antique stuff

Sure, but you can pic any state to get one from. As they say "shop and compare before you buy". Florida is a good state to declair as a residence. You don't even have to ever go there to be granted residency. No state income tax. No smog checks. Cheap licencing, and they routinely send your plates anywhere in the country.

Also, for some reason, you usually don't get tickets for expired plates except when in your state of residence - so don't go there.

(6 years on the road in a 75 Barth motor home with no other address)

Incorrect. They have no authority to void a residency legally granted by another state. And Florida, for one, will not be inclined to help them. Florida does not require a physical residence in the state to grant residency. You can be a legal Florida resident if you have *any* of the following.

Therefore, simply registering a vehicle in Florida makes you a resident, which makes it legal to register your vehicle there!

Also, the illegal actions to which California is prone are unenforcable outside of the state.

What do you mean by 'actually resident'? I did not buy any real estate there, file a tax return there, register a vehicle there, have a drivers license or insurance from there, or have a job there.

Parking does not constitute residency.

This is confusing even to the hiway patrol when I talked to them once about unrelated matters. I live in a motorhome. No, I dont have a house or even rent anywhere at all. Here is my Florida driver's license for identification. On it it may Florida mail-forwarding service address. Florida is totally ok with that. In fact, they prefer a mailing address of a physical address for your drivers license.

Thats true, many states will 'double tax' you. The state you live in taxes your income, and the state of the company you work for also does.

Its still 'innocent until proven guilty' for residency - you dont need to prove you are not a resident; they have to prove you are. Technically, for California, one day outside the state every six months voids your residency via motorhome. They have to *prove* that you were there each and every day for six months. Most people don't know this, but full-timer RV'ers routinely trade in such information.

Try it some time, take your show on the road for a year or more - its quite an education.

Hi Joerg, checked out your website. See that you live in Califonia. I lived there (Santa Barbara) for 20 years. I have no plans on going back. Check out moving to my area (Phoenix/Mesa), before the realestate prices go any higher!

Go spend a summer in Little Rock and then tell me about it. I grew up in WV, which is why I live in AZ. I absolutely despise humidity.

...Jim Thompson

Joerg,

If you ever need to find a good German restaurant in Santa Barbara, look for a sign in the window....

"Se Habla Deutch"

Don't they have big fines in California if you pull that one and you're actually resident?

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Hello Luhan,

Not quite. It needs to have a license plate ;-)

Regards, Joerg

There IS a good German restaurant in Santa Barbara! Mark/qrk, what was the name of the place you took me for lunch?

...Jim Thompson

Indeed, I have had some *spectacular* meals in Germany.

A super secret German bakery is hidden in Sierra Vista with outstanding pretzel rolls. Which they sell out of by 6:01 am.

Goes by the name of "bread store" or something equally subtle.

Try the Wal-Mart knock-offs of the Johnsonville product. Just as good and a dollar cheaper.

Yes, and the beer there is *way* better!

Hello Rich,

But on the way to that spot a highway patrol officer could become a bit miffed if the plates are expired ;-)

Regards, Joerg

Ah, yes, Widmer's Hefeweizen... marvelous! Thanks to John Larkin for introducing me to it!

...Jim Thompson

Hello Luhan,

Yes, that is why a lot of big motor homes out here in CA carry Florida or Oregon license plates. However, if they question you after an extended stay or if it's long term parked in front of a house you better have a residence in the state where it's registered or they'll nail you with back taxes for the vehicle plus some penalty.

Regards, Joerg

Hello Luhan,

Well, yes, but that's just the point. If they want to enforce something they think is ok (even if Florida thinks it isn't) they'll do that when you are on CA ground. Unless you stay outside CA. But then you'd miss some pretty stuff like Yosemite Park.

Regards, Joerg