If youโre a full time vanlifer, RVer, or backpacker, you live out on the open road, free from the restrictions of a fixed location. But when you live wherever you choose, that also means that you donโt actually live anywhere – or at least, not how society wants you to.
Unfortunately for people like us, the legal system is organized around its peons having a fixed location, a permanent address to call home. You need a legal address to do all sorts of required and not-required things, such as:
- Get driverโs licenses, passports, and other identification
- Obtain health insurance, auto insurance, and other forms of insurance
- Sign up for bank accounts and other financial accounts
- Register vehicles
- File and pay taxes
- Register to vote
- Start a business
Thatโs just a brief list of things that you need a legal address to do, but there are certainly more. Just about anything of a legal nature requires you to have a legal residence, or domicile.
So whatโs a nomad to do? Fortunately, itโs entirely possible for vagabonds of all kinds to establish and maintain a legal residence without actually living in a fixed location. In this post, we go over the basics of establishing domicile as a full time traveller – so you can hit the road and have one less thing to worry about!
Important Disclaimer
The decision to establish domicile in a certain place can be very complex, and there are many things that you need to consider before doing so. This post is based on our own best research and experience, but we are not attorneys and you should not take what weโve written here as legal advice. Do your own research before making this type of decision, and seek out qualified professional advice if you feel like you donโt fully understand what youโre getting into.
What Does it Mean to be Domiciled in a State?
What is a domicile? Domicile is a legal term that refers to the place you intend to make your permanent home, and the place you intend to return to after temporary absences. Your domicile is the state where you โlive,โ pay taxes, have a driverโs license, obtain health insurance, register your vehicles, and conduct your banking. It is different from your residence – because while you may have multiple residences, you can only have one domicile.
The intent part is particularly important here, especially if youโre thinking about changing your domicile state. If you just get a mailing address in a new state but still maintain bank accounts, a driverโs license, and voter registration in your old state, it will be tough to prove that you actually intend to switch your domicile.
In order to make a solid case of your domicile intent, you need to do much more – obtain a driverโs license, register your vehicle, register to vote, switch your banking over, get insurance, and set up as many personal and professional ties as possible. You also need to do everything you can to break any such ties to your old state.
Shouldnโt I just Stay Domiciled in My โHomeโ State?
You already have domicile established in the state where you currently (or most recently) lived. Why would you want to switch to another state?
Well, you might not want to. The easiest option is to maintain domicile in your current state. Your vehicle is probably already registered there, you probably already have a driverโs license, youโre (hopefully) already registered to vote, and you probably have a network of friends and family that might be willing to let you use their place as your โaddress,โ collect your mail, and forward it on to you.
Many nomads end up just sticking with their original state. This is what we did for our first 18 months on the road – we kept our domicile in Missouri, and used Johnโs parentsโ address as our mailing and legal address.
But this option may not work out forever, and the longer youโre on the road the less attractive this becomes. Your friend/family member may get tired of dealing with your mail. Your state may have vehicle inspection or license renewal requirements that mean you need to go back there more often than youโd like. And there may be higher tax burdens in your state (because why pay taxes somewhere you donโt actually live?).
Considering all of this, it might make sense to shop around for a new state thatโs more friendly to your situation.
What Steps Do You Need to Take to Switch Your Domicile?
There are a few logistical steps that youโll need to take to get the ball rolling on switching your domicile:
- Get a mailing address in your new state. If you donโt actually have a fixed dwelling, you can usually accomplish this by signing up with a mail-forwarding service.
- Switch your addresses over and file a change of address form with the Post Office.
- Obtain auto insurance, health insurance, and other insurance in your new state.
- Get a driverโs license and register your vehicle(s). Doing this usually requires you to travel to your new state.
- Register to vote in your new state, and unregister in your old state.
