Getting Drivers License w/o Home Address

[WinterSmith]

Hi,<br> <br> I know this has probably been asked, but I couldn't find anything that directly addressed my question when I did a search.<br> <br> I currently hold an Ohio DL, but now I'm living in my van (yeah, I did it <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">). I am thinking of eventually moving from Ohio to another state. <br> So here are my 2 questions<br> Q1) If I "move" to another state, do I have to get a DL from that state? (In principle, I could just renew my tags with Ohio every yr)<br> Q2)&nbsp; If you do need a DL from a state if I'm in it for a certain period of time, how does one swing that w/o a home address? <br> <br> I know this probably varies a good deal from state to state, so another way to ask this is whether there is a state (preferably near the south) that does not have strict regulations on either requiring you to register your vehicle in that state (ie that will let me keep my OH plates on) or has a way to get around needing a residential address?<br> <br> TIA,<br> Wintersmith

 

[Nemo]

to the best of my knowledge, you will not be able to get a drivers license without an address. with the 9/11 bs, alot of rules got tighter and that was one of them.. as to having to change your license to be long term in a state, I can only speak for Az.. if you are in state more than 6 months of the year, OR if you get a job.. then legally you MUST change the license to Az.. they dont wanna miss out on the revenue<br><br>as to the address issue, there are ways to try to work in the shadows with it.. easiest might be to change your address to a friends place.&nbsp; granted, you dont really live there, but at least you can legally stay on the road.<br><br>

Hi,<br> <br> I know this has probably been asked, but I couldn't find anything that directly addressed my question when I did a search.<br> <br> I currently hold an Ohio DL, but now I'm living in my van (yeah, I did it <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">). I am thinking of eventually moving from Ohio to another state. <br> So here are my 2 questions<br> Q1) If I "move" to another state, do I have to get a DL from that state? (In principle, I could just renew my tags with Ohio every yr)<br> Q2)&nbsp; If you do need a DL from a state if I'm in it for a certain period of time, how does one swing that w/o a home address? <br> <br> I know this probably varies a good deal from state to state, so another way to ask this is whether there is a state (preferably near the south) that does not have strict regulations on either requiring you to register your vehicle in that state (ie that will let me keep my OH plates on) or has a way to get around needing a residential address?<br> <br> TIA,<br> Wintersmith

 

[WinterSmith]

Thanks for the reply. I guess what I need to check out is what constitutes "proof of address". I've seen some states where they say if you have a bank statement with your address on it that works. Trying to let a friend have you send your mail to their address temporarily is one solution, but if I move to a state where I have no friends (which is the more likely scenario), then this won't work. Since I work independently, not through an employer, I shouldn't have trouble with the "work restriction" you mentioned, and the law that if you are there for x number of months is pretty vague and I may be able to work around it.<br>Probably what I need to do is decide on a handful of states that look good (NC, SC, GA, AL) and look into their laws in more detail.<br>I was just wondering if other people had encountered the same problem and what they did.<br>

 

[Nemo]

when I first hit the road, all I did was change my address to a friends.&nbsp; I think I changed the address on my license as well, but I never wanted any mail anyway &lt;grin&gt; he would just hold it till I eventually ran by.. it would be months between stops.<br>

 

[akrvbob]

I just posted about Nevada's rules here:<br>https://vanlivingforum.com/post/Becoming-a-Nevad-Resident-5876954?pid=1273820980#post1273820980<br><br>In NV you don't need proof of an address, just proof of US residency and a Social Security card. You can use any address and a P.O. Box.<br><br>If at all possible, I strongly suggest that moving out West is far better for a vandweller. First because there is a huge amount of public land you can live on for free. Second because you can avoid temperature extremes. Heat and cold are very difficult to deal with in a van!<br><br>Out west there is a huge amount of free, high elevation National Forest land that is cool in the summer, and BLM desert land that is fairly warm in the winter. So year around the temperatures are reasonably comfortable and you don't have to pay a cent for it, it's free. Here is an example:<br><br>Quartzsite, AZ is in the desert at 300 feet and fairly warm all winter, (and miserably hot all summer.)<br>Flastaff, AZ is at 7500 feet and cool all summer (and quite cold all winter). <br><br>So in the spring you drive 200 miles from Quartzsite to Flagstaff and spend the summer on free NF land where it isn't hot. In the fall you drive back to Quartzsite and stay on free BLM land where it is warm. Plus, it is incredibly beautiful out here!! Bob<br>

 

[Gravediggerjason]

I've always had a Washington license I just use my parents address in Washington as my perm residence. I occasionally work in different states but have always maintained my WA status. As long as you don't linger it's easy enough to maintain your current license. Just go home and renew your tabs n license as needed in fact I lived for three years in Nevada jut made annual trip home to visit and buy tags.&nbsp;

 

[WinterSmith]

<br>... I strongly suggest that moving out West is far better for a vandweller. ... because you can avoid temperature extremes. Heat and cold are very difficult to deal with in a van!<br>

<br><br>Amen, brother. It's cold right NOW at night in Ohio, so I can just imagine what fun winter will be. <br><br>If I do move, it will really be b/c of the weather as I have a pretty good set-up where I am right now (the devil you know, type of deal, I guess).<br><br><br>