Van Life Essentials How to get a Real ID Drivers License While Living in a Van 

We need an updated version of this video. Great info. Thank You Bob 🙏👍🐕‍🦺

Thanks always, Bob. You are a true hero! I know that you have saved lives. How many suicidal, hopeless people have found you and your youtube site? Only God knows, but you give inspiration and renewed hope to people who feel trapped by life circumstances that have left them feeling bereaved and bereft...You have found your calling and purpose in helping and teaching others who have found themselves in dire straits. You've opened up new options and possibilities for so many that have only gotten one bad blow after another...God bless you.

In my state, they require a bill such as a utility or phone bill. I had neither. But I did have a bank account with direct deposit. I simply asked a friend if I could use his address & he said yes.Then I went to the bank & had them add the 2nd, physical address, below my PO Box address. Then I had them print me out a copy of my bank statement on which contained their letterhead & both of my addresses. I then took that to the DMV as proof of permanent physical address & it was accepted. Later if you want you can go back to the bank & have the 2nd address removed from your billing address. You should only have to do this once in your lifetime unless the rules change. Just tell them each time you renew that nothing has changed. I kept it on mine just in case, for now, as a commercial truck driver I don't need any more headaches than I've already got.

This guy always give such IMPORTANT INFORMATION. I don’t even benefit directly from a lot of his content because I live in Canada and the laws here are different but I still benefit indirectly from applying what I learn here to what I can in Canada 🇨🇦. Please keep making QUALITY CONTENT like this brother!

I went to South Dakota in December 2016 stayed one night in a motel, took the receipt to DMV and got my real ID compliant drivers license

Its a damn shame that your birth certificate is not good enough. Nobody should have to have a permanent address this is the land of the free right.

Yeah, they told us Social Security #'s would not be used for ID either.....They Lied!

I find with all your tutorials, that you really do care about others. also, your information makes me feel secure & I can't thank you enough!

If you get a non-compliant drivers license and a Passport Card ($30/10 years) you can use the passport card to get on an airplane or any federal installation. A passport card will fit in your wallet and so long as it is kept in the secure pouch, it will remain secure. The passport card will work for land and sea borders with Canada and Mexico and can be used to sea voyages to most of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda such as if taking a cruise or the ferry between St. Thomas USVI and Tortola BVI.

With all the people who are living in their cars, vans, RVs, tents, etc this is a real issue that needs to be addressed. I’ve had seasonal jobs that provide an address so it’s not a problem for me personally. I’ve also had a passport, which works for everything.

I'm leaning towards Montana for residency. It's tough to pass up an 8 year license & permanent registration for $180. Staying in an RV camp 60 days & producing the mountain of paperwork needed are the biggest challenges.

I really appreciate the way you give information. I DO NOT think you "babble on" as some ignorant viewer suggested! Please don't change your format. Your personality comes through in your videos. Your personality is what attracts the viewer, keeps us watching and creates a believable, trustworthy relationship with you. You got 100,000 viewers by being YOU! We don't want to watch an automiton who spits out information. We want to watch Bob, our friend, the guy we've come to know and trust. Keep being you Bob. Let the critics make their own channel. You've had it right since you started. You give invaluable information the way a trusted old friend would. Thank you for all you do.

We are not too far away from being chipped like animals. Thank you for sharing, happy trails to you.

maybe everyone need to buy a house together to used that address

Ok, ill give you a way to get a permanent residence in Texas. Hit the land for sale sites and restrict the search to $1-$1000. You will find land that falls into that category. Some of it is lots in a small town, some of it is land in the country. Most of it will be less than 1 acre. Annual property taxes will be less than the cost of the land in most cases. Not long ago there was several residential lots in a small north Texas town that had no deed restrictions. $800 a lot. Pull in, park your RV on the lot, put up a mailbox, and you are good to go. If I remember correctly you have to live there for 6 months to claim residence. Look down by Van Horn and you can get 5-10 desert acres for under $1000.

I know this is an older video, but you have no idea how many videos I have watched trying to find different info about mail and IDs, you answered all my questions in this one video. 🙌🏼 thank you!!!! I hope you are still doing well! Moving into my car in about 60 days. I won’t be moving around the country, but at least I’ll be able to stay in a place I love and keep my job. ✌🏼

if the government tells you its not creating a data base, it is.

Very interesting Bob, thanks. I'm an American citizen and have been living in Australia for the last 26 years so I have no idea about these changes. Well presented and informative. Cheers!

