Drivers License

[vaccfam]

My intention is to do some cruising and when I do, I will have no physical address in the US. How does one maintain a drivers license? I'm sire there are volumes written about this but I could not find a way to search the archives.

Thanks,

[delmarrey]

In some States one can use a PO box for an address, other states not!. You'll just have to check with the State that your residing.

Otherwise, some use relatives (parents, aunts/uncles, bro/sister) as a mail port for cruising. There are some mail services out there too.

This has been brought up and is in the archives!

BTW Welcome aboard!..................._/)

[imagine2frolic]

Can you use your mother's address, or your brothers? I think you get the idea.....

[Fishspearit]

Mike, the best way to search the archives is with google, type in your key words such as "mail forwarding" and then type site:www.cruisersforum.com

[AnchorageGuy]

You can use a relatives address especially if it is the same state as your current license. But check first since some states require you own a vehicle and carry insurance to keep your license, especially the insurance issue. we use our mail forwarding address which is in Floriduh. When we leave Texas we will change drivers license and auto tags there.

[vaccfam]

Thank you all for the response.

[Thermal]

You were asking about a driver's license - and for that you really don't need an address to have one, just to get it in the first place. Yes, you need an "address" for all sorts of other reasons, and there were many good suggestions for that. You could "lose" your current one shortly before you leave, pay the money, take the test for a replacement and then should not have to worry about renewing for 7 years

[Just a Tinch]

In Florida...a Post Office Box is acceptable for a Drivers License. I have it on my FL license. You can also set up a box at somewhere like St. Brendan's Isle
Mail Forwarding at St. Brendan's Isle - Serving RVer's Cruiser's &amp Travelers since 1988: Mail Forwarding, Mail Forwarding Services, that's our specialty! and that address will be acceptable to the state for a FL drivers license. Its possible that they may ask for a "physical address" as well, but maybe not. It someone at a DL office tells you that you cannot use a PO Box....ask for their supervisor, because the dolt who tells you that is in error.

[Hud3]

As the Tinch says, a mail forwarding service like St. Brendan's Isle can come in handy.

We've had a Personal Mail Box (PMB) with SBI since moving to Nevis. It's not considered to be a "Post Office Box", exactly. FedEx and UPS will deliver to it, for example. It works as a "billing address" for U.S. credit cards, too.

We had SBI file a "Declaration of Domicile" application with the Clerk of the Court in Clay County, where our PMB is located. For $10 each, plus SBI's $15 fee, we're now official residents of the great state of Florida. We'll be traveling to Florida this fall, so we'll go to a state Drivers License office and apply for our drivers' licenses at that time. The Domicile application can be done by mail, but you have to show up in person to apply for a driver's license.

This is a good solution for a U.S. citizen who lives outside the country longterm.

[waterworldly]

ATTENTION AUSSIES: Is it possible to get a Australian Driver's license and not be a citizen? It used to be possible here in Florida for foreign nationals, and would be really handy for those traveling around whose DR's expire while in your area. Also, if that is possible, how long is the term of the license for? Thanks!

[hellosailor]

There is another "gotcha" with drivers' licenses in the US. Many states use them as a list of RESIDENTS, who are legally obligated to serve on JURY DUTY every couple of years. Some states allow one postponement and no exemptions, so if you get a driver's license in one of those states, you may find out one day that you MUST fly home for jury duty. No excuses, no times limits, typically a $100-200 summons for not obeying the first time--but no guarantee about that either.