While these are the basics for setting yourself up in a new state, itโs also a good idea to set up as many legal, professional, and personal ties within your new state as possible to help reinforce your domicile intent if it ever comes into question. You will also want to sever any such ties in your old state to help remove any claim that your former state may have on you.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Domicile State
There are many things to think about when making this decision. To give you a starting point, here are some questions to ask when considering a state for your legal domicile:
- How easy is it to establish domicile? Are there a lot of hoops to jump through?
- Are there available mail forwarding services that you can use as your legal address? Or, do you know someone who will let you use their address?
- How are the taxes? Are there state income taxes, property taxes, or sales taxes?
- How easy is it to register vehicles? Can you do this remotely?
- Are there required state vehicle inspections that force you to return to the state more often than you would prefer?
- How much are license and registration fees? Will you be able to register your van as a non-commercial vehicle (commercial vehicles have much higher insurance costs)? If you drive a bus or large RV, do you need to get a special license?
- How are auto insurance premiums compared to other states?
- Are there health insurance options that work for you? These days itโs tough to find ACA-compliant health insurance with a national network in any state. If you need regular medical care, consider choosing a state thatโs close to where you spend most of your time.
- Where is the state located? Is it convenient for you to get back there if you need to?
- How easy is it to register to vote and to vote absentee?
- If you have kids, what are the homeschooling laws like?
Those are some of the most common questions you should be asking, but there may be others depending on your situation.
Potential Risks
While changing your domicile as a nomad is perfectly legal, there are some risks and wrinkles to be aware of:
- Many auto insurance companies want you to have a โgarageableโ address for your vehicle – so that either cuts down your options or forces you to fudge the fact that you are using a mail forwarding address. Some mail forwarding services (like Americaโs Mailbox in South Dakota and Escapees in Texas) operate their own campgrounds, and you may be able to argue that these are โgarageableโ addresses.
- The Patriot Act requires banks and other financial institutions to have a physical address on file that is not a mail forwarding address. This is a security measure to combat fraud and money laundering. You can still use your mail forwarding address as your mailing address, but itโs a good idea to have the address of a friend or family member to use for your physical address. If you use a mail forwarding address and they find out, you could wake up one day to find that your accounts are frozen.
- Note on the above: If you use a physical address that is not in the state where you are claiming domicile, this could cause other issues for you and potentially open you up for a domicile challenge. As we said, there are a lot of factors in play here.
Make the Insurance Issue Easier with Roamly
Getting traditional auto or RV insurance to cover your buildout and your vehicle while you’re living in it can be a bit dicey. But there’s a new company out there called Roamly that solves many of these problems.
With Roamly, you don’t have to worry about lying to your insurance company – they’re RVers, so they get it. You can insure the cost of your build, which can be a huge pain with traditional insurers. They won’t force you into an expensive commercial policy just because you have a cargo van. They don’t mind if you rent out your van for some extra cash on the side. And you just might save some money on your premiums.
Roamly is the only insurance provider out there that's built specifically for the needs of vehicle nomads. Save money, insure the cost of your build, and stop lying to your auto insurance company.
The โBig Threeโ Domicile States for Nomads
So what is the best state for nomads to establish domicile? Thereโs no one right answer for everybody, and there are a lot of things to think about – so do your research and choose wisely.
That said, there are three states that tend to be common choices for full time travelers looking to establish a legal residence: South Dakota, Texas, and Florida. These states all have a killer combination of low/no taxes, available mail forwarding services, and nomad-friendly policies. Letโs take a quick look at what each state offers!
South Dakota
South Dakota makes it easy for people living a vagabond lifestyle to become residents, obtain driverโs licenses, and register vehicles. As a result, this awesome state has attracted traveling residents of all kinds, from retired RVers to young vanlifers to full time backpackers – even diplomats who live overseas.
What makes South Dakota so great? Aside from the beautiful landscapes and amazing people (seriously, visit South Dakota if you get the chance), SD has many benefits for full time travellers, including:
- No state income tax!
- No personal property tax!
- Only a 4% excise tax on vehicle purchases
- No state vehicle inspections
- Easy to establish. You only need to stay in SD for one night to get a driverโs license.
