Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: Domicile in Arizona? (Read 364 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 7 Guests are viewing this topic.
Domicile in Arizona?
I know that many fulltimers are registered with their "residence" with services either in Nevada, Texas, or South Dakota.

Is there such a service also in Arizona? That would be perfect for me when I start fulltiming in a couple of months since I am already a resident of Arizona. I would not have to establish residency, I would just "move" within the state. And since I'm retired I do not care about the state income tax.

What I also like here a lot is that you can register your vehicle for five years, and you can do that through the mail. Another bonus is that except in the Phoenix and Tuscon areas there is no emissions testing here (i. e. in Sedona, where I live right now).

If it's not possible in Arizona I guess the best is Texas (Escapees), right?

Klaus
2001 26.5 Mid-Bath
Re: Residency in Arizona?
Reply #2 –
Klaus,  I register my vehicles at our family ranch in Elgin.  No emissions testing that way.  But the testing is only $15 (?) so even then not too onerous.  But the 5 year registration can be a plus. 
 
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #3 –
Quote from: Joan  - 
It's important to understand the differences between 'residency' and 'domicile'
Interesting, thanks. I mean domicile and have changed the topic title accordingly.

After looking a little more around it seems that Arizona is only possible if I find someone who allows me to register permanently at their address and then also takes care of the mail. I can ask someone to do this for some months, but I guess in the long run a commercial service is necessary.

Klaus
2001 26.5 Mid-Bath
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #4 –
We are looking an an extended rv trip now the wife has retired.  The plan is to sell the house and explore the country for places we would like to live.  One of the issues I have is “real ID”. It requires proof of domicile. Changing my domicile to one of the places mentioned would cause me to change my voting location. I don’t know the local issues in those places as well as here in northern Virginia.  For now the plan is to rent a room from a friend for the perminate change of address and use the mail forwarding service from FMCA.  I’m a a little concerned about how close I’m getting to the edge of the law.   
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #5 –
"Is there such a service also in Arizona? That would be perfect for me when I start fulltiming in a couple of months since I am already a resident of Arizona. I would not have to establish residency, I would just "move" within the state. And since I'm retired I do not care about the state income tax."

We have been residents of Arizona since 1998, and part of that time we were fulltimers and had no specific abode to use as a street address.  However we did use the mail service provided by the Escapees.

When we had to come off the road in 2007, we signed up with the local UPS Store, which provided the same forwarding service (albeit at a much higher cost), but, since we were most often in town, we could retrieve our mail easily from the storefront without paying any additional cost beyond the cost of the box.  No forwarding = no forwarding costs.

Most importantly for us, there is always a safe place for packages to be signed for and kept safe until we mosey along to fetch 'em!

Somewhere along the way, it became necessary to provide a valid street address for them to attach to the UPS box that we had.  Fortunately, by that time, we were settled in a house, so this was not a problem.

This has worked out very well for us all of these years.  The folks in the office treat us like family, and we feel valued.

I don't really know how closely any mail forwarding service checks out your "real" address, but if you have a good friend or family member who would rent you a space in their home for a reasonable monthly cost, this might very well obey the letter of the law.

Perhaps a call to your local UPS office might give you a handle on what is possible, and further inquiries might provide other possible solutions.



   Virtual hugs,

   Judie
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #6 –
Klaus,  I looked several years ago and there was at that time a mail forwarding company similar to what Escapees does up in your neck of the woods (one of the smaller towns there, I forget which one)

Do an internet search for "virtual mailbox" and your state. 
Wow, I just did a search and there are a lot of them out there now and addresses all over the place  (not just the few that used to be there even 5 years ago). 
Most of these companies will:
Take pictures of the envelope/package (who from/who for) you receive.
You go online and for each item ask them to:
a) Open and scan contents so you can view it online.
b) Trash it (junk mail).
or
c) Forward it unopened to you.

As always, you want a trusted company so check them out including how long they have been in business and how they vet and guarantee their workers (e.g. everyone bonded?).
With more and more things being done online (eg. online statements), it is getting easier and easier to get very little mail at a mailbox (and most of it is junk).

Joan:  The link you gave Establishing legal residency to live a full-time RV lifestyle has had a lot of controversy.  They sell this a cheap way to register your cars no matter where you live (and a great money maker for Montana), but most states say if you are in their state over 6 months a year you are a resident there and must register your vehicles with them.
What this link pushes is a big money maker for Montana but many states are saying this is illegal (if you are in their state for X amount of time, e.g. over 6 months, then you are a resident in their state and have to register vehicles with them).  These states (AZ included) are even encouraging the public to contact them if they see a vehicle with Montana plates parked in the driveway for more than a very short period of time (e.g. belonging to someone who lives there).  Even with all our winter visitors, we hear this about vehicles with Montona plates regularly.

Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #7 –
May I add one more issue about domicile issues -- health insurance  and inheritance/wills  are determined by State laws.   A Will made in one State may not be valid in another State.    IMHO just saving a few dollars should not be the only consideration. 

glen
wash your hands
don't pick your nose
personal fine art photo stuff
TF Mack | Flickr
It's all good .......
2014 Twin King
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #8 –
Jane, I do know that the "Montana thing' has supporters and detractors (and it would not be my choice if I were choosing a domicile for fulltiming), but the site was offered for information. There are many, many websites and sources of information, including Escapees, on choosing a domicile; fulltimers' situations and specific needs vary a great deal, and people can do the research and make choices that they feel work for them.

As always, YMMV.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #9 –
Quote from: Klaus  - 
After looking a little more around it seems that Arizona is only possible if I find someone who allows me to register permanently at their address and then also takes care of the mail.

Arizona, and most other states, will not allow the use of a mail-forwarding address as your *only* address for such things as driver's licenses, registering vehicles, and voting registration.  That's just one of the reason why Florida, Texas, and South Dakota are popular states for fulltime RVers to claim as a domicile (also, none of them have a state income tax and vehicle registration rates are much more reasonable than Arizona).

However, if you want to remain domiciled in Arizona and can find a friend or family member in Arizona who will allow you to use them as a permanent address, you can also use a mail-forwarding service as your *mailing address.*  That way, they won't really be handling your mail.
Linda Hylton
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #10 –
"Arizona, and most other states, will not allow the use of a mail-forwarding address as your *only* address for such things as driver's licenses, registering vehicles, and voting registration.  That's just one of the reason why Florida, Texas, and South Dakota are popular states for fulltime RVers to claim as a domicile (also, none of them have a state income tax and vehicle registration rates are much more reasonable than Arizona)."

We have been buying vehicle license plates for 22 years in Arizona, and have no complaints.  I just renewed the plates for our 2005 RB and the cost was $128.47.  Last year it was $145.19.  So that will give you some idea.

BUT - a newer, much more expensive rig will make your head spin.  We registered a two-year old 40-foot DP live aboard here in 2001, and the cost was a staggering $2508. for that first year.

So, as with a lot of things in life . . . "it depends"!

   Virtual hugs,

   Judie


Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #11 –
Quote from: Judie Ashford  - 
We have been buying vehicle license plates for 22 years in Arizona...
I'm doing the same since 1996. However, I always had my actual home address here.

I guess that is the same for you, or do you know a way to legally register a vehicle in Arizona without living here (without having one's "domicile" here)?

Klaus

2001 26.5 Mid-Bath
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #12 –
"I'm doing the same since 1996. However, I always had my actual home address here.

I guess that is the same for you, or do you know a way to legally register a vehicle in Arizona without living here (without having one's "domicile" here)?"

Were I in your shoes, and desired to remain an Arizona resident, I would ask a friend or relative to allow me to use their address as the contact for a regulation mail service such as The UPS Store, and just continue on as usual.  If you set up the account in a place near where you expect to spend a good deal of time, you will save on forwarding postage costs, and always have a safe place to have your packages delivered.

If you are NOT near your "homebase", UPS will forward your mail and packages anywhere you want them to.  Alternatively, I have had packages delivered directly to a UPS Store near where I happen to be, and then went pick them up.  It is best to solicit the consent of the UPS Store, and to give them a heads up that something out of the ordinary is coming their way.

There was never a charge for this in the past, but I haven't done it for many years, so best to inquire.  The fact that we have a regulation account with UPS in our hometown "may" hold some water with them, but I don't know that for a fact.

If you plan to be in a campground for a week or so, you could inquire in advance if they accept packages.  This is an excellent way to get goods to you with the least hassle.  Some campgrounds will accept packages, but not regulation USPS mail. 

I've heard that the reason for this is that if a person is getting USPS mail at an address, they can claim it as their legal residence, and campgrounds don't want to do this for legal reasons.

A quick call to UPS, or to a campground you would like to stay in, can provide current answers to all your queries.  Different locations of the same entity may have varying rules, so best to check instead of assuming that hearsay evidence from an outside source is valid.

   Virtual hugs,

   Judie
Re: Domicile in Arizona?
Reply #13 –
Quote from: Klaus  - 
I guess that is the same for you, or do you know a way to legally register a vehicle in Arizona without living here (without having one's "domicile" here)?

Yes, you can do so IF your vehicle is garaged in Arizona. 

We did that several years ago when we were still fulltimers and kept our fifth wheel on an RV lot in Arizona year around while we traveled in our slide-in truck camper.  Since the fifth wheel was "garaged" in Arizona, we licensed there while our truck and camper were registered in South Dakota, our domicile at the time.
Linda Hylton