While it is true that living in an RV gives you a new brand of freedom in terms of outdoor living, some states can make you feel much more comfortable living outdoors in your RV the same way you were living in your house back then. These states are known to be the best ones due to several factors. This article talks about each of these states’ good qualities for RV campers and enthusiasts. May this article help you decide on where to live long-term on your RV.
| Criteria | States |
| Taxes | Texas, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming, Florida, Washington |
| Overall convenience | Texas, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming, California, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, South Carolina, Florida |
| Insurance | North Carolina, Massachusetts |
| Voting opportunities | Florida, Texas, Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota |
| Vehicle registration | South Dakota, Montana, Texas |
| OVERALL | South Dakota, Texas |
Taxes: States That Are Forgiving to RV Residents
One of the factors that you should always consider is a state where taxes are very much forgiving to RV residents in terms of property tax, income tax, and other types of taxes that you need to pay to keep up with your obligations as an American citizen. Wherever you are, you must pay taxes because you can be imprisoned for not paying your taxes.
Full-time RVers enjoy several benefits over those who are confined to their homes. They not only get to explore and see new sights, meet intriguing people, and have amazing adventures, but they also get to select where they want to call home. On the other hand, our legal system was built on the assumption that individuals remain immobile in their homes.
Your physical address, along with your social security number and driver’s license, is the most requested piece of information by all levels of authority and government employees. Without a physical address, you cannot vote, send your children to school if you wish, and you cannot gain easy access to all the privileges that American citizens enjoy.
All you want is the liberty to go your own way while remaining monetarily cautious. Of course, it also is critical to extending your revenue. In these difficult economic times, getting the most bang for your money is essential.
To that end, it would only be natural that you’d look for a state with a taxing structure that works in your favor. Remember that even though you do not have utility bills to pay since you live in an RV, your finances can be strapped if there are emergency situations such as you being involved in an accident or your RV getting wrecked by an accident or some repairs.
The best states for RV living in terms of tax include the following:
- Alaska
- Florida
- Nevada
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Washington
- Wyoming
Actually, Tennessee and New Hampshire both do not have an income tax. Still, they have interests in income and dividends, which work basically the same as an income tax, so they did not make it into our list. Alaska is very much tax-friendly, but if you are not keen on the idea of living close to Russia and the North Pole, you can cross it off on your list.
South Dakota and Wyoming have the lowest sales tax rates among the list, with both states charging 4%, though Wyoming can reach up to 8%. Still, it is not a high amount that you might find very burdening compared to other states. Florida charges up to 6%, same as Texas with 6.25% up to 8.25%, Washington with 6.5%, and Nevada has 6.5% sales tax, which can go up to 8.75%.
Out of the six states mentioned above, only two have personal property tax charges to RV residents — Florida and Washington. If you want to pay no personal property tax, you might as well drop them off the list, and now, you have four states: South Dakota, Wyoming, Nevada, and Texas.
Overall Convenience: The Best States for RV Living in General
When you refer to RV living, convenience comes into your mind as one of your top priorities in choosing a state for your RV residence. Some states can be pretty chill when accepting people living in RVs and trailers with open arms.
On the flip side, some states can see RV campers as informal settlers. Many people look down on them because they live in a vehicle, unlike those in immobile houses. That is a story for another day, but yes, it happens.
In terms of convenience, you must put a lot of things into consideration. You must consider if there are an abundance of free public spaces where you can park your RV for a long time without any threats of the cops asking you to leave, and RV parks and camping grounds where you can feel a sense of community with the other RV residents in the said state.
You might also want to see if these states are friendly towards mail forwarding services, which is instrumental to your RV life, especially in choosing your domicile state for government reasons. Some states do not see mail forwarding services the same way as the others, so you might want to check that out to prevent any hassles on your end in the future.
So putting all those things into consideration, some of the best states for RV living in terms of overall convenience include Florida, Texas, South Dakota, Arizona, California, Wyoming, South Carolina, Oregon, Nevada, and Colorado. These states are only picked based on overall convenience, so when we put the last criterion, which is taxes, the states that will remain on our list are South Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming, and Texas.
These four states are very consistent in providing the best living experience for your RV residence. When acquiring a vehicle, there is just a 4% tax to pay and no extra sales tax to pay in South Dakota. There is no state income tax, no requirement for a state car inspection, vehicle insurance is far less expensive than in other states, and low vehicle registration prices.
With the beautiful Black Hills National Forest, national and state parks, and historical landmarks, South Dakota’s southwest quadrant is one of the state’s most appealing RV sites.
Nevada has various RV parks in addition to having no income tax. There’s much to see and do in Nevada’s enormous desert terrain, from touring Hoover Dam, Lake Tahoe, and The Valley of Fire to partying it up in Las Vegas. From the beautiful sand dunes of Winnemucca in the north to the gorgeously picturesque Laughlin in the south, the RV parks provide something for everyone.
Texas has no state income tax, inexpensive car registration costs, mail-in renewals for driver’s licenses, and quick voter registration.
From the warm and sunny beaches of the Texas Gulf Coast to the undulating scenery of the Texas Hill Country and the magnificent grandeur of Big Bend National Park, Texas provides numerous splendors for RV life, whether temporary or permanent.
Lastly, Wyoming is another ideal place to live for RVers since it has no personal property tax, income tax, or vehicle inspection requirements. Furthermore, you only need to renew your driver’s license once every eight years in person. When registering and insuring automobiles, however, you must have a physical address.
