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Old 08-15-2012, 09:53 AM   #1
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License and Registration and full time, oh my!

We started full-time 3 months ago and have now moved from Michigan to San Diego, CA. Before we left we joined Good Sam and started using their mail forwarding service. They gave us a PO Box and a street address as well, both in Pensacola FL. We changed all of our bills, regular mail and permanent address to our PO Box (a couple investment accounts would not accept the PO Box and we had to use the street address for them). Our Class A and our toad are registered and licensed in MI, and our drivers licenses are also MI as well (we have been in CA 6 days now). Both vehicles are insured through Good Sam in a GMAC account (using the FL address).

We plan to continue to live in our motor home in CA for the next 3 years.
Both of our drivers licenses are MI.
Both of our vehicles are licensed and registered in MI.
Insurance on both vehicles is in FL.
Our permanent home address is in FL.

Now the question...
What, where, how and who do we do to make ourselves and our vehicles legal? Do we have to get FL licenses and register the vehicles in FL (I believe they require us to be physically present to do this, which would require a trip from CA to FL... $$$$)?
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Old 08-15-2012, 10:07 AM   #2
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Hi and welcome to the forum.

It seems you've got quite a tangled web when it comes to domicile.

I'm actually surprised that you got insurance on a car and coach registered in Mi when you've declared Florida as your domicile. I think the be "legal" in Florida, they'd want to see both vehicles registered in that state... but state laws vary so you'd have to check on Fla laws.

Your bigger problem could be with California if they ever find out you're living there for three years and not paying California taxes in the form of vehicle and license registrations. They WILL declare you a resident if they ever had cause to look in to it since I think they adopt anyone who remains in the state for more than six months in a year.

Best of luck.

Rick
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Old 08-15-2012, 10:41 AM   #3
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I know for sure that if you become employed you need a drivers license. A lot depends on your neighbors, if they squeal re, your plates a friendly Highway patrolman may show up. One other caveat, insurance companies love to disclaim whenever they feel you may be in violation even though their clerk made the error. Call DMV and try to get the straight scoop.

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Old 08-15-2012, 10:56 AM   #4
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What, where, how and who do we do to make ourselves and our vehicles legal?
Every state has their own requirements for driver's licenses, registration, and insurance. Your domicile address probably has no bearing on whether you need CA registration/insurance/driver's license. My guess would be that you will have to transfer all to CA.

I would go online to California DMV website and look up requirements. I would never call DMV and hope some clerk would give me the right information.
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Old 08-15-2012, 10:58 AM   #5
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Yep, CA wants you to pay taxes there. I looked into taking a job in CA with my residence in WA and live in our MH. Found that whether I worked or not I had to register my vehicles in CA if I was going to live/work there over 30 days. No way was I going to do that so I gave up the idea.
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Old 08-15-2012, 11:00 AM   #6
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. My guess would be that you will have to transfer all to CA.

I would go online to California DMV website and look up requirements. I would never call DMV and hope some clerk would give me the right information.
That's my guess too. The fact of the matter is that he's MOVING to California and plans to live there for three years. That makes him a resident and they're going to have their hand out wanting money.

Be aware that not doing this is probably illegal.

Rick
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Old 08-15-2012, 11:06 AM   #7
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HERE are the Texas DMV's guidelines for new residents. I suspect the California DMV has something similar.

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Old 08-15-2012, 04:13 PM   #8
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We are Texans living in Florida for the next year and a half, our vehicles are registered in Texas and our DLs are from there. The thing that allows us to do this legally is that we are full-time students. One of the things that we learned while active duty is that even though our vehicles are registered in Texas, insurance companies require that they be insured based upon where they are garaged, rather than state of registration.
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Old 08-20-2012, 10:33 AM   #9
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If you have loads of money then switch everything to california. if you paid in Michigan $500 a year for plates figure $1500 in Ca plus a bunch of other taxes. Been there almost did that. Regester in SD with a mailing company and it's much less than Michigan
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Old 08-20-2012, 08:44 PM   #10
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I run into the same issues as you as I work in the oilfield business. I have lived and worked in ND, CO, WY, and now TX. Our home is in Arkansas, its where my license and plates are from, and while I have yet to have any issues, I am responsible to pay taxes in AR and Texas has no income tax :-(
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Old 08-21-2012, 12:06 PM   #11
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Well, just now you are illegal. But only a little bit (Gray area).. MOST states require that if you live and work there you be registered as a citizen there. (NOTE Not live OR work but live AND work, actually LIVE is the key word).

There are 4 states which do allow you to spend only a very short time in state to established redisency,, Just how long I can not say. I can say that I'm sure of 3 of those states.

Texas (Home of Escapees) FLordia (Good Sam's) Nevada (no orgination I know of) and I believe the 4th (Which I'm looking at in a couple of years) is South Dakota.

SD recently changed their residency requirements, When you apply for or renew your license you must show that you have spent at least ONE NIGHT in state (A site rental reciept will do it). or some I"m told by residents.

But if you plan on spending 3 years in CA. CA may still consider you to be illegal. I do not know the laws in CA at all, have never researched them. I do have a copy of the Michigan laws on file but... that's cause I live here. (I'm just east of Flint as I type this).
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