What should I do for move?

[FutureMrsNelis]

I am moving from PA to FL in mid-April and I need to know what I should do before I go. I know I need to close my bank account and give the post office a forwarding address. But what about my car and driver's license? Do I register in FL immediately or after the registration expires? And I am SURE there are a ton of things I have not thought of yet. I do have a job alreaday and an apartment but there has to be more to an out of state move than that. Any advice?

-Sara

 

[Schnugg]

Make a list of all recurring bills that you get. When you get where you're going, call them and update your address. In addition to the forwarding...don't trust the USPS to do it for you.

Bills, IRAs, investments, magazine subscriptions, LL Bean, Lands End, etc....

You have 30 days to get a new DL in FLA and register your car. Not strictly enforced, unless you get caught for something else. Easy swap with a PA DL.

If unsure where you'll live in FL, get a PO box near where you expect to be. Then you can move a bit, don't risk mail theft and still get your mail.

I went digital and get most of my bills on line, which would have really helped early in my career (read late 80's). Back before Al Gore invented the Internet.

Hope this helps.

r/
G

 

[VAmookie]

So I have to get a Florida drivers license when i go down there? I cant just keep the one in the state where i have residency?

 

[othromas]

Not sure if any of you all are members of USAA or not, but they have some really good guides and checklists for the moving process that cover things you might not consider if you're doing a move of any kind. Schnugg's suggestions are a great place to start, though.

Not sure about the license thing; I think you need to get a new one in Florida if it's going to expire while you're here. Probably will not be a big deal.

 

[FutureMrsNelis]

Thanks so much!! I have asked the fiance, and he is clueless!!

 

[Schnugg]

Military members can keep their license from their state of record. Some states let a military members spouse keep the DL from the home state as well. Check with the DMV.

If you are a Finance (did I spell that right? ) you are not military in any way, not a spouse yet. So a move to florida would be like re-locating for good which requires the new DL, etc. Unless someone claims you on their taxes back in a home state.

Can get complicated. Local DMV web sites can answer most questions like this.

I have a CA DL with an MD address.

r/
G

 

[gregsivers]

The way I understand it, so long as you're active duty military you can use an expired license. I still have a TX license, and plan on keeping it.

 

[bennett4362]

The way I understand it, so long as you're active duty military you can use an expired license. I still have a TX license, and plan on keeping it.

there are only certain states that do this; if you're doing this, be sure your state is one of them! (i know that GA is not one of them)

 

[Brett327]

The way I understand it, so long as you're active duty military you can use an expired license. I still have a TX license, and plan on keeping it.

I still have my 1993 FL license from when I was an E-5, complete w/ cheesy mustache picture. It's a real crowd pleaser these days. They keep sending me a free renewal every so often - I can't lose.

Brett

 

[Gatordev]

I still have my 1993 FL license from when I was an E-5, complete w/ cheesy mustache picture. It's a real crowd pleaser these days. They keep sending me a free renewal every so often - I can't lose.

Brett

That's weird. When I went through this a couple of years ago, FL told me that I needed a new ID, but that they would be happy to mail it to me. However, the address on the ID would the address they have to mail it to, but they would use my pic that was on file. No big deal, so they did it and now my FL license has a HI address which is kind of cool, but I never got an actual renewal option.

EDIT: Ah, I think I know why. They didn't go to digital photos until around '96 or so, so that's probably why.

 

[Brett327]

That's weird. When I went through this a couple of years ago, FL told me that I needed a new ID, but that they would be happy to mail it to me. However, the address on the ID would the address they have to mail it to, but they would use my pic that was on file. No big deal, so they did it and now my FL license has a HI address which is kind of cool, but I never got an actual renewal option.

EDIT: Ah, I think I know why. They didn't go to digital photos until around '96 or so, so that's probably why.

Yeah, they just send me a sticker that goes on the back of the old style license which has a new exp. date and my local San Diego address. It's funny when I get carded because the pic looks nothing like me and the format throws the bouncers for a loop. For whatever reason, the bars around here don't like Mil IDs.

Brett

 

[Gatordev]

Probably because everyone steals them and uses them as fake IDs.

 

[usnphoenix]

Heres the deal with PA specific stuff:

You don't have to change your license or your registration. I called PennDot when i first got down here and they said it was no problem because of the whole active duty military thing. The inspection stickers and emissions stickers can expire (if you get your husband's name on the title since you aren't going to be active military) and you have 10 days to get the car inspected should you return to Pennsylvania. I'm not sure about the license but I know active duty military can send in a form to have the state automatically renew their licenses (i think this will come in handy when i'm in my late 30's and still have my pic from when i was 22 on my license) so you might want to check on PennDot's website or give them a call to see how it works for military spouses.

On a side note, PA doesn't take state income tax for active duty military so if your fiancee has residency in a state that does, you two might want to look about having both of you be Pennsylvania residents.

 

[Cate]

Just remember Schnugg's comment above - as long as you're a fiancee and not a wife, you're not active duty military and you would proceed as any other civilian would do. Once you're married, of course, you'll follow all of the military instructions/advice as given above (assuming, of course, that the advice given above isn't complete crap ).