cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Question on Driver's License w/ no Physical Address

Matthew_C
Explorer
Explorer
Hi,

I'm a Tent Camper, and plan to travel the US over the next three years Tent Camping. During times when I'm not Tent Camping, I intend to pay to stay in sleeping cabins in Parks or private campgrounds that offer them.

Basically, I will not have a physical address. I would like to know the easiest states to do the following with nothing more than a Mailbox service (like at the UPS Store):

Driver's License
Vehicle Registration
Vehicle Title


I was on South Dakota's DMV website and found a form here: http://dps.sd.gov/licensing/driver_licensing/documents/PMBFormresidencyaffidavit11-06-2013_000.pdf

It looks like they totally accept people using a Personal Mailbox, and will still give them a driver's license.

All it seems I need is a printed receipt for lodging one night in SD, and my Personal Mailbox address.

It almost seems too good to be true. Is this all I need to do to get a South Dakota Driver's License, and then I can just register my car and get the title transferred using the same PMB address?

Are there any other states where they make it similarly easy to get a DL if you're on the road all the time?

One final question: What if I provide a receipt showing that I stayed somewhere for a week...and not only a day. Does the receipt have to be for only one day?


Thanks to anyone who made it through this and can help me with what I'm trying to do.
18 REPLIES 18

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Matthew C

* Medicare...........good to go
* SS direct deposit...good to go
* On-line banking.....good to go
* Set up PMB........will be good to go (junk mail....if you had any before you will NOT have it now. Go with BASIC service and YOU decide when to have it forwarded. We would go sometimes 3-4 months because there wasn't much to forward and none of it needed immediate attention.
****forward mail to CG that accepts visitors mail, to a local post office via 'General Delivery' or if needed to a UPS/Fed-X Store that will accept.
(All examples----NEED to verify each accepts mail and will hold....not all places/post offices do.)

*Documents......seems you have what is required plus PMB address and signing of 'affidavit' as to your 'intent' to make SD your domicile......good to go


Enjoy.
We had great adventures for 7 yrs. Now we have moved on to another phase in our life journeys.
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Explorer
Matthew C wrote:
Hi,

I'm a Tent Camper, and plan to travel the US over the next three years Tent Camping. During times when I'm not Tent Camping, I intend to pay to stay in sleeping cabins in Parks or private campgrounds that offer them.

Basically, I will not have a physical address. I would like to know the easiest states to do the following with nothing more than a Mailbox service (like at the UPS Store):

Driver's License
Vehicle Registration
Vehicle Title


I was on South Dakota's DMV website and found a form here: http://dps.sd.gov/licensing/driver_licensing/documents/PMBFormresidencyaffidavit11-06-2013_000.pdf

It looks like they totally accept people using a Personal Mailbox, and will still give them a driver's license.

All it seems I need is a printed receipt for lodging one night in SD, and my Personal Mailbox address.

It almost seems too good to be true. Is this all I need to do to get a South Dakota Driver's License, and then I can just register my car and get the title transferred using the same PMB address?

Are there any other states where they make it similarly easy to get a DL if you're on the road all the time?

One final question: What if I provide a receipt showing that I stayed somewhere for a week...and not only a day. Does the receipt have to be for only one day?


Thanks to anyone who made it through this and can help me with what I'm trying to do.


Answer for South Dakota = Yes.

One day residence (in South Dakota) is minimum requirement. (campground or motel/hotel)

Call one of the mail forwarding services (like "Americas Mailbox")
for info. (You will need one - Am M/box also has a campground)).

Escapees *recently* also began providing this service in SD as well as TX.

:C

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
NM was super quirky dmv when we lived there.
AZ on the other hand gave me a drivers license, and I used the address on the back of my Extended Stay key card! (Hadn't officqlly moved there yet). Plus AZ licenses are or at least were good for like 35 years! Worth a shot if you're down that way maybe.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

imgoin4it
Explorer
Explorer
Don't know about other states, but NM is changing over to drivers lisceness that meet the federal governments "real ID" requirements. ( NM also issues liscenses to illegal's so thus may impact the requirements) One has to have two documents that prove your physical address by showing a utility bill and a real estate tax bill. My wife did not have two ducuments as utilities are in my name. They finally accepted my bills and a marriage certificate. Don't know what other states are doing to meet the feds requiremrnts
Howard,Connie,& Bella,
One spoiled schnauzer
2007 Newmar KSDP
4dr Jeep Wrangler

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
NEVER one pc of junk mail!!! She is right next door to the DMV so doing any licensing/registration is a breeze.

Terri Lund
My Dakota Address
110 E. Center St.
Madison, SD 57042
www.mydakotaaddress.com
Phone: 605-427-5863
Fax: 605-427-9626
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
NEVER one pc of junk mail!!! She is right next door to the DMV so doing any licensing/registration is a breeze.

