STURGIS, S.D. – After many years of the SD Department of Revenue (SDDOR) telling counties a new method of licensing motor vehicles was going to be implemented only to be scrapped, 2025 will finally be the year of change.
The new system, the first in decades, should ultimately streamline the licensing system and result in more information being available at the county level.
The Meade County Treasurer’s Office has been preparing for this system transfer. Staff has been studying the new computer forms. The county’s IT staff has been connecting the new computer technology necessary to implement the system and new hardware purchased.
Meade County Treasurer Robin Shrake said the office is prepared.
Shrake explained the time frame that will take place in February.
On Valentine’s Day, it will be impossible for anyone in South Dakota to license or title a car, snowmobile, boat – anything. This is because the state is shutting down its entire system so IT people in Pierre can complete the system rollover. This date was chosen because it is a Friday followed by a Monday holiday, President Day. This gives the IT experts and Pierre SDDOR personnel time to make sure everything will be a “go” when the new system goes “live” on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Shrake said this modernization of vehicle registration, titles and dealer system named “605 Drive” is a welcomed improvement. “Our office staff is looking forward to learning and using this new software.”
Shrake said, the public should not notice any difference in buying their licenses with the new system.
Licensing is a huge part of the treasurer’s office workload. In 2024 more than $11 million in licensing transactions were handled by Meade County staff. Of this amount, more than $8 million was then forwarded to the state treasury in Pierre.
Shrake said the current system, dubbed SDCars, has functional deficiencies. The dated nature of the current system resulted in SDDOR having limited support and minimal staff knowledgeable about how to maintain the system.
The state annually reviews the lives of critical systems infrastructure. While ongoing investments have extended the life of the system numerous times, the system has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.
“We are looking forward to being able to serve our Meade County residents more efficiently with this improved system,” Shrake concluded.