This is something that has been on my mind for some time. I really don't want to rely on anyone, here in Massachusetts it's hard to find people to help you. I know this is not the same in other states there are people who will help. I don't want to brake any laws I just want to live the last of my days and have no trouble with anyone

Another easy way to get a Real ID license is this. Rent the cheapest room you can find on Craigslist in some college town where you can month to month rent. If you are older, just tell the owner that you are going to take night classes or finishing up some degree. Next, go to a local cell phone company like Bumblebee, or any of those cheap local cell phone providers that do not require a contract, or sign up for cheap internet, DSL or cable modem that does not require a contract. When you get your first bill after signing up, take that bill along with a month to month lease, and or any first class mail posted to you, or a postal service change of address form, and get your real ID license. Pay the 1st months rent and leave, or if you pay at the end of the month just bail!!! lol (oh ya,cancel service and drop off your cable modem at the local office) Forward your mail to PO box or mail forwarding service and hit the road.

Such great info for someone getting ready to become a nomad. Thank you so much.

Hi Bob,. interesting about the drivers license. I am a resident of Texas preparing to become a Nomad in the near future. your videos open alot of questions I had. thanks buddy. I will continue to watch.

Information update *** Thanks Bob, this video helps me a lot!! To update some of the info here.... If a nomad chooses to go the South Dakota route...for ID and State residency, I was recently told that when you leave SD, you do have a real ID and you are indeed a resident of SD.......BUT......you're still walking away with a PMB address and that will not fly with your banks or with certain other institutions.

Bob you are a font of useful information!

Thank you Bob. I appreciate all this information. I am preparing right now.

Thanks for being fair in your explanation of the real ID. I am not a nomad yet but hope to be in the future.

Great videos Bob. Very informative. Especially this series.

Building 7 never got hit by a plane yet it also fell straight down defying the laws of gravity! Also no video was ever released that showed a plane hitting the Pentagon yet dozens of high definition cameras surround the Pentagon. 13 is a masonic number. I really hope the truth comes out one day.

I am looking forward to the baby steps to becoming a nomad videos!

I have a Real ID compliant DL for Wyoming where it is tough to gain residency. I will let you know how it goes when I have to renew my DL next month and whether I have to jump through the same hoops as I did the first time. Thankfully my license expires just before I leave for the nomad life so I don't have to worry about it for another four years.

Thank you Bob for the information you are providing this community,

Probably the best video on mailing and driver's licenses for nomads. If you are an international nomad though, things become more complex, you may have to surrender your driver's license to get out of jury duty. Because you cannot use the forwarding mailing address on the driver's license, you will not know if you have been summoned for jury duty, this is because the notices are sent to the address on the driver's license. If you can use a family member as a residential address then that's great, you can keep the driver's license.

I have had Drivers licenses with PO BOXES & PMB (Personal mailboxes like UPS Stores) on driver licenses that didn't have any type of restrictions on it out of Texas and Ohio.

Missouri is not so far federally ID compliant...only way is to apply for passport...I know I've tried to get that gold seal...they the "dmv" will say they dont know what I'm talking about. ..and time is up Jan 2018. ..without a passport I would not be able to get on a plane or go in a federal building etc...and actually a post office is federal..think about that. What a world we live in. 😞just saying

Thank you for helping us make the move. Barry and I just bought our RV and are getting ready to get started. Take care. Joanne

A day old or 30 day address is obviously temporary. It’s great that some states operate this way for RVers but it means multiple people who R not family have the same address.

In another vlog, Bob, you mentioned you domicile in NV but register your vehicle in AZ bc it’s much, much more affordable. How are you able to do that? I’ve really been wondering since I saw your initial vlog on the issue. Thnx in advance for replying. Not a nomad yet but looking forward to it. Thanks for all you do to educate us! 😊💜

Mr. Wells, First, I want to say thank you, and very much. This was a great video for me to happen upon right now. See, I will be becoming a nomad within the next six months or so. By total choice, I must add... And judging from your quite apparent love of the life, I've made a sound decision. I was just browsing, looking for a good source of info, and here on RU-vid, I have found just that! Great.Stuff!! I just subscribed, and again, Thank You... Allen

Again, a great deal of sound advice. Trying to impress on my adults sons on much of what you touched on in this vid. But you how well THEY listen. ~lol~ Thanks Bob. Aloha.

You are and a good man thanks for all your information

Thanks for this video. It was truly interesting. It was an eye opener when you said without the real id your looked at as either homeless or a terrorist.

I'm glad I just renewed my passport!

I'm in the throws of "baby steps" looking forward to that video;)

As always awesome video & content Bob!

in SD, it will cost you around $500 to get everything you need, mail forwarding, address, etc... and you will have to visitthe place that does all that for you once a year...

What you are doing is renewing your contract with DC as collateral for the national debt.Use your thumb print on the scanners available at the ports of entry. That's the most real id and is free. It works

In Florida, I have never seen the RV park on the list, though was never looking. We sign up for voter registeration with your driver's licence here. When you sign up for a DL. I lived with my dad and they took, and gave me a federally complaint driver's licence, a note written by my dad that I lived with him and he was with me. He had to sign it within a certian date and have certian wording. I don't remember if they required him to be there but I didn't have a utility bill, or any bill. So that worked for me. I can see someone having friends or relative do that for them and having a federal compliant driver's licence.

