include certain types of vehicles in the unpaid repair bill titling process.

Unpaid repair claims cover more vehicles

South Dakota expands its unpaid-repair-bill title process beyond motor vehicles to boats, mopeds, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and trailers. A person holding an item for an unpaid repair bill can apply for title after it remains unclaimed on private property for 30 days following notice. The Department of Revenue provides the title holder’s and readily identifiable lien holders’ last known names and addresses for free. The holder must use the department’s form and send certified-mail notice to the owner’s last known address and any insurer or lien holder. Notice must give the item’s location, how it was acquired, year, make, model, serial or hull identification number, and reclaim rights. If the relevant identities and addresses cannot reasonably be found, notice must appear once in a local newspaper. Newspaper notices can be grouped. Owners, insurers, and lien holders can reclaim the item by paying reasonable repair costs. A lien holder can add that payment to the loan secured by the item. A party intending to reclaim must notify the department and repair facility within 30 days of receiving notice. If the item is not claimed and removed within 30 days after mailing the intent-to-reclaim notice, ownership passes permanently to the compliant repair-bill holder. The item must be sold at public auction. Money left after settling the debt goes to the prior owner, insurer, and others with a legal interest. If they cannot be identified or contacted, that money goes to the state treasurer as unclaimed property.