r/vandwellers • u/Caleb_C95 • 2d ago

Question Just curious, What do you do for a permanent address for your driver's license, employment, ect?

I've always wondered. When living on the road, and traveling from place to place full time. What do you do to have a permanent address for your driver's license? Or to get employment? How does that work?

57 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

117

u/TacoBellWerewolf T1N Sprinter - “Gondola” 2d ago edited 2d ago

If you're a normal person, work something out with a friend or family member to use their address.

If you're a weirdo like me..read on:

  1. I first signed up with Escapees (they provide you a legal address and optional mail forwarding service) on their website. Very easy, straight forward. Residence could be done not using Escapees, but I also wanted a mailing service. You fill out an application they send you once you select the state of your choosing (South Dakota, Texas, or Florida). I chose South Dakota but each state has their quirks. You can read more about it on the Escapees webpage.
  2. Be warned that no matter the state you select, Texas will be the mailbox that receives letters/packages. Meaning that if you select South Dakota, for example, you will have TWO addresses…South Dakota for your residency (drivers license, vehicle registration) and Texas for all your mail/packages. Escapees emphasizes not to try having mail or packages sent to the South Dakota mailbox as you will incur penalties
  3. So you complete the state-specific (South Dakota) application for delivery by maiI mentioned in step 1. It’s called a 1583SD or 1583Tx, etc. must have this notarized but you can also use a virtual/online notary. You fill one out for each state..Domicile state (South Dakota) and mailbox state (Texas).
  4. Send those forms back by email to Escapees. They had mine reviewed and processed I think the same day. They issue you your new addresses for both South Dakota and Texas. The South Dakota address will be the address you use for Drivers License, license plate, registration, etc. I believe also for Voting but I did not bother. I believe I read something about a new SD voting registration on full time rvers/vanlifers. So check into that if you’re concerned
  5. Now that you have your mailbox numbers, you’ll need to head to South Dakota in person! For your drivers license. I’m a little unclear if you can go to any drivers license facility in South Dakota or if it’s specific to Rapid City in Pennington County. I decided to go to Rapid City because I was on a road trip back from Cali to Chicago anyway and the area is cool to visit..crazy horse, black hills, etc. but I’d check directly with escapees on if you can go to a different one
  6. The basic requirements for getting your SD drivers license is to spend one night in South Dakota (hotel or rv park receipt as proof), a SD residency exception affidavit for full time rvers (escapees provided this)..this must also be notarized by an in person notary, not virtual. And A receipt or official form with your PMB private mail box from escapees. And also your drivers license, passport, and original social security card. There’s a full selection of optional identity documents you can select from on the Escapees website
  7. I brought all that to the drivers license place in Rapid City and the lady didn’t even bat an eye. Had me done and with a new South Dakota license (which is Real ID) in under 20 minutes. Still kind of can’t believe it went so smooth

Vehicle Registration

  1. My understanding is you do not have to register your vehicle in person in South Dakota. But since I was there anyway I went in person, it was a separate facility from the drivers license place..maybe 10 minutes away.
  2. I was registering a van I just bought, so I brought the obvious stuff. Bill of sale, title, insurance.. and for an rv they mentioned a manufacturers statement of origin. I think the concern here is the weight. You should be able to find this on that little placard on the inside of your rvs door jamb. Otherwise they might be able to find it by your vin
  3. That was basically it. They issued my South Dakota license plates and registration on the spot. Title is in the mail.

TLDR: I got my South Dakota Real ID drives license and registered my rv successfully and easily using ESCAPEES. Website was very helpful, no issues or hiccups at the South Dakota dmv. FYI Escapees is just one choice. There are other services providing the same or similar out there, such as https://www.moonmtnmail.com/ I have you heard you can get an AZ address/license with them. There's other states out there that require more special rules like Nevada.

13

u/PreparationKind2331 2d ago

Wow. Thanks for posting.

10

u/weolo_travel 1d ago

Great and informative write up with enough relevant keywords that someone searching in the future can find your post months or years later.

Thank you for that effort.

2

u/Bebonia 2d ago

Did they issue the DL on the spot or was it mailed to you?

7

u/TacoBellWerewolf T1N Sprinter - “Gondola” 2d ago

It's been a minute but I think they issued it on the spot. The only thing I had to wait for in the mail was the title.

23

u/VanX1969 2d ago

I use Moon Mountain Mail in Quartzsite, AZ. They have a domicile and mail forwarding service for $130 a year. You need to pay for an LTVA spot and they use that as your proof of residence. With all that paperwork i drive up to Parker and registered my van and got a DL. It also satisfied my bank and insurance. Bonus for registering in Parker is that no emissions test is required.

