Which State to pick for residence

Clay L wrote:
SD has no inspection sticker and no smog tests. They have no personal property tax. There is a one time excise tax of 3% on cars and motor homes.
Registration/plate renewal can be done on-line.

TX requires inspection stickers and I think smog checks in some counties but am not 100% sure about that.In the past it has not been necessary to return each year to update the inspection sticker. You had to get a new one within some period of time after you came back.
Now there is a new requirement that says you have to have a valid inspection sticker before you can renew your registration. That will prevent on-line registration/plate renewal.
There are posts saying that does apply to full timers.
TX has a 6% excise on car and motor home purchases.

SD excise tax is *not* due on vehicles that tax in some other state was paid.

Ex: (CA OP take note!)
My CA pickup on which I had already paid CA sales tax when it was purchased new in CA - had *no* SD excise tax due.

The new trailer I had just purchased in MT (no sales tax) had 3% SD excise tax due.

And - for gee whiz value....the license fee for the pickup was over $600. in CA, in 2005.
Reg in SD in 2006 = $65.

Added bonus - *NO* special driver's license required to tow heavy trailers or drive MHs.
No test req'd. Walk in to DMV, hand in your current DL.
Ten minutes later, walk out with SD DL.

However - *if* you have a SD DL (not req'd for vehicle registration), you will have to return to SD to renew (you can get a 1 yr extension w/out returning).

BTW - The state of SD has a population of 750K.
Many *cities* in CA (and TX) have larger populations.
Numbers (less populated) work in your favor.

~

Maybe ask on a website that specializes in this question:

http://walkingtofreedom.com

SD has no inspection sticker and no smog tests. They have no personal property tax. There is a one time excise tax of 3% on cars and motor homes.
Registration/plate renewal can be done on-line.

TX requires inspection stickers and I think smog checks in some counties but am not 100% sure about that.In the past it has not been necessary to return each year to update the inspection sticker. You had to get a new one within some period of time after you came back.
Now there is a new requirement that says you have to have a valid inspection sticker before you can renew your registration. That will prevent on-line registration/plate renewal.
There are posts saying that does apply to full timers.
TX has a 6% excise on car and motor home purchases.

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

LynnandCarol wrote:
TX! Escapee Club. Your mail service will serve as your home address. We do know folks that prefer S. Dakota. Not sure why.

South Dakota - benefits such as cheaper insurance, etc.
Check with America's Mailbox or other SD mail forwarding service for benefits & options.

Escapees is another option - for TX residence & mail forwarding.
(IMO - SD is the better of the two - been there, done that.)

Florida is a long haul (from CA for the OP) if you need to physically go there for DL, etc.

For the OP - *if* you own and have been in your CA S&B long enough to have low property taxes due to Prop 13......better check your options (and costs) carefully before you burn any bridges!..;)

~

The choice is confusing. Does anyone know, are you required to return to Texas , Nevada or SD for vehicle smog checks? Do these states have a personal property tax?

LynnandCarol wrote:
TX! Escapee Club. Your mail service will serve as your home address. We do know folks that prefer S. Dakota. Not sure why.

South Dakota - benefits such as cheaper insurance, etc.
Check with America's Mailbox or other SD mail forwarding service for benefits & options.

Escapees is another option - for TX residence & mail forwarding.
(IMO - SD is the better of the two - been there, done that.)

Florida is a long haul (from CA for the OP) if you need to physically go there for DL, etc.

For the OP - *if* you own and have been in your CA S&B long enough to have low property taxes due to Prop 13......better check your options (and costs) carefully before you burn any bridges!..;)

~

we have some close friends that lived in SoCal. they decided to become full-timers, 2-3 years ago and both did a lot of research. they decided to pick South Dakota for their residence.
they felt that S.D. had more positives for full-timers, than any other state.

goducks10 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Mr Steve wrote:
Has anyone thought of Washington? any issues with Washington as your state as far as taxes etc? I see no state income tax,any other things I might be missing?

if you have to periodically return for some reason, driver's license, etc. it certainly is isolated and off the beaten path.
bumpy

Are there paved roads in WA? :)

none in Oregon but they start paving them at the WA state line. :)
bumpy

goducks10 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Mr Steve wrote:
Has anyone thought of Washington? any issues with Washington as your state as far as taxes etc? I see no state income tax,any other things I might be missing?

if you have to periodically return for some reason, driver's license, etc. it certainly is isolated and off the beaten path.
bumpy

Are there paved roads in WA? :)

very good points.

Bumpyroad wrote:

Mr Steve wrote:
Has anyone thought of Washington? any issues with Washington as your state as far as taxes etc? I see no state income tax,any other things I might be missing?

if you have to periodically return for some reason, driver's license, etc. it certainly is isolated and off the beaten path.
bumpy

Are there paved roads in WA? :)

The TX thing is for current registrants also, and would not allow you to just wait until you come back into the state. The escapees organization is working trying to get this new proposed regulation amended to allow an exception for full-timers or people traveling, or on vacation, working out of state at the time their renewals are due.