Forum Discussion

ken_burke's avatar
ken_burke
Explorer
Nov 28, 2014

Florida Full Time Residence

All . . . . We are going to change our residency from PA to Florida during this December. Does anybody have a check list of what you have to do to get a Florida residency? And in what order??
thanks . . .
We are going to go through a mail order service. Any recommendations?
What is a good reliable truck insurance, RV insurance, and homeowners insurance?
We are in Florida during the winter..
thanks for your help
  • Wingn's avatar
    Wingn
    Explorer
    Nov 28, 2014
    St. Brendan Isle mail service in Green cove Springs FL, does a great job. We been with them over 4 years.
  • dahkota's avatar
    dahkota
    Explorer
    Nov 28, 2014
    We just did this in August. We use GoodSamMail (MyRVMail) and have had exceptional service. First, we got the mailbox. Once we had the address, we changed our bank account and an investment account to their address. Then we bought auto insurance (online through Progressive). Then we got our registrations, and then our driver's licenses. The whole process took a couple of weeks as we had to wait for our bank and investment account to create a statement with our new addresses (these are used as proof of address).

    With progressive, we have auto, rv, and fulltimers insurance (part of the rv insurance). They are significantly lower than our previous insurance in the state of Maryland (due to location).

    Best of luck! It was a pain but it wasn't difficult. Florida makes it pretty easy.
  • MTPockets1's avatar
    MTPockets1
    Explorer
    Nov 28, 2014
    dahkota wrote:
    We just did this in August. We use GoodSamMail (MyRVMail) and have had exceptional service. First, we got the mailbox. Once we had the address, we changed our bank account and an investment account to their address. Then we bought auto insurance (online through Progressive). Then we got our registrations, and then our driver's licenses. The whole process took a couple of weeks as we had to wait for our bank and investment account to create a statement with our new addresses (these are used as proof of address).

    With progressive, we have auto, rv, and fulltimers insurance (part of the rv insurance). They are significantly lower than our previous insurance in the state of Maryland (due to location).

    Best of luck! It was a pain but it wasn't difficult. Florida makes it pretty easy.
    . Ditto that. Had this service over two yrs, love the ability to check on-line and see what mail is there, the weights, and then choose any method to send to whatever address I key in.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Nov 28, 2014
    If you have owned your camper less than 6 months you will have to pay Fla sales tax. You can buy two year tags for it.
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Nov 28, 2014
    Are you moving here permanently or just trying to use Florida as a domicile?

    I'll tell you right now you will not be able to use Florida as a domicile while you are full-timing. Those days are LONG gone.

    I am STILL trying to get my Florida DL and I actually moved here.

    You can thank the new ID laws and The Patriot Act for making life difficult. AND the fact Florida is in an all out war to make living here part time or pretending to for reaping 'any' of the benefits, virtually impossible.

    No longer can you get a Florida license in a heartbeat without proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you live here 365 days a year. And a postal mailing forward address will not fly with the FL DMV.

    Also be prepared to pay $400 ON TOP of the registration fee for each vehicle you bring from out of state in to Florida.

    AND.....hang on to your wallet and clutch your heart when you find out what homeowners insurance costs are in Florida compared to where you used to live.
  • dahkota's avatar
    dahkota
    Explorer
    Nov 28, 2014
    If you have owned your vehicle less that 6 months, AND you state charges less than 6% sales tax, you will pay the difference to the state of Florida (MD charges 6% so we paid nothing).

    As I stated, we had NO problems becoming residents of Florida. Getting our driver's licenses took 30 minutes for the two of us and most of that was waiting in line and waiting for the picture. We did have bank account info and investment account info and car registration and car insurance all at the same address - the Good Sam Mail Service.

    We also registered to vote while at the DMV. We got a nice letter from Okaloosa County (where Crestview is) explaining that, because we have a postal box but not a dwelling, we must vote at the courthouse. They didn't seem to mind at all...

    The initial vehicle registration fee was $225 for each vehicle, plus $28 for the tag plus $45 for one year registration.
  • ken_burke's avatar
    ken_burke
    Explorer
    Nov 28, 2014
    rockhillmanor wrote:
    Are you moving here permanently or just trying to use Florida as a domicile?

    I'll tell you right now you will not be able to use Florida as a domicile while you are full-timing. Those days are LONG gone.

    I am STILL trying to get my Florida DL and I actually moved here.

    You can thank the new ID laws and The Patriot Act for making life difficult. AND the fact Florida is in an all out war to make living here part time or pretending to for reaping 'any' of the benefits, virtually impossible.

    No longer can you get a Florida license in a heartbeat without proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you live here 365 days a year. And a postal mailing forward address will not fly with the FL DMV.

    Also be prepared to pay $400 ON TOP of the registration fee for each vehicle you bring from out of state in to Florida.

    AND.....hang on to your wallet and clutch your heart when you find out what homeowners insurance costs are in Florida compared to where you used to live.


    Wow . . . . . that does not sound good. Thanks for the info. I will check into it. . . . . ken
  • Triker33's avatar
    Triker33
    Explorer
    Nov 28, 2014
    rockhillmanor wrote:
    Are you moving here permanently or just trying to use Florida as a domicile?

    I'll tell you right now you will not be able to use Florida as a domicile while you are full-timing. Those days are LONG gone.
    It is still very doable to be Full Timer using FL. as domicile

    I am STILL trying to get my Florida DL and I actually moved here.
    You are doing something wrong as it is easy to get a FL 8 year DL. What is Needed to get license It is best to get new registered plates after your birthday. If gotten one month before, you have to get renewed for same price on your birthday. :(

    You can thank the new ID laws and The Patriot Act for making life difficult. AND the fact Florida is in an all out war to make living here part time or pretending to for reaping 'any' of the benefits, virtually impossible.
    What benefits are you trying to get?

    No longer can you get a Florida license in a heartbeat without proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you live here 365 days a year. And a postal mailing forward address will not fly with the FL DMV.

    FL doesn't have anyone at the borders to check you in and out of the state. Or anyone watching how many days you are in or out of the state. I have been out more then 5 months every year for the past 15 and the DVM has no problem sending my new plate stickers in the mail. Don't put a PO Box number in your address they have. Use unit, apt etc. And you will get mail from the DMV

    Also be prepared to pay $400 ON TOP of the registration fee for each vehicle you bring from out of state in to Florida.
    There is a one time $225 charge(Not $400)plus $28 metal plate charge. After that stickers are issued

    AND.....hang on to your wallet and clutch your heart when you find out what homeowners insurance costs are in Florida compared to where you used to live.

    That may be true for living in a Hurricane possible area charges in a S&B. I even paid a FL Hurricane Catastrophic
    $14.14 charge for 6 months on my Full Time MH and Toad vehicle Insurance renewal policy. :)

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