If you know who the previous owner is, he could apply for a duplicate title.
In South Dakota there is something called a "title 91" I believe. If there is a title and it changed hands a couple of times and still has not been changed over to another party, you can somehow get it done. Never tried it though.
Bonding here costs $300-400 and the title is under question for 2-3 years. If no previous owners come forward in that time, then the title come clean to you.
Good luck.
