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homefor2's avatar
homefor2
Explorer
May 12, 2013

Canadians registering an RV in the US

I am looking for help with buying and leaving an RV in the US. I would like to avoid the long haul back and forth to BC and see no need to import to Canada with all the extra cost. I would store it in the US, probably Arizona. Looking for advice on licensing, insurance and most of all, sales tax. Of course, I want to do this legally.
  • Aridon wrote:
    Most insurance companies here (FL) will require you to have a FL drivers license to get a policy. Many will write it but after 45 days or so they'll start to get antsy. Since insurance is state specific YMMV.

    Otherwise you simply buy it, the dealer will get you plates and a title transferred to your name and take care of any sales tax. You'll need insurance at that time. Plate generally gets mailed to you in a few weeks and you get a temporary plate in the interim.


    This might be true in FLA, I don't know. It is not true in many other states. For instance, in Montana the dealer gives you a temporary (40 day) license plate, and sends the paperwork to the DMV office at the County Courthouse. The BUYER must then go to the courthouse and go through the title transfer and registration process, and pay the fees. The DMV clerk will put the license plate(s) and the registration in the buyer's hands. The title will be mailed to the buyer's address. The buyer MUST have a mailing address in the county where the registration is issued. The street address of a UPS mail-forwarding store has been an acceptable address in the past. There is no sales tax in Montana.
    For some people a Montana LLC may be a viable option. Call the Bennett Law Firm in Missoula for more information about YOUR specific circumstances.
    Good luck.
  • You can create a Limited Liability Company wherever you like.

    Delaware is probably the most popular for items like airplanes, yachts, etc.

    You don't have to be a US citizen to own a LLC in the US.

    You might want to talk to an attorney in your home area that is experienced in the LLC game to find the best solution for your situation vis-a-vis Canada and the USA.
  • Your best bet might be setting up a Montana LLC. Since (due to the requirements of "Real-ID" and such) you have to have a local address, etc to register it in say, Washington State.
    I'd do a search for "Montana LLC RV" and contact a couple of the law-firms that specialize in this and get a real legal opinion.
  • I was also interested in doing what You would like to do! I ran into so many Stop signs that I gave it up!
  • Buy and store it in a storage condo that you actually own in the US.
    That way you have a US address, and a very secure storage. Indoors.

    www.rvstorage.biz
  • Most insurance companies here (FL) will require you to have a FL drivers license to get a policy. Many will write it but after 45 days or so they'll start to get antsy. Since insurance is state specific YMMV.

    Otherwise you simply buy it, the dealer will get you plates and a title transferred to your name and take care of any sales tax. You'll need insurance at that time. Plate generally gets mailed to you in a few weeks and you get a temporary plate in the interim.

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