- You do not need to be in state to register vehicles. Most mail forwarding companies will take care of this for you for a small fee.
- Inexpensive driverโs license fees ($20 for a regular license)
- Some of the lowest auto insurance rates in the country.
- Driverโs licenses are good for 5 years – so that means you only need to be in SD for 24 hours every 5 years to maintain a valid license!
While those are some pretty awesome benefits, there are some drawbacks depending on your situation:
- South Dakota is a bit out of the way from where most nomads hang around, which can make it inconvenient to go back there when you need to (although, it is smack dab in the middle of the country, so if you do a lot of coast-to-coast driving it shouldnโt be too difficult to route your travels there as needed).
- RV registration fees are calculated by weight, which adds up if you have a large rig (not applicable to non-RV vans). Most counties in SD also assess a โwheel tax,โ where they charge you a few dollars for each wheel on your vehicle. Seriously.
- South Dakota has fewer ACA-compliant health insurance options than many other states, and none with a national network. If you need regular medical care, itโs probably a good idea to domicile in a state thatโs close to where you spend most of your time, or one that has a wider range of health insurance options.
Mail Forwarding Services: The most popular mail forwarding services in South Dakota are Your Best Address, Dakota Post, Escapees, and Americaโs Mailbox.
Getting a Driverโs License: South Dakota makes this very painless. You need a mail forwarding address, and a receipt for one night in a campground, RV park, hotel, or motel. Make sure the receipt lists your name(s) and mail forwarding address. You will also need to sign a โnomad affidavit,โ which states that South Dakota is your home and that you intend to return there whenever youโre done traveling full time.
Vehicle Registration: Registering vehicles is also fairly simple. You do not even have to be in the state – most mail forwarding companies will take care of this for you and mail you your new plates (this usually takes about 4-6 weeks).
Voting: While you can get your driverโs license anywhere in the state, to register to vote youโll need to visit the County Auditorโs office for the county where your mail forwarding address is located. You will also need to provide them with a campground receipt from the same county. So if you want to take care of your license and voter registration all at the same time, make sure to plan your travels accordingly. You can apply for an absentee ballot by mail.
For more information, check out these resources on setting up legal residency in South Dakota:
- Setting Up South Dakota Residency for RVers (Interstellar Orchard)
- Escapees South Dakota Domicile Page
- Your Best Address has a ton of useful guides on all aspects of becoming a South Dakota resident.
Texas
Texas offers a slew of benefits that are attractive to full time travelers. And, Texas is home to the awesome Escapees RV Club, which is also the prime mail forwarding service in the state for RV and van travelers. Escapees operates their own campground in Livingston, TX, and county officials there are very used to Escapees members doing their domicile business.
Here are some awesome reasons to choose Texas as your domicile state:
- No state income tax!
- No taxes on vehicle transfers.
- Voter registration and obtaining absentee ballots can all be done by mail.
- Although there is a required annual vehicle inspection, if you canโt get back to Texas right away this can be deferred until you actually return to the state. Once you enter Texas you will need to have your vehicle inspected within 30 days.
- Licenses are good for 6 years, and can be renewed online.
- Home to Escapees, which has a great reputation in the RV community.
Here are some downsides to domiciling in Texas:
- Annual vehicle inspections (though this can be deferred if you are out of state)
- 6% sales tax on new vehicle purchases.
- May need a non-commercial Class A or B driverโs license for bigger RVs and buses, which means additional costs and requirements over a standard license.
Mail Forwarding Services: The most popular by far is Escapees. Texas Home Base is another option.
Getting a Driverโs License: Texas is a little more complicated than South Dakota. Youโll need a mail forwarding service, of course. You also need to provide two documents proving residency – and since your vehicle registration and vehicle insurance count for this, it usually makes sense to register your vehicle and switch your insurance first.
Vehicle Registration: You can register vehicles online or in person, but you must get your vehicle inspected at a certified inspection station in Texas first. If you are registering a new vehicle, you may be able to defer the inspection until you enter Texas.
