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We are getting ready to go on the road, we are going to be semi full time. We have sold our house and will stay with our kids when we come back to the area. We want to set up domicile in either Florida or Texas, kind of leaning towards Florida, since we do have family there. What are the pro/Cons of both?
Thanks
BG
Are you both on Medicare or will you need private ins? I believe in FL you can still get private nationwide coverage but not in TX.
A few things nowadays require having a real physical address. If your relatives in Florida are willing for you to use their address for those few things, I would lean that way. I would still use a mail forwarding service for everything else.
Linda Sand
What are the pro/Cons of both?
The best choice is very much a personal decision. If you are planning to join Escapees and then use their mail service, it is available in both states. Neither of the two states have any state income tax so that is a wash. Sales taxes are also quite similar. If you are not yet on Medicare, TX does offer health insurance acceptable for traveling RVers but FL has more and better choices for most people. For me, the biggest advantage that TX has is the fact that everyone in Livingston knows how fulltimers live, but it isn't a lot more difficult in FL if other things favor it. We found the TX estate laws to be preferable, but that may not be true for all people. I suspect that in your case it may well be best to choose FL, but there is nobody who can really say for sure without an intimate knowledge of your financial, legal, and personal issues. Either one should work out for you.
I would agree with what Linda said about using your kids home address in Texas for insurance and vehicle registrations. I use Escapee Mail for everything else. I sure you're on Medicare. Because if your not you've one big problem, it's called affordable healthcare while on the road.
If you are not yet on Medicare, TX does offer health insurance acceptable for traveling RVers but FL has more and better choices for most people.
Can you give specifics on what's available in Texas that would work for traveling fulltimers? Everything I've seen is either an HMO or a PPO with only a local network.
The Crestview Fl mail forwarding company IS a physical address.
Well, We aren't on medicare, luckily we are both retired military, so Tricare cover most of what we need. What the city in Florida fort Escapees?
I may be wrong about this but I understand TX has vehicle inspections, which FL does not. I'm not really affected by the domicile issue since we live in FL and have a real address. I'll still use a forwarding service when we go mostly full time next May. I'm leaning towards St Brendan Isle for that tho. If you cannot use your relatives address in FL then I've heard several folks comment that Gilchrist County FL is especially accommodating towards full timers with a forwarding service address.
Inspections in Texas are no big deal. The yearly tag registration is tied to the vehicles being inspected. If you are out of state, you simply go online and pay with a credit card and check the box that you are out of state. The state mails the new stickers. You then have 72 hours to get it inspected once you get the vehicle back in the state.
Ken
Inspections in Texas are no big deal. The yearly tag registration is tied to the vehicles being inspected. If you are out of state, you simply go online and pay with a credit card and check the box that you are out of state. The state mails the new stickers. You then have 72 hours to get it inspected once you get the vehicle back in the state.
Ken
I'll just add that if you don't return to Texas in your travels you don't have to have it inspected. It's only if you return. Some use the Escapees mail forwarding but never visit Texas.
What the city in Florida fort Escapees?
With both of you having Tricare there really isn't a healthcare issue so that makes the choices far easier. With Escapees, the Florida address would be in Bushnell at the Escapee RV park located there. While you may well find FL to be the best choice, I suggest that you take some time to read up just a bit about domicile issues to fully understand what is involved. There are several very good articles on the subject with probably the most current being Where do you live? Domicile for Full-Time RVers While many people do not give much thought to the issues, in the event yours should be challenged it can become a very important decision.
Well, We aren't on medicare, luckily we are both retired military, so Tricare cover most of what we need.
With that said, you should also consider South Dakota. Before you make a final decision, shop for vehicle insurance in each state. SD has a lower sales tax, in case you decide to buy a new vehicle. You may find the sales tax savings is enough to cover the first year (or more) of vehicle insurance.
The only drawback to SD is you have to physically go there for a driver's license. But, you do NOT have to go there for vehicle registration or to set up your mail forwarding.
The only drawback to SD is you have to physically go there for a driver's license.
Once you get it, though, you never have to go in winter even if that's when your license expires because SD lets you get it early or apply for an extension to get it late.
Linda Sand
We are thinking South Dakota I didn’t know you didn’t have to go to register vehicles. We are planning on buying a new hdt and thought the sales tax would be better than illinois where we live now. I wonder if they can change a title from truck to rv without going there. Anyone know?
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