Van Life Essentials- Getting an Address While Living in a Van 

Very "insightful" and once again I am a Nevada resident and looking at my options to "live off the grid" and these are the details that people really need to be aware of!!! KUDOS!!!

Agreed. From my own experience. This, even after giving that person self addressed, self-adhesive manila envelopes plastered with stamps, and all they need to do is to drop any mail (less junk mail) in the envelope, take it with them maybe once a week or so, when they are going to their mailbox to check their own mail anyway, and all they have to do is to slide the manila envelope in the slot-they flounder then stop all together without even a word. Most people are too disorganized to manage even this simple task, and they won't make even the simplest, no cost accommodations to do this for very long at all-they just end up resenting it.

Being a Canadian, this lecture doesn't really apply for me but I like to watch it because I enjoy listening to Bob

Bob, another well-known RVer had trouble with general delivery when he tried to pick up a package and was told it wasn't there. It turned out the package was there. He had to go through a lot of red tape and aggravation before finally solving the problem. It turned out there was a scam going on at the post office and the guy in charge was working it with the UPS guy. Phew!!!

Yeah, one of the reasons I want to become a nomad is to NOT have to rely on friends and family . I want to be as self reliant as possible.The service you mention is a great option though.

Hey Bob! I just love your straight up frank approach to everything. You can use family and friends but they do a crappy job! LOL. So true. Thanks for all the great info. Anyone can become a nomad with confidence with your video library available to them. Please keep'em coming!😀

Never apologize for being thorough! Thank you for a great video.

It's been my experience that UPS stores vary in their efficiency. Make sure the one you choose is rated highly online. Believe the ratings! Proved true for me. Thanks.

FYI: If you use on online tax service (TurboTax) to do your taxes, you don't need the physical copy of your retirement tax forms. You just need a scanned copy from your mail service with the info to fill in the form. (The IRS has their own access if needed). Since retiring, I've been nomadic for 3 years now (though not in an RV....yet, and not in the States). Each tax season I create a folder on my laptop, download all necessary scanned forms that have come thru my mail service, and once they've all arrived, I complete my taxes online. ALL DIGITAL. No need to handled ANY paper. (Too difficult, time consuming, and EXPENSIVE to get anything forwarded to Europe). In 3 years, the ONLY thing I have needed forwarded anywhere was a "renewed" credit card, and I had it sent to a place where I was "staying-put" for a month. (Thanks for the wealth of info in these videos. They have inspired me to consider options for whenever it's time to come back to the States).

This is awesome! I'm taking so many notes! See you on the road soon. I'm leaving for Arizona on Friday. Getting the RV in a few weeks. Thank you for all the hard work you put into your videos. You have helped me out so much.

This was great information! i own a Arrey RV Park, LLC in Arrey, New Mexico. I have begun offering this service to some of my residents that are with me about 3 months out of the year. I have been researching how to do this legally and on a larger scale. Thank you for the valuable information!!!

Hello, I just found your channel and have been binge watching all day lol. Thank you for all the information! I don't have a van yet. I am homeless in San Francisco and what I do for mail is called general delivery. I think most cities have it for people who are homeless. I just go to 391 ellis street, show my id and they give me my mail. I just thought I'd share this with people who may be desperate lol. It is free. Just call the post office for whatever city you are in and ask if they do general delivery. It has limitations like I don't think you can get big packages, and some people like food banks won't accept it for an address. But it is free if you can't afford a po box or anything else.

Bob, wel done. This is my first response to one of your videos. I have been watching your very informative, straight forward videos for almost a week now. I am starting to like your style. Very kind of you to share your secrets...free, many that did not come cheep to you. I hope to meet you on the road someday. It would be an honor.

Absolutely beautiful mountain scenery in the back ground! Thanks,Bob, good info!

This is as video to watch, pause and take notes. Thank you for the information. Appreciate the frankness and honest approach to issues of Nomadic life.

