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stevejones · 03-03-2019, 12:07 PM

How do you guys on the road handle state inspection for your tow vehicle, etc?

Thanks,

Steve

n2916s · 03-03-2019, 07:06 PM

Establish your domicile in Florida. No vehicle inspections. No state income tax. Pretty cheap license tags.

**Rocinante** · 03-04-2019, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n2916s

Establish your domicile in Florida. No vehicle inspections. No state income tax. Pretty cheap license tags.

Yep, the FL domicile option works out fine. There are at least two mail services you can use in FL that will also help you with domicile details: Escapees and St. Brendan's Isle. SBI will also help you with the steps needed for registering to vote in the county where you domicile. Not sure whether Escapees does that. (edit)Yes, Escapees FL will also help you register to vote, see link below. (/edit)

We use SBI because we like the online features their service offers, though if you buy ACA health insurance it would probably be a bit less expensive if you domiciled in FL with Escapees - somehow, ACA insurance is priced based on the county in which you domicile, but that's another topic altogether - let's not go down that rabbit hole. We're just providing objective facts to help you decide what to do.

(edit - adding a couple of links to make it easy for folks to check out the options above)
Escapees Florida: https://www.escapees.com/education/domicile/florida/
Saint Brendan's Isle (SBI): https://www.sbimailservice.com/becom...rida-resident/
(/edit)

kb0zke · 03-04-2019, 06:56 PM

Same for SD. Also, you can do the registration by mail - including the initial registration.

**Rocinante** · 03-05-2019, 06:22 AM

One thing to check on for SD: If you buy ACA health insurance while domiciled in SD, rumor has it that this state has some kind of requirement for the number of months you actually spend living in the state. Seriously - you apparently have to be in-state for some number of months. Sounds odd, but I've seen this kind of comment more than once. Definitely worth checking as part of your decision process. Otherwise, SD sounds like a great option too.

stevejones · 03-06-2019, 08:30 AM

OK, let's try again. I'm not interested in changing my domicile, at least not now. But thanks all for the recommendations.

So for those that use a state with inspection, etc.. as their domicile, that are full-timing, how do you go about taking care of things like state inspection? Do you plan a swing through your home state? Do you just let the inspection lapse? If you let it lapse, do other states care as you drive through them?

Thanks,

Steve

Starstream · 03-06-2019, 12:31 PM

Texas requires vehicle inspection too. Since we had a daughter who attendend college in SD, we re-registered her car in March when due, explaining to the state of TX the car was located elsewhere. When she came home for the summer the car was inspected then. There was a specified time limit. Don't remember what it was, but it might be different in your state. The best thing to do is look on your state's DMV or county tax assessor web site. Or call them for the info.

Starstream · 03-06-2019, 12:39 PM

States can be a bit funny about domicile, and some of them are making it harder to be a full-time RVer. Has to do with revenue. If you're going to use their services, especially stuff subsidized by taxes, you will have to make an appearance every once & while to prove you're still a resident. Escapees is not only a mail service or place to get an address. They are advocates for full-time RVers & provide a lot information on the various issues which might/will affect those living that lifestyle.

stevejones · 03-06-2019, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starstream

States can be a bit funny about domicile, and some of them are making it harder to be a full-time RVer. Has to do with revenue. If you're going to use their services, especially stuff subsidized by taxes, you will have to make an appearance every once & while to prove you're still a resident. Escapees is not only a mail service or place to get an address. They are advocates for full-time RVers & provide a lot information on the various issues which might/will affect those living that lifestyle.

In our case we own a home in our domicile state so they are getting our tax money for the real estate, not to mention income taxes.

I'll check out my state's DMV site and see if there is anything there that is helpful.

Thanks,

Steve

OTRA15 · 03-07-2019, 07:50 AM

Wondering if any of the large franchise auto repair operations -- like Costco, Sears, national oil change operations, and so forth -- have licenses to inspect vehicles from a variety of states? Or can the place of inspection [in a particular state] only be licensed to inspect for the state of its location?

