Dude, I saw this video January 2019 just before the RTR, did the RTR, drove to Las Vegas, flew to Rapid City (cheaper than gas), went to America's Mailbox the next morning, filled out the paperwork, went to the DMV to get my license, went to courthouse to get my registration and plates, popped out to Mount Rushmore, then went to the airport to fly back to Las Vegas... all in just over 24hrs. This video rocks! From one South Dakota resident to another... thank you!
We attempted to domicile in Texas and discovered how painful and time consuming the process was going to be on our first visit to the DMV. Very happy we decided to give up on Texas and go with South Dakota.
@having wandered I found out how painful it was to try to domicile in Wyoming, gave up and went with South Dakota. They might even gain another Representative seat in the next Census if we all keep this up!
Texas requires a vehicle inspection every year as well, so you have to physically show up for that to renew your registration. It's also a huge benefit to be able to title and register vehicles there without actually being a resident or have a SD driver's license. I saved sixty percent on my insurance. I had to buy an RV on the road after a fatal breakdown. And I knew it would never pass smog in California. You can waive that to renew in California if you are out of state. But to do a new title out of state takes months. This was great. Title and registration all done remotely.
Congrats, Eric and Jax. Welcome to the huge tribe of SD nomads! Just wanted to share something that does not pertain to you, but will to others: When you stay overnight - BE SURE to get the names of you AND your spouse/partner on the receipt so they also have proof of their one night stay. We learned that the hard way. Also, we were one of the addresses affected by the abrupt shut down of My Dakota Address. What a mess...
Thanks so much for this video! I've watched others talk about the process, but this video made everything very clear. Awesome job! Thanks for showing your cost breakdown. Looking forward to hearing about how the insurance stuff works out.
Good for You ! Glad things are going the right way I've been watching for last 6 years and I'll keep watching as long you'll be posting your work ! Peace and keep pressing on !
Everyone should really appreciate this video and that you shared the step by step process. There’s been other van dwellers who have gone there and done the same thing but did not disclose the cost, the process and all the information. Some are just too secretive rather than helping others out on the road. Everyone can learn from one another and maybe keep some from making mistakes or doing things the hard way. This is another reason you have so many followers. Thanks again for sharing, you and Jax have a good weekend. 😉👍🇺🇸
Thank you. I've been looking into this for a year, and this final toll insanity really pushed me into it. I did watch a lot of other videos talking about the same things (as I mentioned Wanderlust Estate and Bob Wells) but I noticed things that were missing from those videos, things I WANTED to know and see and follow. So I made sure to include the actual steps, the order, the costs, and then the places I had to physically go with what kinds of paperwork in order to get things done. I wanted to make a real video of how it works so that anyone can ride alone with me from start to finish and know exactly how it works before they do the same thing. Since all I could find were nomads sitting in a vehicle talking about the process.... I knew there was so much to gain from filming the actual process live. Thanks for noticing.
Bridge tolls and road tolls are now collected by camera and billed to you in many areas. EZ Pass can not be used at some toll booths and they don't have toll collectors so you get billed. I found out the hard way when an overdue notice came from New York City Bridge and Tunnel Authority for tolls that now of my group even remembers seeing signs at those bridges. No toll booths and lots of construction were all we remembered seeing. By the time we got the bill, the charges were close to $400 with late and overdue charges. My cousin talked them down to about 50 dollars for about 12 dollars of tolls. Great system. It shouldn't be allowed ! Good video. Say "Hi" to Jax ! Happy Motoring !
Welcome to the club brother. Wife and I had the same experience also . One and done! Best thing we have done to help our lifestyle in a long time. Americas Mailbox has been great for us and would recommend it .
We did exactly the same thing as you did, on the same days. We saw your camper in the America’s Mailbox parking lot, but I didn’t see you. I did use the America’s Mailbox title service, and let them go to the courthouse for me. We also found great free camping in the Black Hills National Forest for several days. So far, it’s been a terrific service, and I highly recommend the scanning service. We also stuck with our former insurance provider. Hope to see you on the road.
Great informative video Eric. You are looking so happy lately and it shows. Love your adventures, its almost like we are with you. Downunda Melbourne Australia
What an informative video. I recently learned that IL has a serious increase in people moving out of state. I never realized how much more it costs to live here compared to other states. I've been researching becoming a nomad so I just subscribed to your channel. You know a lot of helpful info and I like your videos' style.