Voting: Once you have your driverโs license, you can easily register to vote by mail. You can also apply for absentee ballots by mail.
For more information on domiciling in Texas check out these resources:
- Escapees Texas domicile services pages
- Changing Your Domicile: A 6 Step Guide for Achieving Texas Residency (Follow Your Detour)
- Becoming Texans via Escapees RV Club (Weโre the Russos)
Becoming Texas Residents:
Stephen and Meghan of Ubu the Van
When we were looking for our domicile address, we narrowed it down to the states that donโt have personal State Income Tax. From here, we looked for a state that met the following criteria: we might actually have a reason to visit in case we ever needed to, friendly to RVers, and easy to utilize a mail forwarding company. The hardest part was deciding which state to pick. We ended up choosing Texas because it met all our criteria:
- We had researched and learned that it had a reputation for being very friendly toward RVers (deferred state vehicle inspection, online vehicle registration, no ancillary taxes when transferring vehicle to Texas).
- Since we needed a mail forwarding service, we learned that Escapees has a large branch in Texas, and came with a solid reputation for price and service. (In keeping with this reputation, they have often gone above and beyond for us in terms of personal service and checking on mail arrival.)
- We have dear friends who live in San Antonio and so have a cool place to visit when we go โhome.โ bahahahaha
We joined Escapees online and now have an address on Rainbow Drive. With the unicorns and leprechauns. Easy peasy.
When we bought Ubu in Illinois, it was super easy to register it by phone in Texas. After a phone call to our county of residence in Texas, our plates arrived within weeks. We were told by the county assessor that since it was an empty cargo van, it would be registered as a โpassenger vanโ and that we simply needed to change its registration when we arrived in Texas in person. Additionally, we could easily re-register it yearly online and they would waive the required state inspection until we physically entered the State. Thank you Texas; we love you, even though we secretly wish that we didnโt have TX plates.
When we were in Texas recently, we trekked on up to Polk County and got Ubu re-registered as an RV. They asked for pictures of the inside to ensure that it had, indeed, become a livable space, and we took care of this paperwork and State inspection in an afternoon. The only kind of sad bit was that we did have to go to Polk County, Texas. In person. But all was not lost as it gave us the chance to meet the unicorns and get library cards – yay for online ebook borrowing again!
Florida
Florida is another state that is popular with travellers. Since it has such a large population of retired snowbirds (many of whom choose to live and travel in RVs), the state does a lot to cater to the needs of full time RVers. If you spend most of your time on the East coast, Florida could be a good option.
Here are the benefits of being domiciled in Florida:
- No state income tax!
- No property tax for RVs!
- Wider range of health insurance options than SD or Texas.
- Driverโs license is valid for 8 years, and can be renewed once online.
- Relatively inexpensive vehicle registration fees.
- No state vehicle inspections.
- Convenient for nomads who spend a lot of time on the East Coast.
But there are some downsides:
- Takes some pre-planning. Most people who have done this recommend getting the process started a month in advance to make sure all your paperwork is squared away.
- Florida has some of the highest auto insurance rates in the country.
- No remote vehicle registration.
Mail Forwarding Services: The two most popular are Escapees (again!) and St. Brendanโs Isle.
Getting a Driverโs License: Like Texas, Florida requires that you present two documents proving your residential address. Youโll want to sign up for mail forwarding and switch address on your insurance and banking ahead of time, so you can provide statements with your Florida address.
Vehicle Registration: You must be physically present to register a new vehicle in Florida. However, you can renew your registration online.
Voting: Once you have a Florida driverโs license, you can register to vote online. You can request absentee ballots via mail, email, fax, or phone.
For more information, here are some helpful resources for domiciling in Florida:
- Setting Up a Florida Domicile as a Full Time Rver (Roaminโ Ryans)
- Why We Chose Florida as Our Domicile State (WinnebaGoLife)
- Setting Up Domicile in Florida as a Full Time RVer (Technomadia)
- Escapees Florida Domicile Page
Nevada is Another Option!
