Selling RV when ouside your domicile state

[TonyaB]

We have been full time for 4.5 years and must give it up due to health issues (2019 was a rough year for us both).  Our domicile is Livingston TX but our RV is parked in Edmond OK.  Have any of you sold your RV when you were outside of your domicile state?  Not sure what steps are needed once we have a buyer.  It is not possible for us to get the RV back to TX.  Any guidance you can provide me is GREATLY appreciated.

[Lou Schneider]

Sorry to hear about your health problems.  Selling your RV while out of state shouldn't be a problem if you're in the same location as the RV.  All you have to do is complete the normal sales paperwork (sign over the title, etc.)  and then the buyer goes to the local DMV and completes the transfer.  The only extra step is the RV may have to go to the DMV office to verify the VIN number matches the paperwork.

[kb0zke]

There are several threads about buying/selling an RV from/to a private party. The biggest issue is one of trust. In your case, are you willing to give a stranger the keys and title to your rig before you know you have his money? Unless the buyer is paying with actual cash, the piece of paper he presents may or may not be worth anything - and that includes "bank" checks. One common method is that the buyer leaves with the keys and a Bill of Sale but no title. When the check clears the title is mailed. If the check doesn't clear the police are notified, as the rig is considered stolen.

The buyer should come to you, and will be responsible for doing whatever is necessary to title/license the vehicle in his State. If Texas wants you to turn in the plates and registration in order to get a refund that's on you. Some States do that, and others don't. We just paid the bill to get our MH license plate renewed, and our coach is for sale. I think that SD (our domicile State) doesn't issue any refunds and doesn't transfer plates, so if we sell to someone else who has a SD domicile the State will collect twice on this coach. Oh well, so they get an extra couple hundred dollars. Big deal.

Edited June 1, 2020 by kb0zke
hit send too soon

[HERO Maker]

I would also contact Polk County Tax office and let them help you with what forms you may need.

Everything will be online.

Edited June 1, 2020 by HERO Maker

[Kirk W]

14 hours ago, Lou Schneider said:

The only extra step is the RV may have to go to the DMV office to verify the VIN number matches the paperwork.

Texas DMV also has a form available online that you can use to notify the DMV that your vehicle has been transferred to a new owner. That is important because it removes you from any liability if the RV is used while your license plates remain on it. 

[Second Chance]

1 hour ago, Kirk W said:

Texas DMV also has a form available online that you can use to notify the DMV that your vehicle has been transferred to a new owner. That is important because it removes you from any liability if the RV is used while your license plates remain on it. 

You should keep your license plate and not let the new owner have it. You either destroy it or return it to the TX DMV - there's a place on the notification form to say what you did with it. We are domiciled in TX and just sold an RV in GA to someone who lives in NC...

Rob