Picking a State

[Stonewall]

We have been running the roads for about a year now but it is time for us to settle on a home state.   We have looked on the internet but just am not finding what we need.  I might not be asking the right questions.   We need to get a street address in a state with no inspections, no income tax and low insurance rates.  I know it is alot to ask but I think it is out there.  We think that South Dakota has all this but not sure how to get a street address that we can use with living there.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Stonewall

[LindaH]

South Dakota, Texas, and Florida are the most popular states for fulltimers to use as a domicile.  None of them have an income tax, vehicle registration fees are reasonable, and they allow the use of a mail forwarding address for establishing domicile.  While Texas does have an annual vehicle inspection, you do not have to return to the state just for an inspection, but it does need to be done within a certain time from once you return to the state.  There ARE differences among these states though, so some research on your part will be necessary to determine which one is suitable for your circumstances.

Once you've determined which state is best, the next thing to look for is a mail forwarding service in the state.  If you select Texas, there is none better than that provided by the Escapees RV Club, www.escapees.com (a club that, IMO, all fulltimers should belong to).

In South Dakota, there are many mail forwarding services, many of which advertise in the various RV magazines.  We use Alternative Resources in Sioux Falls and have had very good service from them, www.alternativeresources.net.

I'm not as familiar with the mail forwarding services in Florida, except I know Good Sam's mail forwarding is located in that state and I *think* Passport America's mail forwarding service is, too.

[LindaH]

This site apparently will only allow you to type so many words into the box.

I wanted to add...what have you been doing for mail, driver's licenses, vehicle registration, insurance, etc., for the year you've been on the road?

[Stonewall]

Hi Linda

Right now we are still using WV and a friends address.  But it is now time to renew DL's and tages will soon be do.  We just want to get it do once and for all.  We have been really thinking that South Dakota is our best bet.  We do like to Gold prospect and have learned that there is some good places to do that there.  I take it your from there what is the camping like there??

Stonewall

[LindaH]

No, we are not *from* South Dakota, if by that you mean we've lived in a sticks & bricks in the state...we just use it as our domicile state.  We haven't really spent a lot of time in SD other than what has been required to get initial and renewal driver's licenses and register to vote (and touring the Black Hills area).

[Stonewall]

Cool  I want to thank you for the info.  After reading all the info you sent we have decided to use that state too.  thanks

[HRtravel]

Just so you know the rules in Fla have changed. You must have an address(lease or mortgage, birth certificate, or at least one of the following: utility bill, state auto registration.voter registration, which you can't get without the above. PO Boxes can no longer be used