I just started planning our RV life ... in the last few months..... and I realized very quickly... South Dakota was the place we’re going too..... thank u soooooo much for this video......
Another great video Eric! It was great to meet you and Jax in Box Elder. I too became a South Dakota resident in one day. Super easy and super nice people to deal with!
Ty so much. Awesome. We will be doing this. Wanted to, but wasn't sure of all the wheres and why's. Ty sweetie. We are so grateful. You rock!! Meant you only as you drove by us at RTR last year. You were so nice a d happy. Got that on video. Lol. Ty 😍👍🤩 Dan is very impressed. 🤗
Just an FYI - All mail sent to you is already photographed on the outside of the envelope by USPS. You can sign up on the USPS website to get emails sent to you of the pics as the mail comes in. It is a free service. But they will not open your mail as they do in the service talked about by Eric.
I did this switch earlier this year. Vehicle insurance companies are aware of every remailer address in the state and with a remailer address your insurance rates are higher than other residents. Why? Full time RVers make more claims. Lowest rates for auto and RV insurance apparently doesn't apply to everyone. If you want cheaper rates, find a relative living in South Dakota full time who will allow you to use their address (if you qualify to do so, e.g., you are a full time RVer - there is a form for that scenario, too, and the relative or friend will have to sign and notarize approval). Suggestion is if you have a high end RV, especially if it is 11 years old or older and still valued over about $60k, consider setting it up under a Montana LLC, and you will only have to license it once. Ever. And no sales tax on the license. (I give the price amount because there are fees to process the LLC annually and initial setting up the corporation, but if it saves $ because of your high-end rig, it may be worth the effort.). Of course you can do this for any vehicle, but the annual renewal cost and legal fees may or may not make it worthwhile, and most South Dakota residents pay a pretty low vehicle tax anyway, and if you sell an old RV and buy a new RV after registering in South Dakota, you only pay sales tax on the difference between the two RV's, making South Dakota preferable to keeping vehicle residency. Did you register to vote, too? South Dakota makes it easy to vote absentee by mail, register at least 15 days before elections. Reminder: You need to get auto insurance in-state before you can license your vehicle. I was not able to find a company to do this because my vehicle technically isn't an RV, yet. For those of you with a 'real' RV this switch is apparently easy. (I was told to license and insure my vehicle in a state I don't live in and was added to a relative's policy. Not what I wanted to do, but insurance co said I couldn't register my vehicle in SD under this one-day full timer RV resident program.) The good news was, the state I registered in was only interested in whether or not the vehicle was insured in the state I was getting plates for, even though I presented my South Dakota driver's license when registering the vehicle. Did you get a gold star on your driver license? You should have. I had and equally wonderful, experience at getting residency and friendly staff at the DMV... In Sioux Falls. I tried to get an account with America's mailbox after My Dakota Address went out of business without notice. Actually, I worked with 3 other companies, none were as good of an experience as My Dakota Address, and I found America's Mailbox to be complicated and too many options that didn't make sense. Dakota Post never returned a phone call or answered an email in a timely manner, and I ended up going with MyBestAddress, which had a few early hiccups and not good experience with the auto registration side, but I, too, went with the most expensive mail scanning plan, and now it is just right for me (less expensive than America's Mailbox, but more expensive than My Dakota Address - out of business). I was lacking court papers to prove a name change, but DMV did everything except issue a actual license, giving me a valid for 6 months license while I mailed them the missing docs. Driver's license had to be mailed to my mailer address, then forwarded to where I was. Note: South Dakota has strict laws on who can get a Driver's license - check the laws if you have child support arrearages or felonies on your record, you may not be able to obtain more than 6 month temporary licenses if you don't meet all the requirements. I am sure they are doing that so all driver license holders are 100% compliant with the Real ID Act. Insurance: My dental insurance went down $6/mo and I have a national plan. I have an international health plan so there was no change in cost. I enjoyed my South Dakota travels and will be back soon, but not this winter, brrrr!!!
Thank you that was a great vlog in order and with no holes easy for anyone to understand. A great way to be a nomad to get things in order. As always great and well done video and trader safe
#1 Good Morning, Eric. I had trouble down loading this video about South Dakota Vehicle Registration. I too, have had trouble with Toll Road in some states. The Toll Booths are located off the main through fare and when I realized that I missed the the booths, it was too late. The Federal Government should make all Toll Roads and Booths "Uniform".
