What Full-Time Vanlifers Ought to Know About Residency, Taxes, and Staying Linked
There’s a query practically each full-time van-lifer asks themselves—typically earlier than the primary mile, typically after their fifth state line:
The place do I legally reside now?
Even when your coronary heart lives on the street, your license, insurance coverage, taxes, and mail nonetheless want a authorized residence base.
At Drifter Vans, we’ve walked by way of this with dozens of shoppers who’ve left their conventional houses behind. So right here’s the reality:
Whenever you go full-time, you don’t lose the necessity for a residence. You acquire the liberty to decide on it.
The place do I reside, legally, if I reside in my van full-time?
Whenever you’re residing full-time in your van, you’re thought-about nomadic—however you continue to want a domicile: a authorized residence for tax, insurance coverage, registration, voting, and medical functions.
With out it, you could face:
Hassle getting automobile insurance coverage
Delays with driver’s license renewals
Tax confusion or penalties
Misplaced or delayed mail
Problem accessing healthcare or authorities providers
Your domicile state will outline your tax scenario and decide how simple it’s to remain legally compliant.
Why Vanlifers Select South Dakota, Texas, and Florida
These three states are favorites for full-time vacationers as a result of they provide:
Notes from the Street: Aron and Jamie’s Residency Tip
We first heard in regards to the Escapees RV Membership from two of our full-time shoppers, Aron and Jamie. They’d initially deliberate to determine residency in South Dakota by way of one other service, however hit a snag:
“I used to be gonna do South Dakota, however discovered that plenty of distant W2 staff can’t get that deal with accepted by their employer,” Aron instructed us. “When you’re retired, nice—however in any other case, Texas is the one alternative that actually works.”
Florida, whereas standard, additionally has a catch: you’re required to spend 183 days bodily in-state to determine domicile—which doesn’t work for many full-time vacationers always on the transfer.
So what’s the takeaway?
When you’re nonetheless working remotely on a W2, Texas is commonly the most secure and most employer-approved possibility. And if you happen to’re trying to make the method simpler, Aron and Jamie extremely advocate Escapees RV Membership, which helped them simplify the whole lot from mail forwarding to authorized paperwork.
Escapees RV Membership: The App That Makes it Simple
Escapees RV Club is without doubt one of the most trusted sources for full-time RVers and vanlifers. When you’re planning to go nomadic and not using a bodily residence, that is the software to assist bridge the hole.
With Escapees, you’ll be able to:
Set up authorized residency in SD, TX, or FL
Get a bodily mailing deal with
Use their mail forwarding and scanning providers
Handle the whole lot by way of the Escapees app
Obtain assist with voter registration, automobile registration, and insurance coverage recommendation
Useful Instruments to Keep Authorized, Linked, and Knowledgeable
Your Freedom Nonetheless Wants a Basis
Vanlife offers you the liberty to decide on the place you get up every morning. However it additionally offers you the liberty to decide on the place you plant your paper roots.
Decide a state that is sensible in your taxes, insurance coverage, and life-style.
Select instruments like Escapees that make staying related easy and safe.
And most of all—don’t let concern of purple tape cease you from residing the life you’ve already began dreaming about.
As a result of when your private home has wheels, your life nonetheless deserves a authorized place to land.
Let’s Get You Shifting within the Proper Route
Kick tires. Ask questions. Drift awhile.
Watch van excursions, construct reveals, and behind-the-scenes footage straight from our store.
Discover structure ideas, ask questions, and get suggestions from different dreamers and doers.
Created by builders. Crammed with vanlife ideas, design inspiration, product opinions, and actual consumer tales from the street.
Browse structure inspiration, inside finishes, and the inventive particulars that make every Drifter Van distinctive.
Contact Drifter Vans Right this moment
When you’re prepared to start out exploring, click on under. There’s no stress—simply a place to begin. This isn’t a dedication. It’s a door opening.
Simply soul and wheels—constructed to drive your desires.
Trending Merchandise