Peter

Starstream · 03-07-2019, 08:15 AM

As a home-owner, you're not very likely to run into issues. Where folks tend to run into trouble is when they claim domicile in a state where they've never resided before. SD & FL have a reputation for being lenient, but that's not a state affairs which could continue forever. It's best for people to stay abreast of any new legislation which could affect their lifestyle, but especially full-time RVers who no longer own a sticks/bricks house. Part of the reason Escapees has RV communities in the 3 big domicile states is so full-timers can come "home" every once in a while & prove they really do reside in the state.

**Rocinante** · 03-07-2019, 10:23 AM

Strong recommendation: do not drive or tow a vehicle with an expired state-required inspection sticker. Just not a good plan. Go visit that state, get the inspection, and be happy.

OTRA15 · 03-07-2019, 10:53 AM

Will an out-of-state inspection station inspect a vehicle, and issue a paper 10-day inspection, even if it is not valid in the state of registration? As if you were going to move to that state and need the inspection before transferring the registration?

Like a Band-aid inspection?

Freedom21 · 03-07-2019, 11:11 AM

Just curious why you want to skirt the law? If your state requires to have an inspection on your TV and/or AS, just get it. If you have an accident/claim and the insurance company sees something "fishy" with your inspection/registration, they may not pay. You might save a few bucks right now, but is it worth it in the long run... hmmm...

Martee · 03-07-2019, 11:34 AM

In Texas, there are only certified and trained vehicle inspections stations allowed. Those vehicles from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and possibly Austin need to include an emissions test. Cars, pickups, and any trailers over 7500lbs , including 5 wheels. My Airstream FC25FBT is under that so no inspection.

Inspection cost is $7.50 and emissions range up to $22.50. The inspection station loads the results immediately online to Texas DMV database. No actual inspection sticker for your vehicle. They do provide a print out of the results to you.
Because you must access the DMV database, no out of state inspections or unauthorized inspections are accepted.

Starstream · 03-07-2019, 02:00 PM

Texas used to issue an inspection sticker with a registration sticker. I’m sure they were looking at revenue when they decided not to spend any more money on the production of inspection stickers. In the process, they also tightened up the inspection loop-holes.

As noted earlier, states & their agencies do change legislation & make rule changes. When we first bought our trailer the inspection threshold weight was 4,000 lbs. for RVs & trailers. Last year, we were notified the threshold had been increased & we were no longer required to inspect our AS. I’m surprised they didn’t reduce it further instead, considering the increasing popularity of the small travel trailers. Maybe Casita has some thing to do with the weight requirement not swinging in that direction. Their trailers are manufactured in TX.

States do make exceptions for certain rules depending on situation, usually for folks who travel for work. Itinerant nurses are one example. If they do cooperate with other states for inspections, they’ll make note of it & provide a list. I know of one example where TX & KS actually work together – Hwy toll tags. TX residents with the county or state tags can use them on the KS turnpike between Wichita & Topeka. The K-Tag can be used in TX. OK, on the other hand doesn’t participate.

stevejones · 03-08-2019, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starstream

The best thing to do is look on your state's DMV or county tax assessor web site. Or call them for the info.

Thanks Starstream. Checked the DMV site. My state has reciprocity with Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming for inspection. I should be able to hit one of those states along the line and get an inspection.

Problem solved.

Steve

Starstream · 03-08-2019, 07:03 AM

You're welcome. Enjoy your travels & stay safe.

While it's a bit off topic here, if you spend a bit of time in TX and need to navigate the big cities, the toll roads can help you get where you need to with less hassle than the non-tolls. Especially if you can use them between rush hours. Any toll roads constructed in the last 10-15 yrs. are not likely to have toll boths. Even those that still have the booths are easier to navigate with the tags allowing you to stay in the tag lanes. Out-of-staters can purchase the TX Tag which covers all tolls in the state. You can purchase it from their website & get all the details about how it works. If you decide you want one, just give it enough time to arrive in the mail. Otherwise, you can look for toll tag store locations & get one the same day.

**Rocinante** · 03-08-2019, 01:01 PM

I like our solution better. We don’t drive through cities in TX (such as Houston) that have toll roads and no toll booths everywhere. I’m not buying a toll tag/sticker for every doggone state in the Union. [emoji57]