I was just looking for this video yesterday and today I had a notification for exactly this. This is the most useful and important information that I’ve seen. Thanks Bob.

amazon lockers are great to. i think they are free but mostly in larger towns and larger chain stores. they basically deliver your package to a locker box in a store...you go and pick it up at your convenience.. thanks for your channel, I watch often !

It is so great that all my questions are answered by either yourself or those that subscribe.

Thank you Bob this was my toughest and most wildest concern I had the whole time I lived out of my SUV I did not know where to get mail how to get an address and not live at the address I didn't know that virtual mailbox existed or Merrell forwarding agencies were so helpful with their clients this really helps the nomadic community for I'm still a taxpayer just not a landowner I don't see no problem in that I'm still serving my country

Thnx Bob. Great info. I've often thought about starting a mail service here in Henderson NV. If we get enough interest we'll do it. I use to work long ago in the mail room. lol guess it's in my blood. We love helping ppl. Safe travels to you. God bless

Old or new....I find all your videos so helpful and informative!!! Thank you Bob!!🙏🏻🙏🏻

very informative you teach so well this is great the philosophy of being a nomad is great to keep them both coming my wife and i just went full time tomorrow will mark our first week loving it

The more I learn about the Nomad life, the more simplistic it seems. I need this so bad, I am in tears.

You Rock Bob ! Thanks for info and putting this up on RU-vid.👍Good Vibes 👣

👍Terrific info. So glad you reposted this info. Wishing you the best. 🤗💞🤗

You màke our lives so much easier. Bravo!

I'm just getting started at this and will be using my brothers address for about 6 months. After that I'll be going with one of these services. Thanks for this very useful information.

Definitely answered all my questions. Thanks again, Bob !!! I love your videos and I have come to really trust you over the last year. I hope to be on the road again by spring and I really hope to meet you.

Another excellent, information filled video, Bob. I took notes! lol! Thank you for all of your hard work creating these videos.

This explained a lot, but I wonder about the timeliness of certain deliveries, such as medications...Also, I asked at my local P.O., just out of curiosity and advance research (I'm not yet on the road), about general delivery. They said it's only good for 30 days, so it is a temporary thing, and not something a stationary but homeless person could use permanently. Thanks for the great info.

Always good info Bob. Even lifes simplest tasks can be frustrating in certain living situations.

Thank you so much for this information. I would never be able to figure all this out on my own. Fortunately, for those who have internet access many of the things we used to need to do in person and by snail mail can now be done online. For instance, I recently moved twice and both times I renewed the address for my vehicle license and registration online and the DMV sent them to me through the mail. (deleted my question because it was answered below). :)

Don't forget you can call a Post Office and ask if they will hold a General Delivery package for you.

Thanks tons for your totally helpful info. especially on buying a comm'l vehicle and the vehicle insurance costs that go with them!

Thanks Bob for this info. This made me check out the mail forwarding services in Australia for when I am on the road. I would not have known about this service if I had not seen this video. :D

Awesome informative video! My sticks and bricks is in Vegas but I don't want to return each year just for a smog in order to register my RV. This video gave me exactly the info that I need. Now, I'm looking forward to the physical address video. Thank you for taking the time to research this information and then share it so that others may follow their dreams. Your videos also help us to address the concerns of family and friends.

I will check with my post office

When I was full timing with a SD residency, I used "My Dakota Address" they are really good. They still send me stuff. Terri is nice and smart. They are really common sense driven.

Good vid Bob ... useful info. Most of the RV parks we've stayed at will receive and hold mail. I think you have to stay there long enough for the mail to arrive via forwarding. I wouldn't give anyone my permission to open any of my mail.

Enjoy the video.. Instead of having Mary Ann physically deposit your checks have her send you front and back images and do a mobile phone deposit.. Just a thought..