If you spend most of your time out West, Nevada may be worth a look as a potential domicile state. Itโs a bit tougher to get established than the other states on this list, but once youโre set up it offers many of the same benefits. Nevada has no state income tax and no state vehicle inspections. There are plenty of mail forwarding services available, and it is very central to the Western states where many nomads spend their time.
But, Nevada does have some drawbacks. In order to establish residency, you must stay in a campground or RV park for 30 days (way longer than South Dakotaโs 24 hours). They have higher auto insurance rates than many other states (but this varies widely by county). If you have a newer vehicle, registration fees are much higher than the other states on this list (fees are based on new MSRP value of the vehicle minus depreciation. This is much less of an issue for older vehicles).
Check out this article for more information on domiciling in Nevada.
No Permanent Address, No Problem!
Just because you donโt live in a fixed dwelling doesnโt mean you canโt have a legal address – which you need to do many basic things in todayโs society. Luckily, there are several forward-thinking states that are accommodating the needs of nomads and travelers everywhere. If youโre a full-timer, establishing yourself in one of these states can be a great option that can save you a lot of money and hassle.
Again, this can be a complex legal decision, and you should do your own research before taking the plunge. But even if you donโt live anywhere in the traditional sense, it is entirely possible to get yourself set up legally in a way that works with your lifestyle!
For more vanlife tips and build guides, be sure to follow us on Instagram @gnomad_home and on Facebook. Cheers!
Thank you so much! I need to establish residency in Florida, and of course, I need a physical address. Thanks to your article, I have some good choices for getting a physical address that is NOT solely virtual. Thank you, thank you, thank youโa trinity of Thank you!
So glad this was helpful!
Hi John,
Finding lots of stuff in these states for people with vehicles. You not only mention vanlifer and RVer, but also backpacker. A couple of the places I’ve contacted are revising their residency requirements because of the upcoming Real ID laws. I’m just wondering what state would work best for those of us who don’t have a vehicle we live in.
Thank you in advance.
Like you im a former Show Me state girl. In Oct 2023 i changed residency to SD. I went by your suggestions when u and you wife changed (from Oregon to SD and back). O n e mail service you didnt mention was South Dakota Residency Center. Lynne was so helpful on every step of way! However, my insurance for truck and rv went up $50 total. When i asked why they said it was due to all the hail. This was state farm. I may check out roamly to see if can be lower. All in all hoing by… Read more »
Glad it all worked out Cheryl, best of luck!
I’m still a little unclear as to how to get a drivers license in Texas without a physical address, the laws seem to require one
Hi Dave, the best thing to do is contact Escapees and have them walk you through it. Basically, you will need to go down to Livingston, TX (where Escapees is located), stay at their campground, and take care of all your documentation while you’re there (driver’s license, vehicle registration, etc). The Escapees headquarters becomes your address. The people in Livingston are used to dealing with Escapees members, so getting documentation as a full time nomad is not out-of-the-ordinary. We have not personally gone through the Texas process ourselves, but we have spoken with many people who have, and they all… Read more »
Anyone out there consider Tennessee as an option? I love the Smoky Mountains and no state income tax with this state. I am thinking of getting a small home there and hitting the road for my travel adventures domestic and abroad. Anyone with experience or information about this state, esp with a mailbox to handle your mail and car registration, etc?
Hi Brad, Tennessee did not come up in our research as a state that makes it especially easy for nomads, but we haven’t looked into it heavily. The lack of state income tax is a plus, but most states make it difficult to obtain residency without having some sort of physical address. This is why SD, TX, and FL are so common in the nomad community – because they have laws that cater to people living in RVs. That’s not to say Tennessee is not an option – plenty of people find ways to domicile in other states – it… Read more »
I retired at 65 this July and now have Medicare parts a and b. Now I am up here living in Canada for six months before traveling overseas for the other six months, and I plan to do the same for at least the next couple of years. My question is how do I qualify for part d of Medicare or any private health insurance without having a legal address in the States that shows I live somewhere there. I donโt want to try and trick an insurance company as I am sure that would backfire at one point.
