Motor vehicle registration for Liveaboard?! How?

[scraph]

I am in the military and have been moving state to state every 6 months for the past 3 years ... keeping my truck registered has been nothing but a pain. Now, at my next assignment, I will be liveaboard in Charleston, SC.

Can I:
1. Use the marina address as the registered address with the SC DMV?
2. Get a PO Box with a "real address" and use that to register my vehicle?

[Tempest]

PO box would be my choice....

Unless you have someone: parents, siblings, whose address you could use and keep your license and registration in one place. My brother did this for many years, while in the military. However, my Dad's insurance company tried to up his rates for having additional drivers in the house, and that ended that.

Where do you get your other mail? base?

[EastportRyan]

Moved on board on August up in Annapolis. Had the marina write a note on letterhead certifying that I was a liveaboard. The DMV accepted that with a credit card bill to that PO Box and put my PO Box on my driver's license and registration.

[orthomartin]

A simple way is to become a Fl resident by using St. Brendan's mail service in Green Cove Springs. It is a fantastic service. We have been living onboard and getting our mail from them but they can also be your "permanent" address. Works great

[sck5]

My sister used my address for years while she lived overseas. Never a problem and the insurance companies dont mind if you both have your own insurance policies - Its only an issue if the absent one drives the cars but has no insurance of their own.

[chucklesR]

I never had to change the registration on my vehicles or get a in state license while I was on active duty, e.g. I used my home state and home of record for 22 years. I literally used a p.o. box the entire time and had the mail forwarded - including when I was overseas.

I kept it that way because West by God Virginia does not put state tax on residents on active duty serving outside the state. Damned if I was going to give up 5 percent to a state I didn't live in.

Have they changed the law?

[jjrunning]

I'm currently in the military and have dealt with this as well. You don't have to change your vehicle registration or driver's license every time you move, as long as you move because of your military service and have orders. For example... my first duty station was in Florida. I moved my registration and license to Florida and have not changed it since. All you have to do is change your mailing address. I'm currently stationed in Michigan and Florida puts my Michigan address on the Florida license. Definitely don't be changing every time you move...

The only reason I would change my state of residence (if I was in your position) is if I move to a state with no income tax. I believe SC has a state income tax so if your next move is to a state without a personal income tax (ie- Florida, Washington etc...), I would make that my new state of residence.

[CaptainForce]

We also use St.Brendan's Isle. It's good for our voter's registration, driver's license, passport....all permanent residence requirements and in a state with no personal income tax. 'take care and joy, aythya crew

[scraph]

To be honest, this all dawned on me a few hours ago. The problems I've been dealing with resulted from the last two trucks I've bought being from states other than Florida. I'm born and raised in Florida and the truck I joined the Navy with was registered there.

Somewhere along the lines I forgot that, even though I usually can't get there in person, it's worth the effort to transfer my titles to Florida, and register my vehicles by mail.

I still have to hassle with the bank to get my title in hand with a lien on it (so I can transfer it to Florida) but that's only a small dilemma that simply needs doing. My crisis has passed