Thank you so much, Eric! This video answered so many questions I've had. Had been looking into a different state and mail forwarding company but am now sold on America's Mailbox! I knew South Dakota was easy to gain residency, but didn't know it was THAT easy. Happy travels to Jax and you!
Lots of good information to know. Wow! I wondered how that was done. Thanks again Eric. I learn every time I watch you. Either info about other states and what's going on there or things like this. Where and how to have your own home base. Your great. ( crazy lady me!!!!)
Congrats! Now you can proudly say, "I'm from Washington State, but now I reside in South Dakota." If I were you I would take Jax to the vet right there right now, so his current paperwork, his license if required, and his ID tags all are set up with your permanent physical address. He is probably microchipped, so consider how you want to handle that contact info, too. 😊
When we full timed in 2000, we went with an LLC out of Montana. No sales tax on RV, car or trailer. However, we did not have any other permanent address. This time, we may go with South Dakota, but we are living here in Florida now and have all our documents here, so no-brainer except for the insurance, which is high! Decisions, decisions! Thanks for the breakdown, Eric!
Thanks much Eric. Was going to Texas next month to start the process. Will now be going to South Dakota to change from my current Washington residence.
Thank you I’m new to your channel and when I’m ready this seems like a way to go thank you your version of becoming a South Dakota resident . Love your content I really enjoy it keeps me busy and out of trouble lol maybe I’ll see you in the road one day . Your friend Boston Garry
I live in California and my brother in law lives in Kansas we met in Texas to visit my niece. We both received a bill approximately 3 weeks later for "overdue" toll. A $2.00 fee turned into $42.00. Nether one of us received the $2.00 bill but we did get the $42.00 so times that by every out of state car that's a lot money! An out of stater won't drive back to fight for $42.00.
Sometimes the cheapest turns out not to be the least expensive. If I was living the nomad lifestyle I think I would do the same thing you did. It's worth the peace of mind to know your mail will be forwarded to where you are.
Did I understand you correctly? You get full coverage for your Tioga for $76.00 a month?!?! which one do I google, Good Sam or National General, or does it matter?
OMG- Nomadic Fanatic is my Neighbor!! We just finished this process Sept 11th! BTW- the license plate month is based on your First letter of your LAST NAME and you only have to physically go back to get your drivers license renewed in 10 years. You can apply by mail in 5 years. The 10 year thing is to get a new picture.
Many will really appreciate you going thru your new resident experiance. I'm part time,have a home but am able to refer those FTers what you've shared. Happy Trails. 🐞
GREAT Advise for those looking to be and already are proper RVers :) One thing that is useful over here in England, well at least over one toll bridge I know of, you register with an online account with DART (the government department that is in charge of these things), register your car tag (which over here are allocated to each car when the car is produced and is even etched into the corner of the windshield unless you pay for a personalised onee... anyway!) And on this account you link it to your bank account or credit card and you can do auto-top up when it gets below so much or whatever. So each time you go over the bridge, the cameras catch your tag and the toll is automatically taken from your account or if you don't have an account, you can pay online within 24hrs of you passing the bridge (loads of signs on both sides reminding you to do this). With all the driving and toll roads you do, It been much helful if somehow toll roads over there could be done like this one here.
Your amazing. Good job for all. You did a great service for people that don't know where to start. I'm sharing again for sure. Your at the top of you tube as far as I'm concern. I alway look for you, CVK and Mike first. Granny fan
Eric - VERY IMPORTANT - Since we have gotten a toll road in NC and it is "Toll by Mail" too, I know a ton of people that have had that same problem. A $5.00 toll quickly becomes several hundred dollars and you know nothing. My suggestion for you and the way you travel is to get an EZ PASS transponder. I can tell you first hand on a Class C you will need an external transponder. EZ PASS is common in VA northward and reciprocal in NC, GA and FL. It is the most common across the country. You open an account, give your debit card number, order a transponder and you are covered on almost every toll road in the country. They will hold like $20.00 in the account and replenish it from your debit card based on how much you use it. And normally toll with a transponder is less than by mail. Some roads that have tool booths will have transponder lanes that don't have to stop. You have to watch the signs on approach to see if yours is accepted. Hope that helps. Like I said - you need the External Transponder and it cost more. Black bar box that mounts to the top of the front license plate. I can send you a picture of mine if you like.