Hi Jeff, I’m not sure if Medicare has any wrinkles to it, but generally you need a legal address in order to qualify for just about anything. States like South Dakota, Texas, and Florida make it possible to obtain a legal address with physically residing in the state, which you can then use to get insurance through that state. The tricky thing is making sure you can get coverage where you actually are, though, as many insurers sign you up to local networks that only work in the state/region they are in. Medicare may be different, however, and Florida in… Read more »
Thanks, John. That is very helpful. We have been looking into establishing a domicile in Florida, and our idea now is to convert our minivan into a camper by installing a RoadLoft conversion system in it. We would travel in it and/or stay with friends and family for at least the next few years. Would you know whether Florida would accept that as an RV? It has a generator, a stove, a sink with water supply. We have contacted the DMV and clerk of court in Clay County, but they couldnโt give us an answer. We donโt want to do… Read more »
Can you verify/clarify whether what you’re saying is that you can get a FL driver’s license by setting the virtual address in advance to Florida so there are banking documents with this address? In other words, no physical address is required? Thanks for the info!
Hi Amanda – that’s the idea. Services like St. Brendan’s Isle, American Home Base and Escapees cater to people who are doing this, so they are good resources to reach out to as you go about this process. Fair warning, banks and insurance companies often require you to have a physical address on file, so using a basic virtual mailbox service may not work unless you use someone’s address for these. The services I mentioned above have campgrounds/facilities attached that you may be able to use as your physical address. Hope that helps!
Wish I had found this a couple years ago, just found your site when I was telling someone about getting domicile in SD. I sold my house and been on the road about 2 years now. I took a recommendation from a colleague and signed up for Escapees for mail service (all addresses in Texas for mail) and finally used them for a domicile address in SD.** I donโt think they provide great service if ALL you want is mail, they focus on other things for full time โRVersโ so just switched to iPostal for mail. They provide scanning and… Read more »
Hi Lisa, so glad you found our site helpful, and thanks for the additional insights! Escapees can definitely be overkill, and personally I would only use them if I was choosing Texas, since they have a streamlined operation for getting people registered down there. Interesting comments on absentee voting, I’ll have to do some additional research and add that to this post. We never ended up voting in SD (we ended up getting rural property in New Mexico before any elections came up), but the registration process was as easy as getting a driver’s license. Best of luck!
~John
Thank you, John for this info. I just might get that van & take off to one of those mentioned states, set-up domicile, come home and close out the old existence.
Could fly to Florida and buy the vehicle there, become a Floridian, come back to North, close shop, go see America. Bucket List. Thanks.
Sounds like a great plan! Best of luck on your journey!
Iโm planning on moving to Nevada and becoming a resident. Iโve obtained a virtual mailbox and have my bank accounts and insurance tied to that address. Will that be sufficient documentation for proof of residency. Iโm concerned that the DMV actually uses the USPS records to prove itโs a residential address. Thanks!
Hi Matt, I’m not sure what level of address lookup they do. In a state like Nevada, I would doubt that they do USPS lookup. Many states like Nevada have extremely rural residences that do not receive mail delivery, so these residences are not listed in the USPS database (we used to live in such a house in New Mexico – address validation was a constant problem for us when ordering things online, but not in any other situation). However, according to the Nevada DMV website, you would need to provide two documents proving residency, only one of which can… Read more »
Hi, Adam here. I am trying to decide what to do address wise. I am just traveling as a nomad and temporarily living in Maine. However my car is registered in New Mexico and my drivers license is from Washington state! haha. the license is good for 2 more years. I am contemplating registering car in south dakota and eventually in 2 years getting a south dakota license vs keeping the WA license and trying to somehow register the car in WA.. (bought the car in NM while temorarily working there.). any thoughts? advice? I am not tied down to… Read more »
Hi Adam, these things can definitely get complicated as a nomad. I can’t speak to the specific requirements of Washington State, but the advantage of South Dakota is that they openly allow you to get a DL and register vehicles while not having a permanent address. There’s no lying or using a friend’s address involved. You can also register vehicles from afar, and there are no inspections required. You will have to travel there to get a DL, but it’s easy and they print one off for you right there. There are other states that are lenient as well, such… Read more »
I sold my house 20 months ago in Illinois. Renewed my car registration right before I left so I had about 16 months for that, and my DL good for 2 years. I used a mail service from Texas (only option for mail) that also provided domicile in SD and FL. I choose SD because they make it easier to get absentee ballots. I spent quite a while getting my car registered and my DL there though as I didnโt plan ahead. They have limited appointments due to COVID and I ended up getting an appointment in Sioux Falls a… Read more »
Hmmm… we started RVing full-time in July 2021 and established an address in Dallas, TX using Travelling Mailbox, a mail forwarding service. We were able to change our current bank accounts to this address and were even able to establish a online credit union account with same address a few months later with no issues. Maybe the Patriot Act comes more into play with P.O. Boxes. ???
