Advice on leaving California

2 things I don't see in this thread....

It seems common for people to take delivery of motorhomes in Nevada, even if a California resident purchasing from a California dealer, to avoid California sales tax. If the RV never crosses the state line they cannot tax it.

On the residence thing, theses days for pre medicare folks, the biggie on domicile will be "where can I "(not) live" and still get nationwide obamacare coverage?
We can always hope this will become a moot point, but for now, a nationwide network is huge for travelling RVers, and you cannot get those from everywhere.

PUB 52 Vehicles and Vessels: Use Tax

This publication was updated January 15, 2015 this is what I used for instructions for an out of state purchase. When I did this it was less restrictive for the time limits required for the RV to be out of state.

I took delivery of the RV and then established residency in SD about 7 months later. The RV was out of the state more than in.

JimR

Thanks guys this is all REALLY good stuff.

And tsetsaf I am VERY familar with California use tax. I own an airplane here and this is one of the many reasons I am leaving California. I love it here but I'm tired of it.

I really appreciate all the device. I just want to have a plan A and B to get me on the road. But knowing me and plans I follow the first few steps and then start winging it. :)

Take a look at Boe Pub 52. Depending on your goals this can save thousands. We just completed the requirements and saved $3500.

Native Kalifornians here. Left Florida in 2013 for Florida. We have a mail forwarding service in Pensacola Fl. American Home Base. They have tons of information on how what when etc. They provide a physical address which helped. Sold our house, already had the RV. Do take your time doing extensive research on the sales tax thing. If you take delivery in Calif you may be stuck.

Hmmm, you might want to fly to Florida to pick up your new RV which will bring revenue to my new state of residence. Then drive it back at your leisure to break it in.

As executive said, get an address first. We got one from Goodsam Mail in Crestview, FL. Has worked great so far. Then we purchased our rig and had the dealer register and title it in Florida. You will pay FL sales tax, not CA.

Once you have a vehicle registered in FL, it is really easy to get a DL there, using the registration as proof of address. We also changed our bank account address just to make it easy.

We bought the vehicle after we sold the house but before we went to settlement. Because we owned a house and were not full timers, our interest rate was 1% less and the loan was easier to get.

At the dealership, we went online to Progressive.com and bought insurance. It was incredibly easy and took all of seven minutes. We got the much much cheaper Crestview rates because we were registering our vehicle there.

About a month or so later, after settlement, we went to FL and got drivers' licenses.

I would do it in two steps. Legally move to a no sales tax state and buy your 5er (assuming new) if you have to pay KS sales tax. If you transfer a vehicle to Fla that you have not owned for more than six months they will make you to pay sales tax, again.
You can still buy a used non-motorized vehicle in GA from an individual and there is no sales tax. After six months you can move to Fla.

X2 exactly what Dennis said. Don't overthink it.

I decided to retire, sell our stix n brix home in NorCal and go full time. We also decided to buy a newer, bigger motor home to full time in. Six months before my retirement, we began transferring our residency to South Dakota.

First stop was enrolling with Americas Mailbox. (there's others of course) This meant transferring our bank accounts, voter registration everything we could, we transferred to SD. We love the internet and since you're going full time, you'll be doing all your banking, bill paying etc on line.

My advice is to determine which state you want to declare as your resident state. You mentioned Florida. If that's your choice pick a mail forwarding service and begin transferring all your financial, medical and business to that state. This will establish your intent. Change your voter registration also. Then you can start on your registration and driver's licenses.good luck...Dennis

svanarts wrote:
My plan is to buy a 5th wheel out of state and at that time move out of California. Probably domicile in Florida. Does anyone have any advice on how best to do this? Especially timing-wise?

I know I'll need to get a driver's licens and register my vehicles. But is it as simple as that? Has anyone on the forum left California this way? Any advice. Thank you!

Oh, and Happy Easter!

I don't get it...What the problem?...

You've got a good plan

1. Move out of CA Case closed.

P.S. Oregon is not that good of deal anymore according to my 87 year old Father in Law. He says "Oregon is no longer giving away land, so why come here"? (He spends way to much time haying, and at 87).