A couple years ago I was getting ready to hit the road. Since then family issues came up & things got delayed. At that time, I had asked about vehicle registration, insurance, etc. A list of full time friendly states were given, Texas being one of them. With the commotion going on in the house, I never thought to save any info except that Texas was RV friendly. Now, I jumped ship & left New York, w/my son not far behind. I am in Texas, w/a UPS box for mail. He is heading to Fla. to a waiting job. My Question is, now that I am here what do I do next to take care of legalities before I wander west to enjoy MY life(family be damned)?

change your address at bank, credit card companies, insurance, etc. then use this to obtain a driver's license: http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/ApplyforLicense.htmthen get auto tags: http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/out-of-state-and-foreign-vehicles

I am going to look into the above too. We are full timers and my wife liked an area in NC to settle in when our travels are over. I have found NC NOT to be RV friendly as to insurance, Registrations, and driver's license. We have become a member of Escapees and they have address forwarding and domicile address in Texas and Florida.

Three most popular RV full timers states were SD, TX & FL.SD has become a bit of an issue when 'Obamacare' was mandated. Hard to get insurance coverage when under 65----Medicare so SD has become not so RV full timer friendly as before.TX & Fl are still popular.As a FTr one needs to establish a 'address' for insurance, tags, banking, IRS etc.This is usually done by using a 'mail forwarding service' and changing ALL documents to reflect this address.With a state address then one can acquire drivers licenses, voting, vehicle tags/plates etc.

States for Full Timing | Good Sam Community

Clay_L
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
carlysdad wrote:
A new requirement in TX (as of March 1) is an annual state vehicle inspection that is tied to your registration. Before you could register vehicles online and just get your inspection and sticker whenever you entered the state. Now you need the inspection to register. Also, inspections are now required on trailers as well.

I believe that has been taken care of some time back and full timers can get their registration without the inspection. The Escapees were active in getting it fixed and a search on their web site will yield the tread discussing it.
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
Geocritter wrote:
I liked southeast Arizona so much I'm thinking of making it my go-to home for the winter from now on. With that said I wonder, with all the retirees living there, why isn't Arizona on the list of RV friendly "home" states? I'm just asking because the new Texas registration/inspection laws are already giving me a headache and to paraphrase fellow RVer Executive, I'm ready to "turn the key" on Texas.

Arizona registration fees are based upon the value of the rig. So for many of the big rigs it is several thousands a yr to register. That value does decline over time, but it is still a pretty good chunk of change.

No reason why the new registration/inspection law should be a problem. In fact it is just the same as it was before except that you don't have the second sticker on the windshield. Why do you think it is a problem?

Barb
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
carlysdad wrote:
A new requirement in TX (as of March 1) is an annual state vehicle inspection that is tied to your registration. Before you could register vehicles online and just get your inspection and sticker whenever you entered the state. Now you need the inspection to register. Also, inspections are now required on trailers as well.

I am afraid that you don't have it quite right. If you are out-of-state you just self-certify that you are out-of-state and then register. Then, when you get back into the state, you have 3 days to get the inspection done. Lots of people will go years & years without having their rigs inspected. Inspection stickers were always required on trailers - just that the place where the sticker went wasn't easy to see so that really wasn't enforced.

Bar
Geocritter
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
I liked southeast Arizona so much I'm thinking of making it my go-to home for the winter from now on. With that said I wonder, with all the retirees living there, why isn't Arizona on the list of RV friendly "home" states? I'm just asking because the new Texas registration/inspection laws are already giving me a headache and to paraphrase fellow RVer Executive, I'm ready to "turn the key" on Texas.
carlysdad
Explorer
Mar 29, 2015
A new requirement in TX (as of March 1) is an annual state vehicle inspection that is tied to your registration. Before you could register vehicles online and just get your inspection and sticker whenever you entered the state. Now you need the inspection to register. Also, inspections are now required on trailers as well.
RIA
Explorer
Mar 25, 2015
I am a legal Texan! Thank you Escapees for all your help & patience. I want to thank all of you guys for you direction to them. I am now fulltiming to northern California to visit friends & I can now do it w/ no legal issues. I have gone paperless w/my bank & will w/ insurance. Less mail to pay to have shipped. Once again thank you. I have my dream.
DianneOK
Explorer
Feb 26, 2015
At the time, we chose SD over TX because Texas would not insure our Freightliner as a private vehicle. Therefore SD was the obvious choice. Also, our health insurance was not an issue.
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Feb 26, 2015
SD is not good for those who need individual health insurance plans. SD is cheaper if you are buying a rig - the sales tax is only 3%.

Texas has a lot of health plans (as does Florida) for those needing individual policies.

There really aren't that much differences between the 3 states - mostly comes down to preference. For us Texas was a no-brainer because we were already living in TX when we retired and started fulltiming, and Escapees is such a great outfit to work with, it is always our first recommendation.

Barb
carl2591
Explorer III
Feb 25, 2015
if there a thread on the difference between setting up domain in either South Dakota, Florida or Texas..

I have read stuff here and there but have not found a post that sorta explains the differences..

I think florida has a good benefit in no vehicle inspection, drivers license are good for 7? or so years and can be renewed after the first term remotely so you only have to get back once every 14 yrs.

Not sure what the bennies for texas and SD rank.. some are better on vechile tax and worse on insurance but I know that changes every month it seems.
RIA
Explorer
Feb 25, 2015
I don't have a problem w/taxes. I joined Escapees last week & will be heading back east to El Paso for registration, inspection & DL. I can't wait to get back on the road. The fun part of full timing is that If one place doesn't suit you pick up & move on!

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