If you are in imminent danger or desire of moving on: #1. Go to the USPS and get a box. Give them your current address, and leave it that way. It doesn't even have to be in the same town. My post office didn't have enough boxes, so I went to the next town over. I had to show a rental agreement or something, maybe, the first time, 17 years ago. No grief since. If I leave for several months a year, they will forward my mail to different addresses. They know me here, and I have family here, so they don't expect to see me all the time, since I'm disabled, and I do send others in for my mail now and then. This might not work well if it's a busy post office, and they don't get your change updated often enough if you fill out the paper forms, but you can change your forwarding address online. It works. If you decide another state is more friendly to your purse later, you can change through the post office, too. #2. Get everything doable online as you possibly can. How often do you get anything through the mail now? Truly, when I was living out of my car 18 years ago, I got this done. If I could do it then, really, don't you think that it's possible now? Or have things gotten too difficult to do online? Driver's licence, registration, and Midicare cards are the only things I get in the mail anymore. I don't have a job, and I don't pay taxes, but my vote is also mail-in. Banking, storage rental, library loans of ebooks and audiobooks, automatic deposits and phone bills are all online. My SS deposits go right into my checking, and once a month, they transfer some to my savings. I try not to touch that, but it's available instantly when I need it. #3. Don't panic. Get your Super Duper ID or passport or both ASAP. I don't know how I'm going to do it myself right now, since I can only get one proof of residence for my tiny house on wheels, which will be different from the PO, because I have no utilities here. sigh But, I know that there has to be a way, and I'l find it. You will, too. For those of you already on the road, I hope to be learning more from you. Thanks in advance!

Why is mail forwarding such an issue? If you live on the road, there is no electric bill or gas bill and the rest is junk mail, unless you get a bill from a company that sells clothing from a catalog, or from a loan company or some other credit corporation. You can communicate with your family by using your cell phone or computer. If I were on the road, I wouldn't have to order online for groceries, as there is a Walmart or other store in every town, no matter where you go. If you know you are going to an isolated place, you just have to stock up on pantry food before you go there. Now, I am ready to figure out how I can actually go on the road, with no car or van or RV of any kind. My driver's license has expired years ago, which is one more problem, although I had a clean record...I just haven't driven in several years and have no savings for a vehicle. I'm pretty sure I can still drive, but my family seems to think I'm on my way out, because I'm 82 and slightly immobile, but still healthy and mentally alert. Does anyone have a nice RV they want to donate or sell for monthly payments? I'm so tired of just wishing for an opportunity to fly away. I want to fly south, but not in the air...I prefer wheels.

Great information Bob, thank you!!! I swear it look's like you're standing in front of a post card. Hope you're doing great and that you are enjoying some peace and relaxation.

Found your video on mail and license, tags, ECT. Thank you!