I don't know if this has been mentioned. I got a South Dakota license two years ago, with the gold star. I used My Dakota Address, and got my driver's license, library card, and registered to vote all in a day. However, my drivers license has a "PMB" before the box number, which signifies "Personal Mail Box." You cannot buy a handgun with a PMB address. I recently tried at two gun stores, I called three other gun stores, and finally I called the ATF. You must have a physical address to pass the background check. Apparently, you could buy a handgun the past with "PMB", but not anymore. The two gun stores I went to wouldn't even bother filling out the background check once they saw my drivers license with the "PMB." Also, the requirements to get a drivers license without the "PMB" address are more stringent.

Got my new ID out of Oregon, which is not Real ID compliant yet, so I will use my passport card, just renewed, if I need to. So glad I did that before I sold my house. I have to say I think the paperwork part of the nomad life is the hardest part to get through. Should be joining the nomad life in the next 10 days after one more repair on the Expedition. Thank you for another informative video.

Also, in Nevada, if you have a friend or relative with a current VALID Nevada Drivers License or ID Card with the correct Residential Address printed on the front of the identification, that person may go with you to the DMV and vouch for you living with them at that address-They just present that License or Id and be that person and That's it... =) Also, In Oregon, six months of rv park receipts are required to prove residence.... But again, any friend or relative with an Oregon License or ID may accompany you to the DMV office, present that identification at the window with you, so long as you have all of the other documentation you require, that will be your proof of residence

The $30.00 in South Dakota residence, it would cost you a lot of gas to get there, so 1 day in Las vegas would probably be cheaper

Actually you can get on a plane with that ID you have, Bob. You will get extra screening but you won't be denied access. You'll be run through ncic etc.... after that you're good to go, just give yourself an extra half hour at the airport.

Great video. Glad you mentioned Nevada. I want to move to Las Vegas

There is also a Passport ID Card that is considered Real ID compliant since it is issued by the Federal Government. It is as easy (arguably even a little easier) as obtaining a Passport.

State of Pennsylvania hands drivers license right there when photographed. but great information on other states.

Bob, as usual you are awesome!!!

Thank you GW and COMPANY!

Minnesota did not issue a real id compliant license when I renewed a couple of months ago... but I am going to get a passport

Thankyou bob for all the information

Hi Bob I believe you can use your property tax records, or proof of ownership.. then you can register to vote....

Thanks for that excellent information

Great information Bob thank you.

thanks for the video. I will be moving to el Salvador next year and I am starting to thing about ways to file my income taxes. according to the American embassy there are tax attorney in el Salvador that I can hire for this. but eventually my license is going to expire ( in 8 years) and this is where your video comes in handy. I will probably ask for help from friends or my kids if they are responsible enough to work out a deal with them. I will also retire from the army after 21 years next year. thanks again for your sharing your knowledge.

I love this video! Bob, you wound up giving quite a civics lesson as well as how to be a nomad.

just a note Portland Oregon if you go to Transition projects homeless day center they can issue you a letter of residancy for Oregon and portland ...that will allow you a REAL ID compliant address and it costs very little to get the Drivers liscence here ...as well most of hte city charges for parking BUT there are places if you look around the city that one can freely park and boondock while waiting for the ID to come in the 7-14 days in the city.

For younger people looking for a drivers license that lasts awhile, you can check out arizona. It used to be anytime after 16, your license didn't need to be renewed until you were 65. (Mine needs to be renewed in 2046 for the first time, but photos need to be redone every 12 years). I was just double checking to see if it was still the same, it looks like they might have changed it to only 50 and then you start having to renew every 5 years. So just wanted to give some people an option for a longer time before renewal, so even if you're 30, your first renewal wouldn't be for 20 years!

arizona used to issue anyone a drivers license with a reciept from a rv park or a motel but it had to be for longer then 1 night or day

great advice Bob thank you... especially the end of your segment. here in Pennsylvania which is not in compliance and the legislature has until 2018 to be federally in compliance. another thing you missed is that you may not even be able to get on any transportation such as Amtrak or Interstate busing.i have experienced this while trying too go from South pa too n.y. state ..too bury a relative...hoops are me before the r.v.

Hey Cody n bob thank you 😊

Thanks You are so good.

About jury duty..... here's a little known fact. I live in New York City. I get the summons to appear.... I go down for my interview..... and just by accident, I speak to the right person. He's an official in uniform. He tells my that because of my age (79) I do not have to appear and can just go home if that's what I wish to do. He makes a copy of my drivers license.... and went home. Never heard from them again. I don't know what that maximum age is but I'm well above it. Other than that there is no indication that this rule exists. So if your above a certain age there might be the same limit in your state.

