Picking a resident state

[sl1966]

I've been doing my homework on this one for a while. From everything I've read South Dakota seems to the be most full timer friendly of them all. However when I met Bob earlier this year, he mentioned that Nevada is also a great state for this. Most full timer residency states tend to be non-income tax states.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>From my research there are currently nine ...</div><div><table cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" width="100%" align="center" border="1" style="font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><tbody><tr><td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><strong>Alaska</strong></p></td><td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><strong>New Hampshire</strong></td><td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><strong>Tennessee</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><strong>Florida</strong></td><td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><strong>South Dakota</strong></td><td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><strong>Washington</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><strong>Nevada</strong></td><td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><strong>Texas</strong></td><td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 12px/14px arial, verdana, sans-serif; "><strong>Wyoming</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div><br></div><div>I'm still trying to make up my mind which state to pick. I would like to know what state you picked, why, and what does it offer you (by this I mean things laws which benefit, mail in registration, mail service etc),</div></div></div>

 

[MargaretA]

One thing you might want to consider, depending on how you plan to do this, is whether the state you pick has a residency requirement. Having no income tax to pay is great, but if you need to spend, say, 6 months out of every year there in order to keep your residency that might be a problem if you plan on traveling all the time.<br><br>I would suggest that you check into the residency requirements for the states you've listed to see which ones will work with your plans. That will help make your decision easier.<br><br>Meg<br><br>

 

[sl1966]

I have and there are no such requirements with the state I'm leaning towards. I live in one of the other states on the list so I know two of them very well now.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>I'm putting this out there to find out what reason others chose state x, y, or z to be sure I'm picking the right one for me.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks&nbsp;</div>

 

[sl1966]

Oh and there are no requirements to spend any amount of time in either South Dakota or Texas once residency is established.

 

[user 423]

Other things to consider are insurance costs (which can vary widely by state) and vehicle inspection requirements.<br>

 

[sl1966]

South Dakota has been rated as #49 in the most to least expensive states for auto insurance. There are also no yearly inspection or smog requirements.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>In Texas a yearly vehicle inspection is required. There are no smog requirements with the exception of those living in the city of Austin. What I pay in auto insurance in 6 months here is roughly what I would pay for the year in SD (Truck and trailer).</div><div><br></div>

 

[Guest]

<font face="Arial">Bare minimum Insurance (PIP) Rates, </font><font face="Arial">on a 24 year old vehicle, with a </font><font face="Arial">perfect driving record, discounts for alarms, seat belts, only driver of the vehicle, being with geico for 8 yrs and having a CDL</font>..<font face="Arial">:<br><br>FL = $960 per year<br>AZ = $425 per year (and in AZ, my Chevy's on the "Most Stolen List")<br>NH = $0&nbsp; you don't have to carry insurance if you have no accidents.<br><br>Renew registration</font><font face="Arial"> - (with custom tag)<br>FL = $130/year</font><br><font face="Arial">AZ = $42/year <br>NH = $35/year<br><br>FL, NH &amp; AZ - NO safety inspection, NO emissions (unless you live in Phoenix or Tucson) and NO Lift Law in FL or AZ.<br>NH went Nazi on their Lift Law and my truck is no longer legal there.<br><br>States with NO income tax : FL, TX, NH, AK, NV, SD, WA, WY<br><br></font>

 

[vonu]

Domiciled in WY with a 20 year clean CDL.<div>Progressive is $125 semi-annual for twice state minimum with uninsured driver and premium accidental medical.</div><div>Renewal on 2003 van is just over $100.</div><div>Mail catching service is $96 a year.</div><div>4 x 6 storage shed is $162 a year.</div><div>Wyoming is one of the few states with a balanced budget and no deficit.</div>

 

[sl1966]

Thanks Vonu! That's like the 5th time I've heard good things about Progressive Ins when it comes to full timing. I was dreading having to go with Good Sam's higher rates when I make the switch next year.

 

[vonu]

Thanks Vonu! That's like the 5th time I've heard good things about Progressive Ins when it comes to full timing. I was dreading having to go with Good Sam's higher rates when I make the switch next year.