I had originally posted this on your 15 years a nomad video but posting here as well in hopes you see it: I just absolutely cannot imagine working at a grocery store or anything like that for 35 years, I am 19 and am about to lose my mind in a job after close to 1 year. From the time I was a child I knew exactly that I wanted to travel. I literally dreamed about leaving earth and going into space to never return my entire life, I always knew I would and could never exist just to make someone else money working somewhere like that. Over the years those dreams were suffocated by schools and society telling me, being an astronaut is only for the best, you'll fail if you don't go to college and get a day job, things like that and the only time I was truly enjoying life to the fullest was when I was traveling with my parents. We first traveled across the us but never farther west that the dakotas. We eventually began to travel to puerto Escondido, Mexico and Roatan Honduras. These were some of the best times of my entire life, it was more than travel, it was living. I eventually got a job and went to college. I made it through about 4 months of college until. I got so depressed that I could not go on. I dropped out, and kept working part time at FedEx, during the day I was free and was having adventures every day and weekend. This was amazing and I had an electric car so had very few bills. During this time I was renting a garage loft from my parents and after a few months my father came to me and said I would have to leave if I did not get a full time job. I am 17 at this point. I eventually was forced into a factory job that a cousin worked at and was working 10 hour shifts a day. I again got ferociously depressed and my anxiety was unlike what I had ever experienced and I was diagnosed as anxiety depression disorder. The factory eventually went under new ownership, and they ran it into the ground. We were all laid off and I was without work. I was spending my days outside for the few weeks and enjoying freedom. Eventually my father and I came back around to the same impasse. "Get a full time job, or get out." I eventually got a job at sprint, now 19, thinking I might enjoy a job where I have conversations might give me less of a sense of being cooped up. This has made it much, much worse. Over these years I have grown very very fond of cars, which I believe was a subconscious thing to get my mind away, and have became extremely fond of German cars. I eventually used my inheritance to by a brand new dream car of mine, a Volkswagen GTI as loaded and exactly as close to my vision as possible. I tuned it up and modified it, all while still 19 and continued to get more and more into Volkswagen and Audi cars, old and new. This eventually led me to get a mk1 gti to restore. After searching for and finding this car, I eventually stumbled across a Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia. I instantly was in love and began to look up videos about these hoping to purchase one. I ran across more and more videos of people camping in them and then finally found videos of the Vandwellers. Finally after years of being in a mundane haze of everyday 9-5 life my wanderlust was sparked back to life and I began researching all the vans and cars and minivans people were using to create a life in wheels. I then came across the Don of van dwelling, Bob. All the information I wanted and needed I could and did get from you. I recently purchased a Ford E-350 15 passenger shuttle bus, I am currently awaiting the sale of my dream car which I am not awaiting with excitement, I deeply care for it and hate the fact of someone else owning it but it is what will be funding my van conversion and my life on wheels until I am at a point where I will need money again, I am already happier and my only regret is not doing this sooner. I hope to meet you in person someday so I can properly thank you, but even then I will not be able to thank you enough.

Great video! Video informative. We are moving to an RV next month and we had been struggling to find a solution for mail forwarding. Thanks!

I always used my parents address. Most the time I can do all my stuff online. So I don't need any physic materials from my mail. So picking up mail isn't very often. But, when I do need my mail in hand. Parents have no problem mailing it to me. Right now I'm not a nomad. In spring of 2020 is my next nomad trip for three years. Which is my 10th nomad experience. I call them semi retirement plan. My longest nomad what my previous one at 2 years and 9 months. So I know next time I can reach 3 years easily.

I enjoy so much your videos your a walking encyclopedia best wishes

Brilliant. Thanks SO MUCH for all this great information!

This was a good resource of information. Great job!

That was a lot of information,and very informative as always.Thanks Bob

Very helpful, as always! Thank you again.

I'm not an RVer but am fascinated by the life style. New subscriber and I like your videos very much.

Thanks Bob! I like how you got Mt. Whitney in that video.

Hey Bob, I am going to be out there (on the road) as soon as I can and have been wondering what to do about mail. Now I know. Thanks a bunch Bob. Be Well.

Thank you for being informative and providing the various websites for mail service. I greatly appreciate it! :)

Bob you have a great information on your website there and you're right you almost way too much I enjoy it and I appreciate your help you're really a lot of knowledge balled up in that little gray head of yours and I appreciate what you've done for all the boondocking Camper RV van living people out there. hope someday to meet you but one of the rallies to thank you for all your well information of knowledge

I love the service where post office sends a pic of the mail I'm getting each day, some deliveries too. But not DHL deliveries

As always, great info Bob. Thank you!

This is my 1st time tuning in.... verrry informative! I'm in Canada, so unsure if Ur mail forwarding works the same way. Saving to buy another van by next summer, & I think I'll be watching U alot. Thank U Layne

Bob you are the GOAT 🐐 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Im so inspired I am in planning now will soon be on the road

My God Bob U have no idea how relieved I am to have found Ur sites and others of course. I am living in Thailand and wanting to return for many,many years with some of my street dogs I rescued. The task seems like a bridge too far but now I know how I will live, equipment, vehicle,ideas, and more cuz of U mostly ! T U. I do have past experience of this but had NO idea it was still so common and doable. I am jacked for my new life and just tidying up small things.C Ya when I C Ya.

