We too, had to decide whether to go with TX or SD. We chose SD and were never sorry. As for visiting the state, you really only need to do an initial visit and only for a day, then you can choose to go only every five years.
TX did not work for us for a number of reasons, insurance being the main one.
Dianne
Donnelly, ID
DataStorm
HAM WB6N (Terry)
2010 Ford F350, 4x4 SRW, xcab, longbed (will not be pulling the Teton)
2005 Teton 39' Frontier Grand
Life Member Good Sam
Escapees
Geocache..."RVcachers" RV net Blog
DianneOK wrote: We too, had to decide whether to go with TX or SD. We chose SD and were never sorry. As for visiting the state, you really only need to do an initial visit and only for a day, then you can choose to go only every five years.
TX did not work for us for a number of reasons, insurance being the main one.
What was the issue with the insurance. With the 6 call I see you lived in CA at one point.
hpk
2000 Ford F-350 SRW 4X4 PSD Jayco Super Lite 29.5RKS (31') 5th wheel 50 gal X-ferflow in the bed tank. Banks big exhaust and Stinger kit.
I am in Wisconsin now, and I think that I will be heading to SD to setup shop. I already have a mail forwarding setup here as I know the owner of the UPS store. Only charged me 50 for the year to have a mailbox there, and he will mail my stuff to where ever I want when I want.
As far as the vehicle and residency, I just want to do what ever is simple and cheap.
Your governor is an embarrassment, imagine living in California, I mean Kalifornia. But to give Arnold some credit he deserves, he tried to fix things a few years back by cutting expenses, but the voters told him no. Woulda Shoulda Coulda. I was one of the few that voted to cut expenses. Then he caved. Craved acceptance I suspect, or???? Now the government running one of the Worlds most beautiful and desirable places is a joke. And a bad joke at that. But this is not about RVs.
Bob & Barbara Nuttmann
2002 Country Coach Affinity 42'
Jamul, CA
daytona7 wrote: How is the registering of RV's and DL's in the Dakota's or Texas? Does one have to visit in person these states to register? Do they have State Income Taxes on Pensions and SS?
We were living in Houston TX in Dec 2007 when we bought our coach and pickup toad. I was not charged sales tax since I told them I was going to register them in SD.
I had already set up an account with MyDakotaAddress in Madison, SD. I overnighted my sale papers to them. A few days later I received my tags and registration in the mail from them.
My '99 American Eagle coach and '04 Dodge Dakota toad costs about $250.00 per year total for tags.
At this point my wife and I had 90 days to get to SD in person to obtain our driver's licenses and become SD residents.
We did this a couple of months later in March 08 on our way to Alaska. We did not have to take either a written or driving test for our licences, just a vision test and we walked out with our license cards.
Coming back thru SD in October we early voted and got our Concealed Carry permits.
The CC couldn't have been easier. After you've had your driver's licences for 30 days you go to the Sheriff's Office and fill out a simple 1 page form. If everything comes back OK, you go back the next day, give the Sheriff $10 and he gives you your temporary permit.
A few days later your permanent permit shows up in the mail. And SD has recipocity with 23 other states.
SD had no state income tax so no worries there. Also no vehicle inspections or special RV tests.
We had absolutely no problems doing things this way.
I had already set up an account with MyDakotaAddress in Madison, SD. I overnighted my sale papers to them. A few days later I received my tags and registration in the mail from them.
My '99 American Eagle coach and '04 Dodge Dakota toad costs about $250.00 per year total for tags.
At this point my wife and I had 90 days to get to SD in person to obtain our driver's licenses and become SD residents.
We did this a couple of months later in March 08 on our way to Alaska. We did not have to take either a written or driving test for our licences, just a vision test and we walked out with our license cards.
-snip-
SD had no state income tax so no worries there. Also no vehicle inspections or special RV tests.
We had absolutely no problems doing things this way.
ChaosAgent
Thanks for the added information. I'm definately going to check South Dakota again. Your style of testimonial is clear and very helpful. MyDakotaAddress sounds like the type of place I'm after too.
phiberop840 wrote: As far as the vehicle and residency, I just want to do what ever is simple and cheap. M
We too, had to decide whether to go with TX or SD. We chose SD and were never sorry. As for visiting the state, you really only need to do an initial visit and only for a day, then you can choose to go only every five years.
TX did not work for us for a number of reasons, insurance being the main one.
What was the issue with the insurance. With the 6 call I see you lived in CA at one point.
hpk
We had a FL60 tv at the time and no company in TX would insure it as anything other than a commercial vehicle.
"6"....yes....many years, that is why we left Too many years
We agree with mydakotaaddress.com as a great service. In addition to easy registration, license, etc., if you get something in the mail that needs quick checking, Terri will open it for you; scan the item and e-mail you the content.
We have been VERY pleased with our decision made in the fall of 2007 to choose SD and mydakotaaddress.com.
I'm not sure how the Escapees mail service could be any better than ours at Alternative Resources in Sioux Falls, SD. Now I'm not saying Escapees is bad. But in FOUR years of fulltiming, we have not had ONE issue with our mail. I'd say that's pretty darn good. So looks to me like mail service is not an issue. . . there are good ones wherever you choose.
Dale
Dale Pace
Wife to Terry (Teacher's Pet)
Mom to 2 rescued Scotties
Bailey and Neal
2006 Tiffin Phaeton 40' QSH, 4 slides (Phaeton Place)
2003 Sport Trac Toad
Fulltiming since retiring in 2005
Dale...I agree with you. Escapees is not the only service. Texas did not work for us, and despite what some folks say...it is not the only way to go. We have had AR for over 5 years and loved being SD residents.
That did not preclude us being Escapees, as well. There are many ways to round out the fulltimer experience.
Offline
Too many years 
So looks to me like mail service is not an issue. . . there are good ones wherever you choose.