Terri Lund
My Dakota Address
110 E. Center St.
Madison, SD 57042
www.mydakotaaddress.com
Phone: 605-427-5863
Fax: 605-427-9626
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Matthew_C
Explorer
Explorer
gafidler wrote:
I am a SD resident this is who I use.. http://mydakotaaddress.com/


Thanks a bunch for this link. The prices are dirt cheap for what's provided.

Do any of these PMB companies share the PMB address with 3rd parties? I'd hate to all of a sudden start receiving junk mail...or have my PMB address show up on Spokeo's website. I like to remain as private as possible.

Matthew_C
Explorer
Explorer
Scottiemom wrote:
You must also provide proof of a SD mailing address, so you will need to set up your mail forwarding service first. And also surrender your current driver's license.

Info here: ***Link Removed***

Dale


Yeah, getting a PMB is one of the first things we discussed in this thread. I'll get the box set up and get a receipt from the PMB business to show to the DMV. Since I handle all my bills online, and hardly receive any mail whatsoever (I'm pretty much a loner), I will probably go with a cheap package that forwards mail once a month.

Thank you for your replies!

gafidler
Explorer
Explorer
I am a SD resident this is who I use.. http://mydakotaaddress.com/

Scottiemom
Nomad
Nomad
You must also provide proof of a SD mailing address, so you will need to set up your mail forwarding service first. And also surrender your current driver's license.

Info here: Dakota Post

Dale
Dale Pace
Widow of Terry (Teacher's Pet)

Traveling with Brendon, my Scottish Terrier

2022 Honda Odyssey
2011 Mazda Miata MX-5

2021 Coach House Platinum III 250DT
Fulltimed for 15 years, now living in Florida

http://www.skoolzoutforever.blogspot.com/

Scottiemom
Nomad
Nomad
Matthew C wrote:
Also... and this might seem like a stupid question...but I'm not required to own an RV in order to do this...correct? I'm a tent camper/lodger that owns a 4 door sedan, lol.


Correct. We are fulltmers, going on 13 years. Use South Dakota as our domicile. Others have answered your other questions. Re: your Medicare. You're covered anywhere you go in the US!

Dale
Dale Pace
Widow of Terry (Teacher's Pet)

Traveling with Brendon, my Scottish Terrier

2022 Honda Odyssey
2011 Mazda Miata MX-5

2021 Coach House Platinum III 250DT
Fulltimed for 15 years, now living in Florida

http://www.skoolzoutforever.blogspot.com/

Matthew_C
Explorer
Explorer
Also... and this might seem like a stupid question...but I'm not required to own an RV in order to do this...correct? I'm a tent camper/lodger that owns a 4 door sedan, lol.

Matthew_C
Explorer
Explorer
stickdog wrote:
We've used a mail service in South Dakota for seven years and have been SD domiciled for five years. The one night is all that is needed along with the affidavit that you plan on returning to SD and be a resident after your traveling days are over. Yes if you follow the rules you can register your vehicle, vote, insure you stuff under SD laws. Your mail forwarding service will take care of most of your vehicle needs for a small fee. As we travel we just send an email to our service and they forward our mail to where ever we are usally GENERAL DELIVERY. We usally have it sent to a town we plan on being in the following week, just in case something holds it up. Post office will hold GD mail 30 days.


Stickdog, this is great info. I appreciate your reply!

What do you mean by "If you follow the rules?"

Matthew_C
Explorer
Explorer
Hi Old-Biscuit. Thanks for answering my questions so directly.

To answer your question about me:

I'm on Medicare. From what I understand, Medicare provides coverage in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. Qualified beneficiaries will receive coverage for any medical care they receive within federal boundaries. Any health care provider or institution operating under US jurisdiction is required to adhere to the provisions of the Medicare program. The providers may or may not be enrolled in the Medicare program but they are obligated to accept the Medicare fee schedule for reimbursement of medically necessary services.

I've yet to use my Medicare benefits, but assume I should be good to go. If you can think of a reason my benefits may be a problem while traveling, please let me know. I'm also on Social Security, and Direct Deposits arrive monthly. I don't believe traveling and giving the SSA a PMB address should be a problem. Even mentally ill homeless people receive their benefits without a physical address from what I understand. It seems the federal gov't works with you. Once again, if anyone thinks I could have problems, please let me know.

______________________________________________________________________


To get back to the Drivers License...just to make sure I have it right...I need to bring the following:

1 - Certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state of the United States. It must be a certified copy and have the stamp or raised seal of the issuing authority. (I HAVE THIS...no problem here)

2 - Social Security card. (I HAVE THIS...again, no problem)

3 - In lieu of providing two documents proving my residential address, I simply provide the receipt from where I stayed in SD (minimum one night), and my PMB address.

Do I have it all covered? Also, do I need to bring proof that I've received mail at my PMB? I plan on going for my license immediately after I open the PMB...and pretty much all of my bills are handled online. I rarely receive mail of any sort.

Thanks again for the help. I want this to go smoothly!