Last Updated on March 31, 2024 by Jessica Lauren Vine
You’ve got to get your mail somewhere, right? Even so, it can be confusing to learn how to establish your domicile for RVers.
When we started RV life, we kept our stuff in the same state because we wanted all of our same doctors, and our family lived there. So it wasn’t a big deal, and we didn’t have to figure out any of that mess.
Even so, we learned about how to establish your domicile for RVers because people would ask us about the RV lifestyle and how they could go about doing it.
I already wrote a great post about creating an RV home base so that you can check that out, but in this article, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty of establishing your domicile as an RVer.
Basics of Setting Up Domicile for RVers
- Choose the state where you want to establish a domicile
- Register your vehicles there
- Make appointments with doctors in or near that city
- Change your driver’s license to the new address
- Register to vote
- Spend time in the state
These are the basics of what you need to do to set up a domicile. If you want to go more in-depth, then keep reading.
Choose Your Domicile State
You might think it’s a good idea to keep your domicile in the state where you already live. That could be a good option for you, but not necessarily. If you don’t plan on spending a lot of time in that state and you would like to cash in on tax benefits of some of the most popular states to move to when you’re an RVer then you might want to go to a different state.
Florida, Texas, and South Dakota are the most popular states, and a lot of people like them not only for their tax advantages but also because of the people that live there.
Register Your Vehicles
When you’re there registering your vehicles, this can help with the time you need to spend in the state to prove this actually is your domicile.
Keep in mind that some people choose to domicile in South Dakota because vehicle insurance is almost always cheaper when that’s where your domicile is. The reason it’s cheaper in South Dakota is that there are fewer natural disasters than there are in Florida or in Texas.
Make Appointments with Professionals
Yes, you could keep your out-of-state doctor, lawyer, etc., but that doesn’t build a good case for your domicile in this new place. Securing as many links to your new state as possible will make a big difference.
Change Your Driver’s License
It’s not too hard to change your driver’s license, but sometimes you’ll have to wait quite a while for the hard copy to come in the mail. As soon as you get to your new location, make sure you go ahead and get the process going so you don’t have to wait any longer than you want to wait.
Register to Vote
Registering to vote is another good signal when you want to establish your domicile in a new state. If the IRS doesn’t think you really live there and that you’re just trying to get out of taxes, you don’t want to have to deal with that. Take this extra step as an extra bit of proof.
Spend Time in the State
Keep in mind that there are some states that require you to spend 183 days in the state. If you don’t spend time there, then they don’t think that’s where you live. That’s another reason people love to go for Texas, Florida, or South Dakota when establishing a domicile.
Can you establish residency living in an RV?
Yes. You can establish residency living in an RV.
Can you have two domiciles?
No. You cannot have two domiciles. You can have two residencies but not two domiciles.
If you live in an RV, what is your address?
You have to pick a state and either find a relative that will let you use their address or get a mail forwarding service address.
How To Establish Your Domicile for RVers: Conclusion
Now you know a bit more about establishing your domicile as an RVer. You can use this information to help you as you’re starting out on your RV lifestyle journey.
When Jessica was older and had a family, she took her crew on the road for 2.5 years. They lived in 2 different RVs during that time. One 18 foot long and one 28 foot long. Both pull-behind RVs.
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