Washington State Residency

I came from NH to Olympia (Thurston county) in 2010. In 2011 I rented a mailbox in Aberdeen (Grays Harbor county), bought a motorhome, did the address change that I posted in this thread, and went FT. BTW my vehicle insurance increased a whopping $3 when I went from Thurston to Grays Harbor.

I'm glad this topic came up. All I have read on FT rv living in Washington is hard to do, due to needing a physical address for licensing.

We called a place and it sounds like it is doable. We currently live in Washington and were thinking about changing to another state, like South Dakota, but will now stay Washingtonians.

Thanks Tony, I've been there once before, but only for a day for training back when I worked for the airlines, and that one day, I have never seen so much beauty in the surrounding area of SEA. I have been yearning to return to Washington since the day I left. Tax and school is not the main reason I want to go up there, it is just the shear beauty. I've been in Florida my whole life, and it seems most of my friends that visits Washington, usually don't return. I will have to adjust from having 3-5" of rain per hour to 3-5" per few days.

I am lucky enough to find a job that allows me to travel, and I get to see the country. I will be spending the majority of the year in Utah, but I won't let that stop me for taking long weekends up there.

You're getting responses from pre-I695. WA car tabs frequently ran over $500 for a newer model back then, now they are less than $50. Every state collects taxes in one way or another, and you'll find that the tax load equates with how much service you get from state government in one way or another. Don't let taxes decide where you live. As far as scenery take a look north of Seattle. Can't be beat! You can cheat on that I-5 rule, just stay west of the mountains..and pay attention to winter flood zones.

That's not to say that, depending on your lifestyle, you cannot find a 'sweetspot' for taxes in one state or another. If you don't own real estate then a state that garners most of it's tax dollars from property taxes is good for you, for example. But for the average citizen of each state it's all pretty even if you look at it in depth. Low tax states offer less in return.

Again, thanks for all of the replies! I have been reading on registration for the vehicles, and so far it is not too much different from Florida.

I am still doing my research, but I might end up setting up my residency in Olympia for now or until I start school.

ol' yeller wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Be prepared to bend over when you license/register your vehicles!!!

HUH? to register my 2008 Aspect last year was just under $100. And I live in King County where the taxes are higher than the rest of the state. License fees here are very reasonable compared to many other places plus there is no personal property tax like in other places.

YOU already live there!!! I am fully aware of the Washington Tax system living there the first 57 years of my life.

The OP is considering MOVING to WA.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Be prepared to bend over when you license/register your vehicles!!!

HUH? to register my 2008 Aspect last year was just under $100. And I live in King County where the taxes are higher than the rest of the state. License fees here are very reasonable compared to many other places plus there is no personal property tax like in other places.

Be prepared to bend over when you license/register your vehicles!!!

When I called some months ago I was told I'd need to pay tax on my current motor home ( I paid no tax as I live in Oregon ) I bought it well over a year ago. My plan way to " move in " with my son outside Spokane . It was 8 % of purchase or the current value which they would determine , and other fees ) ... On a 140000, coach that's not small Change !
Did I get wrong information? , I wouldn't be surprised, but the conversation sure made me run

So proxima, what can you do... other than ignoring those in this thread who would try to dissuade you from becoming a WA resident?

If you plan to live in an RV from October to May in an RV in WA then your want to live west of I-5 (as a general rule). I-5 is treated like the winter rain/snow divider - rain west of I-5, snow east of I-5. Wintering in an RV on the rainy side of WA is very doable. I'm a resident of Aberdeen, WA but I'm in Sequim (the least wet part of WA in the winter).

Having said that, how about getting a library card at Timberland Regional Library. TRL has 27 libraries, 2 cooperative library centers and 4 library kiosks in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in Southwest Washington State. linky

1) call a UPS store or parcel store that is located in a WA county of your choice and use a credit card to rent a private mailbox. Have them email or fax to you the 2 signature forms. One form authorizes then to receive mail on your behalf from the USPS. The other form gives them signature authorization to sign for mail/packages that require your signature. Then send the forms back to the store.

2) have a couple of bills sent to your new private mailbox.

3) sign up online for a library card.

4) Visit WA and go to a DOL location. I'm not sure if a (3rd party) Licensing Agency store will do. Get a drivers license with the mailbox address. The DOL can also register you to vote. Just ask. You may choose to register your vehicle(s) at this time. linky I think you can have them mail the WA license plates to you out of state (double check that). You'll have to obtain WA vehicle insurance as well.

You're in. Another interesting residency link from the WA Dept of Revenue.

Then one year after the issue date on your drivers license you will qualify for in-state tuition.