Workers On Wheels | Resources for RVers

Domiciles and Mailing Services

Advantages Of South Dakota As A Domicile

Full-time RVers have the option of choosing which state they want to call home. Below are some of the reasons we chose South Dakota.

Insurance regulations appear more standard than some states allowing for ease in obtaining coverage and policy comparisons
Health care insurance premiums may be significantly lower that other states
Reasonable insurance rates on home owner's type policy
Reasonable private passenger car insurance rates
Low vehicle licensing fee
Only 3 % excise tax on purchases of RV’s and other vehicles (with reciprocity granted for tax paid to another state)
Low title transfer fee
Vehicles may be registered through the mail
Low driver’s license fee ($8 for five years)
Driver’s licenses may be renewed up to 180 days prior to the expiration date
No state income tax (personal or corporate)
No state personal property tax
Only 4 % sales and use tax
No vehicle inspections of any kind are required
Voter registration can be done through the mail
Centrally located (east to west) for faster delivery of mail than many states

The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development has a very informative packet for prospective SD business owners. It contains general information on starting a business, delving into the types of business formations. It has registration and licensing info for many professions or businesses that require such reporting. In addition, it lists contact information for numerous helpful resources. The packet also has many of the forms required for setting up and running a SD business. http://www.sdgreatprofits.com

The above office will also prepare a comparative review of taxation between South Dakota and any other state of your choosing.

Telephone numbers you may find helpful:

Driver’s License Information — 800-952-3696
Application for Sales Tax Permit — 605-773-5141
Registration of a Business Name — 605-773-4845

Rapid City, SD is in Pennington County. I contacted the Pennington County Treasurer in January 2005 and verified that both used and new vehicles could be registered through the mail. The Treasurer is the one who handles vehicle registrations. The required form is on the South Dakota State website. www.state.sd.us/revenue The form needs to be mailed to: Pennington County Treasures Office, 315 St. Joseph St, Rapid City, SD 57701. Call 605-394-2163 to get the correct fees for tax title and licensing.

South Dakota has an excellent website with massive amounts of helpful information. http://www.state.sd.us

Coleen Recommends...

The UPS Store in Rapid City, SD
(formerly Mail Boxes Etc. - MBE)

For Personal and Business Mail Service

Allows the use the same service for both our personal and our business mail.
Has a street address and will accept deliveries from UPS, Fed Ex, and other transports.
Has someone available evenings and Saturdays whom I can speak with about my mail and/or to give forwarding instructions.
Will forward mail according to our schedule.
Will send mail the same day it is requested, including Saturdays.
No charge for calls to the office, regardless of where called from, including pay phones.
Will forward mail according to the method chosen, such as Priority, Overnight, or FedEx.
Has experience with RVers.
Small enough to give customized, personal service.
Large enough to provide continual service, even if one person gets sick or goes on vacation.
Accepts credit card payments.
No set-up or initiation fees.
No additional charges for package handling.
No cancellation fees if service is not renewed.
Offers extras, such as receipt of FAX's.
Since using their service, they have not charged us for any hidden or unexpected fees.
Staff gives me a comfortable gut feeling.

Over the past years, I have done extensive research on mail forwarding services in various states. The UPS Store in Rapid City is the service that I think has the best value. (They are not the cheapest.)

The UPS Store #1884 on West Main Street that we use has new owners (as of January 2005). They are Rory and Sherry Hayman, who also own The UPS Store #3912, on Haines Avenue in Rapid City.

I have worked with Vicki, the manager there, for years. She assures me that under the Haymans' ownership we will continue to receive the same excellent service we have always received. The Haymans also give me this assurance. So far, so good! I continue to recommend The UPS Stores in Rapid City, SD.

New forwarding customers are being referred to Store #3912, where they still have boxes available for rent. Email them at The UPS Store 1884 store1884@theupsstore.com or The UPS Store 3912 store3912@theupsstore.com. Phone numbers: 605-342-7379 or 605-343-2211

Please be sure and tell them Coleen at Workers On Wheels sent you.