Wyoming is also popular with travelers wishing to unwind in the great outdoors. Although it is the tenth biggest state in terms of size, it is the second least inhabited. One of the most compelling reasons to live in an RV in Wyoming is the state’s unparalleled natural splendor. Grand Teton National Park, Jackson RV campgrounds, and the world-famous Yellowstone National Park will not let you down.
Insurance: States That Will Keep You Covered
Of course, it comes as no question that you need insurance for your RV. You might have health and life insurance along with your family, but your RV needs to be insured in the same sense as to why you are insured in the first place. For one, RV insurance is very helpful when it comes to covering repairs, replacements, and installations of most parts on your RV.
Suppose you also get into an accident and happen to damage your RV in the process. In that case, your RV insurance can confidently cover the payments and fees for damages as long as it is included in the insurance policy itself. You might think that you have to be careful when driving next time, but you never know when bad luck hits you squarely on your face.
In that case, let us check the states with the lowest and highest average costs for RV and motorhome insurance. North Carolina has the least average cost for motorhome insurance, with a typical yearly premium of $860. Oregon has the second-lowest RV insurance prices in the country. This is attributable to a variety of causes, including a decrease in the number of high-priced motorhomes.
The state of Oregon is followed by Massachusetts, which has a $1,128 median yearly premium. In Massachusetts, the insurance industry is fiercely competitive, with insurers wooing customers with low prices. In Massachusetts, you can get a great insurance policy coverage for your RV at a much more reduced price compared to other states, given that the competition here is, again, fierce.
On the other hand, Michigan has the highest RV insurance premiums, with a typical yearly premium of $4,490. The state’s rates are higher since personal injury protection (PIP) coverage is required, resulting in substantially greater expenses for insurance providers whenever an RV insurance claim is made. Louisiana comes in second, with a median yearly premium of $2,912.
Since each state has its own regulations for vehicle insurance type and amount, your RV insurance quote will also be determined by state legislation. Inquire with an agent about your state’s requirements.
Voting Opportunities: States That Allow You to Vote Freely
One of your fundamental rights as an American citizen is the right to vote. Your residence in an RV does not strip you of voting rights as long as you have a domicile address, same for tax reasons. So if you have a domicile address, that is where the government will send you the absentee or mail-in ballots, which would allow you to vote while you are living in your RV, wherever you are.
When choosing a domicile state, you must remember that you cannot have more than one domicile state for your personal use. Your domicile state should be comfortable allowing you to use their state as your physical address, and your domicile state means more than just a mere physical address.
Your domicile address is where you will pay your taxes, register your RV, and so much more. Thus, you must think wisely and carefully. I have written an article dedicated to RV living and voting, along with the best states for RV voting that you can read here
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The best states for RV voting include Florida, Texas, Alaska, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Florida is known as one of the best places to have a domicile state for your RV voting needs because many mail forwarding companies are based here.
Mail forwarding companies are your best friends because they can keep your important mail for you for a long time. They can also provide you with a physical address that will be very helpful to you when you need to receive absentee ballots for mail-in voting, which became widely popular in the recent elections last year.
It would be best if you never underestimate the power of voting in an RV. South Dakota and many other states have seen RV residents flipping tables in favor of the other politicians and different parties, so exercising your vote is a must, wherever you are.
Vehicle Registration: Best States Where to Register Your RV
The last criterion on your list of factors for considering the best states for your full-time RV residence and living in the vehicle registration. RV counts as a vehicle, and while you do not have to pay for real estate tax since you do not have a house or a property anymore aside from your RV (except for some obvious reasons, of course), you should register your RV the same way as you would register your cars and other vehicles back then.
For this one, you will need to keep or acquire a legal address, which you’ll need for work, income tax reporting, and everything else. You will want to think about state regulations for vehicle registration, inspection, and driver’s licenses.
This also includes filing for your state income tax, other taxes – property, estate, etc., insurance rates, how you will handle medical appointments, mail forwarding, and so on when choosing an address. Examine all of the factors that will have an impact on you, not just the apparent ones.
RVers frequently choose South Dakota and Texas as their home base states.
In RV registrations, you can register your RV in the state where your legal address is located. If you’re buying a new RV, another alternative is to form an LLC in Montana, which has no sales tax for RVs. Although some states are questioning the legitimacy of this agreement, it may be worthwhile to pursue. Examine insurance rates, registration and other expenses, and car inspection requirements as you assess your options.
As for Montana, there is no sales tax on RV registrations in Montana. Montana RV registrations costs are similarly low, making it an enticing alternative for high ticket goods like motorhomes and top-of-the-line fifth-wheel trailers.
With any tax situation, RV owners must seek out competent legal assistance to assist them in making the best decision possible. Many RV owners work by forming a limited liability company in Montana and registering their RV as a commercial vehicle. The majority of individuals do this through a law firm.
These States Are The Best For Full-time RV Living
Now that you have sorted out the states in terms of the different necessary criteria that you must consider in choosing a state for your full-time RV living, two states have ultimately succeeded to be included in each criterion except one. South Dakota and Texas offer the best states for full-time RV residents because of the many opportunities and perks that come when you live there.
For one, these two states have lower taxes and no hassles in filing for domicile state registration. It even makes RV registration much easier for you without any hassles at all. Neither South Dakota nor Texas has made it to provide the best insurance for RVs and motorhomes. Still, you can always buy an insurance policy in Massachusetts and check if it covers South Dakota, Texas, or both in the policies, and you are all set.
Choose These States For Full-time RV Residency
It is not easy to choose a state to find everything you want and need in an ideal RV residency. However, this article has made everything much easier for you to check everything you need in one place then start deciding from here. In my opinion, Texas and South Dakota really offer the best conditions for full-time RV residents, and many people seem to agree with my opinion on this one.
