avan wrote:
When I 'moved' my domicile to SD about 15 yrs ago, I did so from a computer in VA where we were at the time. Then having my address etc. I changed my vehicle insurance to SD with that garaging address. With my cert of ins., I mailed that to my mail service together with vehicle titles and a check for the fees to my mail forwarding service. They walked it all over to the DMV and a week or so later I got my new plates, registration etc in the mail from my mail forwarder. I still had my DL from my previous state. SD's request, and it was a request, was that I obtain my SD DL within 6 months of 'moving'. When the next summer arrived and we traveled through SD, we went to the SD DL bureau, took their test, turned in our old DL and in 10 min left with our SD DLs. Nothing complicated about it. Same process that we would have used if we weren't FTers.
Don't believe the SD requirements have changed. Daughter went FT a year ago and handled everything from FL (rather than VA as we did) and got her DL months later when she drove through SD. Cops don't care should you be stopped. DL and vehicle plate state often don't match (You rent a car at the airport of another state - do you get all worked up if your rental car doesn't have plates that match your DL state? Ditto if you drive a friend or relative's car or a company car.) Ins companies are interested in the garaging address for rating purposes, not state of registration. In fact many ins companies with home offices located in X state actually are domiciled in Delaware for tax and ease of corporate filing purposes.) The only party that has an interest in your new domicile is your old state because they are losing a census count/taxes. If your ties are cut with them (you are gone etc.) there's not much they can do if they're p.o'd. Most of us aren't important enough and don't have a billion dollars such that our old state gives a cr.p about us and where we "live".
This "problem" I call Full timer paranoia created by the fact that we have a somewhat unconventional lifestyle and we think the so called normal people care.
Cop
Thank you! This was a very helpful & reassuring response! I appreciate it & everyone else's input as well!