Hello Bob thank you I am an avid follower. I am Canadian and each province has it’s own way to handle car registration and home base identification. In Quebec we have universal health, medication, no fault car insurance, etc. Basically we have to get back to Quebec every 6 months physically. I will alway’s have a physical home ie with a physically address. I have a 10 year Canadian passport, Quebec driver’s driving license and vehicicle immatriculation + insurance coverage. Long way to say: will I be ok since I will being paying taxes, utility, etc ?

One snag is if you get called in for jury duty.

Guess I'm lucky to be Canadian, I can run south over the winter for 6 months, and return over the summer. That is when things get back to normal.

Get a P.O. box #, use the address of post office on your Liscense! We did, and were Nomads for 1 year! Good Luck!

thanks for the video. seeing what options are for me, as going out of country for around 15--18 months i think.

I used my land deed I own my place you can also use any canseled letter

Good lord thats crazy its went too far great information bob thanks its so complicated take a lot of research it all to find a state for residency.

for my ID i asked them if I could use my RV as the address. I said my address was 1968 Winnebago

I WISH YOU HAD A HOMESCHOOLING VIDEO FOR BEGINNERS, LOOKING TO LIVE ON THE ROAD WITH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN...DO YOU KNOW ANYONE *with your teaching style, who may have a video of such?

Bob, I have had a FL driver license for 35 years, went to renew and they stated I had to have a birth certificate. I have never had a birth certificate but have a passport. It was strange I can get a passport with my documentation but not a renewal of my license which I have had for so long.

My SC driver's license has no gold star anywhere on it and it's accepted everywhere, including airports. I just renewed it last year.

You Rock Bob.

I will be getting a post office box in the county I'm working in.

Every state I know of requires you to inform them within 30 days if you move and are no longer at the same address. Most of what Bob says here would not be legal in reality.

OMG I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED YOU COULD US A HOUSE FOR SALE AS A ADDRESS LOL THAT'S WILD 👍👌😎

Bob, how do you do your income taxes? do you use online program? I was wondering how your new van Reno is?

One problem, if you register to vote, you are put on the jury list for the county. You may be asked to serve on a jury, if you don't get the notice in time to explain non-compliance a bench warrant will be issued for contempt of court.

Hi Bob. Watch that Sun, getting a bit burned there! Thanks for the info. Interesting how complicated it is getting.

if you don’t own a rv and stay in a hotel in South Dakota for one night, do you still need to fill out the affidavit saying that you’ll be traveling outside SD in your rv temporarily or is there a different affidavit for non rv owners?

What about social security needing an address? They send mail to your mailing address on occasion and don’t accept a PO Box. They could stop depositing your checks in your checking account.

Thank you for sharing !

Unfortunately I've found out registering to vote coincides with being called for jury duty. Jury duty if I even managed to know I'd been called in time to respond would likely be an extreme inconvenience depending on where I was physically at. More likely I'd be in contempt of court because I didn't even know I'd been called up for jury duty.

I live in Florida For years my drivers license was my business address which was my UPS address. UPS has mail boxes are not po boxes but street addresses. So my UPS box address was a street address, was my business addres,s and was my drivers license address. The state of Florida accepted my business address for drivers license but would not accept it for voter registration.

Also once you get a real ID driver's license, passport and social security card photo copy them and keep copies so that if you lose one or all it will be easier to get them replaced.

Bob, your "friend" is awesome!

passports and driver's licenses expire.. You have to show current proof of residency to renew.. I think that could pose a problem come renewal time, especially if you signed an affidavit promising to become a resident, the 1st time around.. Times are getting tougher for freedom of movement and lifestyle here..

So getting residency through a mail forwarding service, you say I can use the campground as the resident address and the mail forwarding (PMB) address as the mailing address? It is July 2022 and I am in the process of getting my SD driver's license right now and was told different by two South Dakota mail forwarding services that the address on the driver's license will be the mail forwarding address with the PMB number and not the campground address! The SD DMV will have me sign a paper stating I am a full-time traveler and promise to return to SD when I stop traveling and not be a resident of any other State. On that same paper the DMV clerk will put the mail forwarding PMB address, which they will then put on my driver's license. They will not use the campground address. This way they will still give me a gold Star on my driver's license, because I promise to become a SD resident when I stop traveling. So after I get my SD driver's license and try to find a SD bank to open up a new account and/or notify my vehicle insurance company, and they see the driver's license, and see the PMB address on it, they will say that is not a residency address and I am not Federal compliant !! South Dakota full-time RVers still have to sneak by leaving off the PMB and only use the pound number (#), plus the number, and use that on most accounts with the exception of companies that request the driver's license.

Thank you Bob! Very informative!

Thank you Bob-- just what I needed to know :)