<div><br></div><div>Just so you know, Tegeler Insurance, the agent I use, refuses to write for state minimum, which is why I'm insured for twice, their minimum. I do not know if they are good with RV coverage.</div><div>They also require the uninsured driver and premium accident medical coverage, with which I agree.</div><div>Additionally, since I seldom am "home" to catch my renewal bill and ID card, Progressive's online service will let you know when your premium is due and payable, and will fax you a temporary ID card, or a proof of insurance.</div>

 

[Guest]

Glen over at To Simplify writes somewhere about why he chose South Dakota. <br><DIV>Relocating to South Dakota</DIV><br>One of the advantages he's noted is the mail service: <A href="http://mydakotaaddress.com/" target=_blank><FONT color=#ff8900>mydakotaaddress.com</FONT></A><br><br>

<br><DIV>At any rate, big kudos to Terri at <A href="http://mydakotaaddress.com/" target=_blank><FONT color=#ff8900>mydakotaaddress.com</FONT></A> for handling the registration process so smoothly for me. Any fellow nomads out there shopping around for a new mail-forwarding/residency-change service, take note!

</DIV><DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>

 

[cjmccormick]

I just came across this website:&nbsp;<a href="http://changingears.com/rv-sec-state-residency.shtml" target="_blank">http://changingears.com/rv-sec-state-residency.shtml</a><div><br></div><div>Very informative.Hope it helps.</div>

 

[sl1966]

I found this link recently and thought it might help out a little in your decision. It may give you some further insight into which state to become an official resident of and which states you might want to physically reside in (depending on season).&nbsp;<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://247wallst.com/2012/08/08/the-states-where-people-will-and-wont-want-to-live/">http://247wallst.com/2012/08/08/the-states-where-people-will-and-wont-want-to-live/<br /><br /></a>

 

[wandering mike]

An important point to remember is that if you set up residence in a state and travel and then gradually settle down in another state, you will by your very actions become a resident of that state. &nbsp;It doesn't matter where your mail goes or if you don't get your license changed. &nbsp;If you tell someone you know that you are a resident of South Dakota and they snicker and say "yeah, sure, whatever you say", you may need to look at what you are doing that makes him or her snicker.<br /><br />Picking and choosing a state of residence other than where you spend most of your time really only works for full time travelers who don't stay too long in any state.<br /><br />The link Arathi posted just a couple before this one is a good one on this point towards the end.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I know you can get the registration etc pretty simply but how do you guys get the license with no lease or bills?&nbsp; The DMV here requires 3 pieces of documentation showing where you you live to change/get a license in the state (notarized lease, utility bills).&nbsp; I assumed it was the same elsewhere.

 

[wandering mike]

Here is the <a href="http://www.transportation.wv.gov/dmv/Drivers-Licenses/Pages/default.aspx">link to the WV DMV</a> page on it. &nbsp;It looks like you can find the relevant documents with a bit of effort if you want to. &nbsp;States all have some way for us homeless people to register to vote and get a DL. &nbsp;It pretty much comes with the laws that are turning Driver's licenses and such into National ID cards.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[sl1966]

An important point to remember is that if you set up residence in a state and travel and then gradually settle down in another state, you will by your very actions become a resident of that state. &nbsp;It doesn't matter where your mail goes or if you don't get your license changed. &nbsp;If you tell someone you know that you are a resident of South Dakota and they snicker and say "yeah, sure, whatever you say", you may need to look at what you are doing that makes him or her snicker.<br /><br />Picking and choosing a state of residence other than where you spend most of your time really only works for full time travelers who don't stay too long in any state.<br /><br />The link Arathi posted just a couple before this one is a good one on this point towards the end.

<br /><br />To an extent yes, but I didn't quite mean staying someplace in any way that makes you a resident of said state. If you boondock and bunny hop around the area (multiple states) then you're not likely to become a resident of said state. So to clarify beyond a shadow of a doubt. I'm talking about jumping around the southwestern states during the winter.&nbsp;<br /><br />

 

[sl1966]

err ..or in other words, i did a piss poor job of explaining myself with that new link. sorry, one of the perils of working in administrative computer support is having to put out fires constantly and at the drop of a hat.<br /><br />

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I was looking at the SD address thing and it looks like they have a residency affidavit for full timers that just requires a campground receipt for the proof of address part, nifty.<br /><br />I have my license in WV, (un?)fortunately i had a lot of bills to show em <img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; But i didnt know some of the stuff on list C (shelters, battered womens etc), pretty cool of them.

 

[offroad]

I know you can get the registration etc pretty simply but how do you guys get the license with no lease or bills?&nbsp; The DMV here requires 3 pieces of documentation showing where you you live to change/get a license in the state (notarized lease, utility bills).&nbsp; I assumed it was the same elsewhere.

<br /><br />In south carolina I just needed a statement from my bank that I was a resident.&nbsp; money in the bank talks.&nbsp;