Hi Jim, the Patriot Act requires that banks maintain a record of account holders residential address. It’s definitely possible to establish financial accounts with any address, as long as you don’t tell the bank it’s not your residence. The question is, what happens if/when the financial institution catches wind that they only have a mailbox address on file.
Thanks for the great info! I currently live in a great state for domicile purposes (Tennessee, no state income taxes). I’m currently renting a place and looking to join the nomad life; I’m wondering if I can just keep using my address once my lease ends and use a mail forwarding service. I’m sure someone else would move in after I leave, but was wondering if there may be some difficulties in doing this long term. Ever hear of anyone doing this?
Hi Tim, I’m sure you *could* do something like this – use a mail forwarding service for you mailing address and your old address for your physical – however I wouldn’t recommend using an address that you have zero access to since that could potentially open you up to problems down the road. For example, once it comes time renew your license/registration, you would not be able to obtain proof of residency documentation (just about every state will not accept mail forwarding addresses – SD, for one, does, which is what makes it such a great option for nomads). Hope… Read more »
How would someone with residency in another state they wish to formally maintain insure a car registered in SD?
Hi Ida, In addition to nomads registering vehicles, plenty of people from neighboring states register their vehicles in SD to avoid taxes. To help combat this, if you are a resident of another state, SD requires that you present a receipt for a SD mail forwarding service in order to register vehicles (mail forwarding services typically cost about $200 per year). You can try to use your mail forwarding address for your insurance, however they typically require that you give them a “garageable” address. When we were SD residents we used my parents’ address in Missouri as our “garageable” address… Read more »
Do you know if it’s possible to use a virtual mailbox address to get a Driver License and establish residency in Washington State?
Hi Tom, I’m not positive. Most states do not allow the use of a PMB, and require that you submit multiple documents to prove residency, such as bank statements (and banks require an actual address), utility bills, leases/mortgages, etc., which would make this a lot harder to get around. The great thing about states like SD, TX, FL, and NV is that they specifically allow for nomadic residents (with varying requirements). Hope that helps!
~John
Great article thank you! know any good places to purchase RVโs discounted or take up payments?
Hi Sharon, glad you enjoyed it! Most places have used RV lots that would sell cheaper RVs and also allow might provide financing. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are also great places to find cheap RVs, but in order to do payments you would probably have to get loan beforehand. Hope that helps!
~John
Thanks for the article . I plan to be a van life snowbird in 5 or 10 years going from Washington to Arizona every winter and back to Washington for the spring summer and fall where all my family is . I won’t have a home or address and i would like to operate a tiny business in the summers how would i make all this work ? I want to keep Washington my home state . I thought i could ask a family member if i could use their address I would switch all my bills to paperless so… Read more »
Thanks for reaching out! Using a friend’s or family member’s address is definitely the simplest way to get around the whole address thing. If you have someone willing to let you use their address, then that’s probably what I would do in your situation. Hope that helps!
~John
Wow! I live in Portland, OR, and am trying to figure out how to make my Domicile in Washington!!
