional Consequences of a Car Sticker Not Received in South Dakota
If you do not have a valid decal on your vehicle, you face the possibility of getting stopped by a law enforcement official and receiving tickets and citations for driving without proper registration. The longer it takes to receive your registration sticker, the higher risk you run of being fined.
Steps to Take When your South Dakota DMV Sticker was Not Received
If you do not have your registration decal, you should contact your local county treasurer’s office. A common reason your license sticker was not received is that you did not complete the car registration address change process for the Department of Revenue databases.
Depending on how you renewed your vehicle registration, your representative can explain where you went wrong on your renewal application. You should check with the DOR representative to see if you must pay for a new decal if the error was on the part of the office. Otherwise, you will be asked to pay a $10 fee for replacement credentials.
Where to Get Registration Sticker Replacements in South Dakota
You can obtain a decal replacement in South Dakota in four different ways, but only if the replacement coincides with a registration renewal. These options include going to the South Dakota DMV in person, applying to replace sticker online with registration documents, renewing by mail and using self-service terminals. If you are able to renew registration to replace a missing decal, remember that driving without registration can result in fines and other traffic citations. Even if you have proof of renewal but no decal, this is not a guarantee that you are driving legally.
However, if your tags will not expire within 90 days, you must fill out an affidavit for lost South Dakota decals and/or South Dakota license plates. If your registration decal was lost or stolen, you must report it to a police department. You can submit this request by mail, or you may visit your nearest DOR office for assistance.
Registration Replacement Forms
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
- Titling & Registration from SD.gov