Changing Domicile to TX Plan?

Dan & Jen Nevada · September 6, 2017

We're making preparation to change domicile to TX. Our MH will be delivered in mid Dec and we will be full time once we take delivery. We plan to get a Escapees PMB here in the near future, probably at the end of Sept, and then fly to TX on Oct 16th to take care of registration, DL, maybe start an account with a local bank, etc. We will stay in Houston on the 16th then drive to Livingston on the 17th. We'll be there all day on the 17th and 18th to take care of our domicile stuff and drive back to Houston and fly back home on the 19th. In short, we'll be in Livingston for two whole days, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Is that enough time to register our Jeep, get driver's licenses, visit the bank, etc? From what I've read, you can usually do it in a day.

Is Escapees, or can they, be part of the process? Do they assist in registration or DL forms?

Anything else I should know before we make reservations? We're fairly well versed in the process in general, like what forms and ID we'll need, etc., but any details to make it easier or whatnot.

Second Chance · September 6, 2017

We accomplished everything in about a day and a half. If your motorhome is over 26,000 lbs. GVWR, you'll need to research getting a Class A Exempt Non-Commercial driver's license for whomever will be driving the MH - that takes some planning and some time. Don't know where you're launching from, but we established mail service and changed addresses with our bank and insurance (USAA), and then wandered around for a while before showing up in Livingston to take care of the vehicles and drivers' licenses... saved are fare. You'll also need to get the vehicles inspected the first time they enter the state.

Rob

Dan & Jen Nevada · September 6, 2017

Thanks! Should have mentioned. We're coming from Nevada. Our MH is on a 22,000 lbs chassis so no special tests or special license. Even so, we won't register that until we get it in Dec. In the meantime, we'll be living in Nevada. Out dealer will deliver it to us at the California/Nevada state line (so he doesn't have to remit CA sales tax) and the finance company, Essex, will take care of all the titling and sales tax in TX. At that point, we will out out of our apartment and living in our rig. We could wander to TX but it's a long haul from Nevada and if we went over 30 days, we'd have to register in Nevada...$2030!

Kirk W · September 7, 2017

5 hours ago, Dan & Jen Nevada said:

Is Escapees, or can they, be part of the process? Do they assist in registration or DL forms?

The club doesn't take part in this directly, but the influence that they have in the community and the history that they have with the agencies involved makes it very easy and they all know and understand what you need to do and are happy to help. Just let them know that you are an Escapee and things will go smoothly.

SWharton · September 7, 2017

Do you have an appt.with a lawyer to update wills etc.?? No one ever seems to mention that................

ms60ocb · September 7, 2017

For driving license you need several form of ID, One of which is best to be a Passport. Birth Certificate works but a certified Birth Certificate did not work for me. Once I got the ID problem solved, and had proof of Insurance, Texas accepted my Illinois non-CDL Class A drivers license as transfer. The rest was easy.

Clay

Dan & Jen Nevada · September 7, 2017

Sounds like were good to go. Two days is enough. We're bring our Nevada Real ID licenses and Passports. Not sure why a Real ID from another state isn't good enough but whatever. We've got all that handled. We just wanted to make sure two days was enough time to get it all done.

We will update our wills once we're domiciled. We don't have the kind of estate where you need lawyers. You have to actually have assets and money :rolleyes:

california3201 · October 6, 2017

I have moved from NY to Texas, Living fulltime in a travel trailer. After visiting the DMV I found out the state is not issuing new or renewing registrations on travel trailers or trailers with out a annual safety inspection. Also the travel trailer, if over 4500lb must be weighed empty and the weight certified, to determine cost of tags. Now you need to return to Texas every year for a safety inspection to renew your travel trailer tags. (what a setback to the fulltime traveler)

SWharton · October 6, 2017

The Escapees have a booklet "How to Become a Real Texan" that documents the steps needed. We just became Texans this week with a MH. Took 2 days, only because the DL office in Livingston was not open due to flooding.

You do not need to return each year and can self-certify for the inspection. Once you re-enter the state you need to have your vehicles inspected within 3 days.

Here is the link to the Escapees website:

https://escapees.com/resources/domicile/texas

How to Become a Real Texan

http://escapees.wwwssr7.supercp.com/images/pdfs/texan.pdf

Kirk W · October 6, 2017

25 minutes ago, california3201 said:

Now you need to return to Texas every year for a safety inspection to renew your travel trailer tags. (what a setback to the fulltime traveler)

That is not true. If out of state you can certify that you are out of state and get the inspection waved. That has been true since the inception of the one sticker registration system.

Catharine · October 7, 2017

As of September 1, 2017, trailers in Texas with a weight of 7,500 lbs. or less are exempt from the annual safety inspections. Few would come under that here but we have a small trailer. The above-mentioned 4,500 lbs. in the post by California3201 has just been changed to 7,500 lbs.

A self-certification can be used for the VIN if bringing such a trailer into Texas.