Drivers License in different states

[spencers45]

My wife and I spend about 6 months of each year in Arizona (not our domicile) and the remaining 6 months (and a day) in Delaware. We would like to have a car at each location but given that our drivers license is from Delaware, we would need to have both vehicles inspected in Delaware. Getting the car back to Arizona would be too difficult for us. We were wondering if we could have one spouse keep their license in Delaware and the other spouse would get a drivers license in Arizona? Has anybody done this? What are the downsides?

Thanks in advance

[IBEW Sparky]

@spencers45

I would think that having a drivers license in another state would require you to have a physical address in that state and be shown on the drivers license.
Where would you store the car while you're back in Delaware? I think it would be easier to change the registration on the car to an address in Arizona , possibly using the address of the storage facility where you'll be storing the car.

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Saw a lot of vehicles stored in their car port in Mesa for storage. But plates were removed so I couldn't tell if people registered in AZ or not?

[WhittleBurner]

We picked up and plated our new truck last summer in FL where we bought it. We did have to get a FL insurance policy to do that. Neither of us changed from MI residency (no FL drivers Lisc) So don't see why you could not transfer title to another state long as you have a valid address We had used Progressive for our MI ins and they at first said they would insure the truck in FL but then got picky about which bills to accept to prove we stay in FL too. So we took the truck to USAA who has our homeowners in MI and they never blinked. All that they required is it is parked in FL for more than 6 mos even by a day , they made it easy!

[Second Chance]

It varies by state, but most states require that you are domiciled in that state to title and register a vehicle in that state. (There are a few outliers such as NM allowing folks to title and register an RV in NM even though it's not your domicile). My wife and I are domiciled in different states. She's domiciled in MD using our kids' address for health provider purposes; I'm domiciled in TX with Escapees. The vehicles have either both our names or just my name on them, so they're titled and registered in Texas. The only way to know for sure for your situation is to contact officials in Delaware and Arizona or find the information on their state web sites. BTW - Texas requires and annual state inspection but, when renewing on-line, you can certify that the vehicle is out-of-state and the inspection is waved until the next time the vehicle is returned to Texas. I don't know how other states with inspections do it, though.

Rob

[spencers45]

@spencers45

I would think that having a drivers license in another state would require you to have a physical address in that state and be shown on the drivers license.
Where would you store the car while you're back in Delaware? I think it would be easier to change the registration on the car to an address in Arizona , possibly using the address of the storage facility where you'll be storing the car.

--------------------------------------
Hi Bill,

We own property in both states and would leave the car garaged. The registration on the car has to match the address of the owner.

[Walaby]

Interesting situation.

I was going to say the same thing Rob did. Thinking that maybe Delaware had a similar deal that you can register online, and state the vehicle is out of state.

If Delaware has that, then why not keep it registered in Delaware and keep your licenses.

Alternatively, since you own property, maybe one could get an Arizona license using your property address. I suspect you'd have to get local insurance as well, which shouldn't be a big deal.

I would inquire about first option, and if not available, pursue the second.

Mike

[Second Chance]

Interesting situation.

I was going to say the same thing Rob did. Thinking that maybe Delaware had a similar deal that you can register online, and state the vehicle is out of state.

If Delaware has that, then why not keep it registered in Delaware and keep your licenses.

Alternatively, since you own property, maybe one could get an Arizona license using your property address. I suspect you'd have to get local insurance as well, which shouldn't be a big deal.

I would inquire about first option, and if not available, pursue the second.

Mike

Be very careful about Arizona from a tax standpoint, though. If they get it in their minds that you even smell like you're residing in Arizona, they'll try to sink their income tax claws into you. They have a reputation among the Escapees community for being that way.

Rob

[Walaby]

True... I assume they have some sort of tax liability already, owning property in Arizona. That said, good point Rob. I'd be interested in how Delaware handles vehicles that are out of state. If they don't have a process, similar to Texas, this could be a real problem for OP.

Mike

[spencers45]

Mike,

Delaware is pretty restrictive. Vehicles purchased out of state must be registered/inspected at a Delaware DMV facility within thirty days.