domcile

Man.. some creative ways around things. Puts John Kerry's yacht registration to shame (grin).

Just kidding. Sounds like you're getting some good advice here.

Mike

I have always found the location of the vehicle, is of more importance than my personal residence. At one time, a few years back, I had vehicles registered and tagged in 4 different states at the same time. Was not a problem except for my insurance company, they had issues with it. But I made sure that I didn't take the vehicles registered in Oklahoma to Colorado, when we lived, voted, had our daughters in school, etc. The Oklahoma vehicles were registered to our ranch address there, the other two the same as we were house poor, 4 of them, until we sold them off down to two, the one in Colorado and the one we owned here in Florida.

However, when we moved from Alaska, where we had purchased our vehicles in previous years, ( a non-sales tax state) to Colorado, a highly aggressive sales tax collecting state,) we got hit with having to pay sales tax in Colorado to the tune of just over $7,400 to tag the vehicles the first year. Also had to pay income tax on our Alaska retirement to Colorado each year we lived there. (Alaska being a non-income tax state). But that is a different issue.

I would think the OP could go ahead and establish residency in Texas, mailing address, physical address such as the Escapees Club RV Park in Texas, get Texas drivers license, etc. Then go to Florida to buy the RV and drive it back to Texas with a temp tag on it and register it in Texas. Then leave the RV in Texas. DON'T take the RV back to the Wisconsin address and park it in the drive way for any long period of time. People that I know that have gotten in trouble, with their state have been those that appear to be trying to avoid paying taxes due, where they are living. Just leave the vehicle(s) in the state where they are registered and tagged. Once the OP moves to Texas, no longer a problem and the RV can go anywhere they wish.

When we owned the ranch in Oklahoma, I would at times, when the weather was nice, ride my motorcycle over from western Colorado, where it was tagged, where we lived. I would get one of my pickups (with OK tags) out of the shop building and use it as a daily driver while in Oklahoma. Several times I got stopped for the impromptu sobriety check points run by the state police. (something I like to see done) Every time i would be asked about driving an Oklahoma tagged vehicle with a Colorado drivers license. After I would tell them that I lived in Colorado and that the truck lived in Oklahoma, they were fine with that answer and send me on my way.

Also , you' CLAIM' domicile , you do not have to live there . Many people do that , military ,diplomats , over the road truckers , even offshore sailboat delivery skippers " me ". I claimed Florida at Volusia county courthouse and they did not see me for 13 years .

I believe that you are over thinking this . Stop in Texas , rent a mailbox , one of drivers get a Texas drivers license , find your motor home .

We were Maryland residents when we bought an RV in Florida and had it titled and registered in Florida. We had a Florida address (mail service) to use for insurance and titling. We were Maryland residents when we purchased our towed in Maryland and had it titled and registered in Florida. Whether you can do that with Texas depends on whether or not Texas allows non-residents to title and register vehicles (Florida does). Check the Texas DMV website for more information. We did not pay Maryland sales tax - we paid Florida's.

mh3860sh wrote:
we want to buy a motorhome next month in florida. we now live in wisconsin, but when my dw retires in june we are changing our home state to texas. my questions--i do not want to pay sales tax,registration and title fees in wisconsin. is there a simple way to accomplish this? we're ready for the road. thanks for info

Lots of good advise. Is the motorhome new or used? Have you shopped Texas? Buying in Texas would eliminate part of the problem.
Bill

Are you selling your home? Attempting to establish Texas as your residence to avoid taxes while actually living in another state would constitute fraud.

X2 - Contact Escapees and have a long talk with them. Good people.

The simple way (you may not think it simple) would be to go to Texas first, do everything needed to establish domicile, before purchasing the motorhome. If you want to buy the motorhome in another state, you will have to take it to Texas to title it (may be VIN inspection for that if it is used) and register for tags (safety inspection for that, before first registration and annually).

Some of the process meshes together. You might need a Texas driver's license and address to get a Texas title, and probably need the home address to get a driver's license. Neither of these requires domicile (a Texas address only), but does help establish domicile. Liability insurance will be governed by the laws of the state where the motorhome is licensed and by where it is "garaged" if that is different.

For Texas, it might help if you talk to Escapees, they are in the Texas domicile business.

I don't know that Florida is a particularly better RV buyer's market than Texas, but maybe you already have your eye on a particular motorhome in Florida.

darsben wrote:
I believe you will need a special RV DRIVERS LICENSE FOR Texas.
Either Class A or B depending on your rig and reciprocity with your state probably will NOT apply so you will have to test out.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/dlClasses.htm

Adults (18 and Older)
Applicants who have a valid, unexpired driver license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, or from Canada must surrender their out of state/country driver license and are not required to take the knowledge or skills exams.

no special license for personal RV use in Texas https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/dlClasses.htm