As a long-time Washington State resident, who has been full-timing for four years now, and as a result of Washington State's choice to be one of the first five or six states to comply with the Real ID Act, I have just run into a problem with renewing my WA drivers license.
From the WA web site, to both apply for a new drivers lisence AND/OR renew drivers lisences, to prove WA residency...
Proof of Washington State residence...
Acceptable documents
We accept only original documents or certified copies. The documents listed may change without notice.
To prove you live in Washington State:
you can show us 1 document from this list.
• Concealed weapons permit
• Homeowner’s insurance policy or invoice
• Home utility bill (such as gas, electricity, water, garbage, landline telephone, or cable) or hook-up work order dated within the past 60 days. You must be the only person named on the bill or work order.
• Mortgage documents
• Property tax bill or statement dated within the past 12 months
• Your name and address in a current phone book made by a telephone book publisher
• Moorage bill or contract
you can show us 2 documents from this list.
• Auto insurance policy
• Washington State business license
• Business mail dated within the past 60 days. Mail must include your first and last name, and must be from state or federal revenue departments, the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Treasury, or the IRS. It cannot be addressed “in care of,” “for,” or “parent of.”
• Current Washington State voter card
• Home utility bill (such as gas, electricity, water, garbage, landline telephone, or cable) or hook-up work order dated within the past 60 days. Two or more unrelated people may be named on the bill or work order.
• Medical record paid by insurance or a medical bill
• Medicaid card or DSHS medical coupon
• Pay stub showing your employer’s name AND phone number or address
• Professional license (nurse, physician, engineer, etc.)
• Selective service card showing a Washington State address
• Professionally-filed tax return or filed copy sent to you by the IRS for the most recent tax filing year
• Transcript or report card for the current school year from an educational institution in Washington State
• W-2 form for the previous year
Unacceptable documents
We won’t accept temporary or altered documents, or any documents from the list below:
Unacceptable documents
• Adjudication form or ticket citation
• Bank account statement
• Bank card or credit card
• Baptismal certificate
• Bus pass without a photograph
• Cell phone bill
• College ID or ASB Card
• Flagger card
• Food handler card
• Hunting or fishing license
• Internet printout
• Library card
• Membership card (such as athletic club or store cards)
• Personal check
• Rental or lease agreement
• Renters insurance policy
• Vehicle insurance card
• Vehicle registration
Additionally, you cannot register to vote without proof of residence, you cannot get a PO Box without proof of residence, and you cannot use a place of business, including campgrounds, as proof of residence. Leases and/or rental agreements are not accepted either.
Full-timers who have chosen to retire, liquidate property assets, travel, and experience the freedom of exploring this great country of ours are now seen by state and federal regulators as no better than a bum living under a bridge. Oh, I take that back, bums can establish residency through homeless programs.
I am hoping my Good Sams vehicle insurance with the homeowners rider to cover fire and theft will be accepted as establishing residence. They were extremely helpful in setting up a general WA state rate and using a relative's PO Box for a billing address. The states not currently complying with the Real ID Act will eventually have to comply in order to continue receiving federal dollars, so I don't know if switching states is a long term solution or not.
Any suggestions for a long-term solution?
RVnRobin, DW, and the cat.
The cat thinks she is the boss!
Note that the proof of residence is not often required for DL renewal:
"Check if you need proof of residence--
To find out ahead of time if you will need to bring proof of residence when you visit our office to renew your license, enter your address in the USPS Zip Code Lookup at http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp. If the search results don’t match, or no results are found, you may be required to verify your address when you renew your license."
Also note that the Washington Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) is optional, not a requirement. Its purpose is to provide acceptable I.D. for re-entering the U.S. from Canada under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. I do not think the Washington EDL complies with the federal Real I.D. Act. A passport is always an acceptable I.D. for border crossing.
* This post was
edited 01/23/08 12:33pm by Kenneth *
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I am not sure why you want to continue to be a Washington State resident. Why don't you consider becoming a resident of a state that is much more tax friendly? I chose South Dakota and have saved tons of $$ with very low insurance rates, 3% sales tax on vehicle purchases, no income tax, and low vehicle registration. Call Paul at Alternative Resources 800-477-2664.
The Real ID Act implementation will be postponed many times I am sure.
wayne_tw wrote: I am not sure why you want to continue to be a Washington State resident. Why don't you consider becoming a resident of a state that is much more tax friendly? I chose South Dakota and have saved tons of $$ with very low insurance rates, 3% sales tax on vehicle purchases, no income tax, and low vehicle registration. Call Paul at Alternative Resources 800-477-2664.
The Real ID Act implementation will be postponed many times I am sure.
Washington has no income tax. Has low registration vehicle fees. Does have sales tax upwards to 8% and more.
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wayne_tw wrote: I am not sure why you want to continue to be a Washington State resident. Why don't you consider becoming a resident of a state that is much more tax friendly? I chose South Dakota and have saved tons of $$ with very low insurance rates, 3% sales tax on vehicle purchases, no income tax, and low vehicle registration. Call Paul at Alternative Resources 800-477-2664.
The Real ID Act implementation will be postponed many times I am sure.
Washington has no income tax. Has low registration vehicle fees. Does have sales tax upwards to 8% and more.
And sales tax ain't an issue if you don't stay there.
* This post was
edited 01/23/08 06:53pm by an administrator/moderator *
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Biznaga:
You are correct in your clarification to wayne_tw.
No income tax.
Property tax, when I had property in rural WA, is low to moderate.
Vehicle licensing is low, $35 for my TT and $49 for my pickup.
Insurance in rural areas is extremely low.
Sales Tax is, as you say, 8%, not as high as some, not as low as others. Not a big deal for me since I already have my RV.
Kenneth:
The requirements I listed were from the list for the regular drivers license. I do not have a need for the Enhanced license since I have a passport (you are correct the requirements for EDL are greater). Documenting a physical address was always a little difficult in the past. However, since everyone knew each other in the small unincorporated town I lived in, with a wink and a nod, we all slipped through the cracks. We all had PO Boxes where all mail was/is delivered. And, we used Rural Route road addresses, on our drivers licenses, that do not show up in USPS. Those cracks are no longer there.
So, as of four years ago, I no longer have a sticks and bricks home, instead I live in my RV, travel, work a little in campgrounds, and I use the mail service through Good Sams. There is no physical address for the USPS Zip Code Lookup to look up. Upon telephone inquiry, Department of Licensing says," prove it!"
Kenneth, do you work for DOL? You said, "...when you visit our office..." If you can provide me any insight into how to prove residency in my situation, it would be most helpful! Thanks
Unless i mis-understand, you are trying to RENEW your Washington Drivers License. Just had mine renewed this month! They send you a form in the mail with a number on it, go on line and renew on line. They use your old picture and information. Renewed for five years, and was sent to P.O. box (license has street address on it). You should have recieved on line renewal in the mail...Only took 5 days to have new one in my hand, never set foot in drivers license office. The info you have must be for first time license or the one to get the enhanced license.
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This is just a thought, but if a "Moorage bill or contract" is acceptable as you said, it could be argued that your receipt from the RV park meets that requirement. A ship is moored with lines to a dock. A RV is moored to a pad with cables (electric cable) & sewer hose in much the same manner. It would be worth making the arguement and seeing what they say. An RV is certainly as much a "permanent residence" as a ship moored to a dock.
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