escapes in texas

Ray & June wrote:
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Check the tax and registration advantages of Texas, Florida and South Dakota before you make your decision.

I would add medical services to your list.
bumpy

The Escapees club is a wonderful very inexpensive organization to join, and you will never find friendlier more devoted RVers anywhere.

We've only been members for 18 months, but will continue to join for as long as we drive.

Just outside of Temecula CA is undoubtably the most beautiful campground we've stayed in. They had no vacany in the sites, so we "boondocked" for $5 dollars a night. The average price of a campground in that area is $45-65 a night.

We are domiciled in SD, but joined Escapees because of the savings. We won't give them up. Wonderful orginization.

Check the tax and registration advantages of Texas, Florida and South Dakota before you make your decision.

proxim2020 wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
Escapees has lots of good information available online. Something that does not seem to be forthcoming on here. The tax implications may be far more important than a safety sticker. The Escapees has a huge mail forwarding service which will give you a clue as to how popular they are.

Here in Texas we don't have a state income tax. Also we don't have personal property tax on RVs. Our sales and use tax is 6.25% - 8.25%. When it comes to buying vehicles the max is 6.25%. You just have a registration and inspection fee.

Texas Registration Fee Schedule

TX was good tax wise if you don't own taxable property, house, etc. I figured that property tax, added MUD tax, etc. on a reasonably priced residence would just about equal the savings on state income taxes.
bumpy

TomG2 wrote:
Escapees has lots of good information available online. Something that does not seem to be forthcoming on here. The tax implications may be far more important than a safety sticker. The Escapees has a huge mail forwarding service which will give you a clue as to how popular they are.

Here in Texas we don't have a state income tax. Also we don't have personal property tax on RVs. Our sales and use tax is 6.25% - 8.25%. When it comes to buying vehicles the max is 6.25%. You just have a registration and inspection fee.

Texas Registration Fee Schedule

Bumpyroad wrote:

10 minute safety inspection? drive there, wait in line, etc.
just another bunch of red tape to deal with that can be easily avoided by "living" in a state with less hassle.
bumpy

Nah, it's not all that bad. It's not the DMV. The process normally goes like this:

- Call up a nearby shop and say, "Y'all got a spot for me?"
- They say, "Come on down!" Just like Rod Roddy did on the Price is Right.
- After about 10 minutes or so you pay $7, they hand you a vehicle inspection report.
- You ride off into the sunset with your wagon in tow.

Easy peasy. All of that only needs to happen if you're going to be here for more than 3 days really. It's been a few years, but last time I checked more than half of the Escapees members declared Texas as their residence. Seems to be a non issue for them.

Escapees has lots of good information available online. Something that does not seem to be forthcoming on here. The tax implications may be far more important than a safety sticker. The Escapees has a huge mail forwarding service which will give you a clue as to how popular they are.

jackbuck wrote:
Well Bumpy you are one less person we will have to stand in line behind.

speaking of smart ass answers.
:s
bumpy

Well Bumpy you are one less person we will have to stand in line behind.

proxim2020 wrote:
. If you are really inconvenienced by a basic 10 minute safety inspection conveniently located at hundreds of approved inspections stations throughout the state, then by all means register somewhere else.

10 minute safety inspection? drive there, wait in line, etc.
just another bunch of red tape to deal with that can be easily avoided by "living" in a state with less hassle.
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:

so you are saying to totally eliminate Texas as a place to visit for the rest of your life? do you take a chance cutting across TX, which IIRC takes a couple of days, without a current inspection? just make SD your state of residence and avoid the hassle.
bumpy

You are more than welcome to come back to the State of Texas without a current inspection, it's expected. The condition of an out of state registration is that you will have the vehicle inspected within 3 days of retuning to the state. This was specifically something that the Escapees group lobbied for. Essentially you have a 3 day inspection waiver. When a person renews out of state, their registration is flagged as "self certified" in the computer system. All it means is that the registration is valid, but pending an inspection once the vehicle returns. You will be sent a current registration sticker just as you would normally.

I don't really see an issue for people who are just passing through. If you're actually visiting Texas then it would make sense just to spend the 10 minute to clear the flag. If you are really inconvenienced by a basic 10 minute safety inspection conveniently located at hundreds of approved inspections stations throughout the state, then by all means register somewhere else.