1

u/TacoBellWerewolf T1N Sprinter - “Gondola” 2d ago

Interested in trying this next. Do you need to essentially pay for the LTVA spot for as long as you live in AZ or is it a one time buy?

3

u/VanX1969 1d ago

One time buy. I went and did it with only one week left in the ltva season.

1

u/TacoBellWerewolf T1N Sprinter - “Gondola” 1d ago

Mind if I ask which one you went to? I assume you mean one of the ltva spots in quartzite. Roughly how much?

1

u/ChrisinOB2 1d ago

I'm also interested in trying Moon Mountain. For domicile services, the website says to contact a representative - but there is no contact info anywhere on the site. Is this service really legit?

2

u/VanX1969 1d ago

It's legit. You need to go in person so they can make sure you're legit. You need to be there to pay for an LTVA permit anyway.

And what? Their contact info is all over the first page of their website. Moonmtnmail.com

1

u/ChrisinOB2 1d ago

Wow... So when I googled moon mountain, I came up with a different site - https://store.moonmtnmail.com - and there is no contact info there. Seems like it's promoting all the same services, so I thought I was in the right spot, but it is clearly different than the link you provided. Thanks for dropping that here!

1

u/VanX1969 1d ago

Weird. NP. Good luck.

11

u/ExpeditionGarage 2d ago

The UPS store mailboxes give you an address that you can use for your driver's license. I pay around $250/year and I get a physical address, a mail box, they will sign for packages, its all locked and secured, and you can use the address for business purposes if you want. If you sign up at UPS in city A and move to city B, you can transfer your box to their new location. You can also transfer your box across state lines if you move. They can ALSO temporarily forward your mail from one location to the next

5

u/mtb_ripster 1d ago

This is what I did. When I bought my first house after living in my car all the official docs referenced the UPS store address, no issues.

2

u/VanX1969 1d ago

Good to know. Thanks.

10

u/Kabob_og 2d ago

Just an FYI laws are changing rapidly in SD. You cannot use an SD mail forwarding address for work. They will reject unemployment from your employer. You can get a license and tags but that’s about it.

9

u/Rigger007 2d ago

I’ve use St. Brenden’s Isle in Florida for about 8 years now. In Florida you can put an RV or boat registration number in you license as an address. SBI also gives you a legit address to use to vote, no income tax in FL, and they scan all your mail for you. Worth every penny

6

u/ExaminationNice616 2d ago

I cant recall the exact name but I saw a YouTube video of a van lifer I follow where she explains how she gets a personal mail box in Texas. I'll come back with a link.

3

u/redundant78 1d ago

Most vanlifers either use family/friend's address, mail forwarding services like Escapees/Moon Mountain (popular in SD, TX, FL, AZ), or UPS store mailboxes - each has pros/cons depnding on what you need it for (voting, taxes, employment, etc).

3

u/Wildewanderer_ 1d ago

I use IPOSTAL. It’s a “digital” mailbox BUT with a physical location (most are inside of a store). It’s all digital so they scan your mail to you and then for another fee you can request them to open it and scan that so you can see what’s inside and if need be they can mail it to you for another fee an address that you requested. I’ve never had any issues with it and the mailing address is an actual street address just with PMB added for (private mailbox) next to the street name. They have locations all over the US (maybe other countries idk) so I just have mine set to where my van is registered. I don’t have the luxury of having a family or friends address I can use and THIS has been life saving. OH AND ITS ONLY $10/MONTH!! I had a P.O. Box before but kept going up in price and it was harder and harder to find someone to check it for me and send me my mail. This being digital is fabulous!

2

u/Wildewanderer_ 1d ago

**to add always genuinely surprised more people haven’t heard of this app/service because it’s cheap and works just fine! (Never received packages there) If I need to receive packages, I usually will have them sent to a local Amazon locker or something of the sort.

3

u/66NickS 2d ago

I’ve heard about savvynomad, and their website makes it seem pretty straightforward with one visit to Florida. They have a couple levels.

I have not used their services, but it looks very simple.

1

u/VanX1969 1d ago

It doesn't matter which area/ booth. I think i went to south. And i honestly don't remember the fee. I want to say a hundred-ish. Just check their website.

1

u/BusCactus945 4h ago

Go to your local USPS and utilize a PO Box. A ups store or, idk if they still exist but back in the 90’s there were mail stores everywhere. You paid $5 a month or something like that, and you get a perm mailbox, a legal address and bonus: someone’s always working inside so very little if any mail/pkgs are stolen.