Can I borrow your address for just one time? Lol
But seriously, since you are already in Wa it should be much much easier for you to keep it as your Domicile. Just maintain good relationship/ connections there. You should able to use your existing address and just renew your drivers license. As far as mail, that’s the easy part: you can use a digital/ virtual mailbox cervice.
There is at least one in Washington when I checked.
Great article! Thank you!
So glad it was helpful, Joyce!
This is incredibly helpful! Thank you so much!!!
So glad this was helpful!
I think this is the first time in my life I’ve ever felt it’s convenient that I am from SD haha.
Hi Roni, thanks for commenting! We’ve been to SD twice in our travels (to Sioux Falls and to Black Hills/Rapid City) and enjoyed it each time!
I’ve chosen not to use an address. I told the DMV that I do not consent to any address that is not my own. It is not illegal to not have an address. It is their policy that requires us to provide them one. with that being said I told my branch manager I do not consent to fraud, then she coerced me to commit fraud, then I denied that and then I attempted to report her. With that being said they’ve dissolved my license out of thin air and I am ineligible as a nomadic man. I have no… Read more »
Hi Michael, thanks for commenting! I agree that a lot of the laws/rules are bullshit are don’t really accommodate people with alternative living situations. However, I think it’s often easier to figure out ways to play along and/or work with/game the system rather than outright fight it. It sucks, but sometimes it’s just a losing battle. Best of luck!
~John
thanks
You’re welcome! =D
nice
THIS IS WRONG: Getting a Driverโs License: South Dakota makes this very painless. You need a mail forwarding address, and a receipt for one night in a campground, RV park, hotel, or motel. Make sure the receipt lists your name(s) and mail forwarding address. You will also need to sign a โnomad affidavit,โ which states that South Dakota is your home and that you intend to return there whenever youโre done traveling full time. Please read SD driver license website again. The motel stay, one night, blah, blah, that is to renew a SD driver license so it isn’t to… Read more »
Hi Darren, thanks for reaching out! We actually went through this process ourselves in October 2018, and you can indeed get a brand new SD driver’s license with a one-night campground stay. Most mail forwarding services will hold your hand and guide you through the process.
You can read about our experience becoming South Dakota residents here:
https://gnomadhome.com/becoming-south-dakota-residents/
~John
The issue of being required to have a permanent physical address has been a major PITA for us in Colorado. For example, we recently applied to renew our passports. Yes, to the U.S. Federal government, Department of State. We had to provide a physical address — no PO Box. Still looking for reasonable alternatives on this. It’s a little unsettling once you no longer have a permanent addresses and suddenly realize that our various levels of government really demand that you have one. It’s almost like they want to know where they can go to put their hands on you.… Read more »
Hi there, yes, it’s quite disconcerting once you realize how much of our society is structured around people living a certain way. Many of our institutions, financial, government, and otherwise, just can’t wrap their heads around the idea that someone might not have a fixed residence somewhere. We haven’t tried to obtain passports since living in the van, so I’m not sure if using a mail forwarder for your address would work, but it’s not a PO BOX so it often can get around those types of restrictions. The next option would be to use the address of a friend… Read more »
Hi Gnomads! Great Article! I hadn’t even thought about the possibility of taking up residency in another state until reading this. The tax implications could be of great benefit to van dwelling. Every little bit counts. I’ve had the issues you mention with banks specifically needing a home address and not allowing UPS Store box numbers and such. One thing I’ve been able to do with some of my bank and credit card companies is to provide two addresses. One that is a residence address (family or friend) and one that is a mailing address (UPS Store Address). This at… Read more »
Hi Ben, thanks for the tips on that! We’re still slowly switching everything over and haven’t switched our banking addresses yet. There really are many things to think about when you live outside the traditional norms. Supposedly, mail forwarders that also have a campground attached (like Escapees and America’s Mailbox) can be used as both the physical address and mailing address for banking purposes, but we can’t confirm that and definitely recommend treading carefully.
~John