I love Bob! So honest about this! Thank you so much for the info.

Thank You Thank You Bob 💜🐾

Keep the videos coming! I've learned so much from your channel. I have finally made the decision to do the van life. Thank you so much & take care! - current subscriber

Thank you for your help with this valuable service just starting to make my way out west to enjoy some of the sites you have pointed out

Mail drops work well for just physical address, big downfall is they will not forward mail. You have to notify every piece of mail. I was able to get New mandatory drivers license with physical mail drop address. I live stationary full time RV park with no boxes. So it was a physical address for me and worked. Upside, if I do change locations, I can select only mail I want to be changed, gets rid of all the other junk!

Lone Pine peak on the left, Mt. Muir, Mt. Whitney, and Mt. Russell on the right...

I watched this video. It was very informative. Thanks so much for dropping knowledge.

I do take notes!! Thanks for the great info

Thanks Bob! Someday, I hope to need this service!! Awesome information!!

A somewhat new and VERY CONVENIENT service today is 'depositing' a check via your phone. Not all banks offer the service so you need to look that up. US Bank does it for sure.

Amazon, use a Amazon Locker. They are all over, everywhere. Google Amazon Locker and type in zip where u r and it will add to your addresses in amazon

Great info Bob. Thanks so much

This is super informative.. I am going to your next (3rd) in the series, now... Did you say there are 4 parts?

Your videos are SO helpful Bob. THANK YOU!!

Another excellent video. Thanks for all the information.

Alot of material but at least you're not beating around the bush.

yes thank you for providing all this info. for us...:)

Thank you! Was asking myself, this very question this last week.

Thanks for the Mt Whitney shot!

Thank you. Taking lots of notes💜

Thank you Bob, you saved my life!

As always, you are awesome!! Thanks Bob.

This was a great video. I'm interested in learning how to become a mail forwarder for the state of LA. Time for me to do my research.

Such great explanations! Thanks for your great work, Bob!

Luv your videos! Always refer to them for anything that I may want or need to know to begin my life of freedom!!! I've never boondocked before & because of you I am confidently looking forward to it. Thanx so much for sharing all of your knowledge and insight! Was wondering if you could do a video on any clubs or groups of people I could connect with in my travels? I'm on the east coast and will be heading to Fl..

The US Post Office screwed up my mail. Before I moved from PA, a few days actually, I went to the local post office. Filled out the 2 change of address forms. One saying stop my mail in PA on one date, the other said start delivery on another date at an address in VA. There was about a month between those two dates ,because I was on a tractor trailer with a co driver and we'd be on home time in about a month..Very soon after moving to VA ,it was Christmas and I went back to PA to visit my family. They gave me Covid,I spent 1 months in the hospital ,came back to VA with lung damage and an oxygen concentrator machine for another two months. Then I realized I was getting no mail.Went to VA Post office , called PA post office. Had to rewrite change of address forms, again. Meanwhile Post office lost my W2s and every other piece of mail for several months.

So much useful info, as usual. Thanks Bob.

God forbid!!! So what happens when your mail forwarder gets sick, goes on vacation, gets into an terrible car accident, or whatever she won't able to mail forward immediately to due to her personal situation?

HEY THANKS for the information. I can't wait to begin my adventure. I got a little time to research my future. THANK YOU BOB !!!

Wait..so is the mail forwarder going to be your address? The one you use for health/car insurance? Drivers liscence?

Thanks Bob, as always very helpful!

Thank you so much for the great information

If you notify your mail correspondences and have them send it to your email. Most businesses and govt agencies, like saving paper and they will send your mail to your email address.

Go paperless/electronic mail as much as possible.

Can you forward from one Post office to another post office?

Traveling Mailbox will scan it and email it to you. They seem to forward it everywhere.

Another outstanding, informative video. Thank you Bob!