military wife...question about car registration....?

Question

o.k. does my car have to be registered in the same state where i file residency for taxes??

what's the best way to do the car anddriver's license??

i claim residencyin MD, but stationed in SC. car is past registration. should i get car registered in SC....should i get license in SC??

husband is in marines, so what office or group can help me with this, if any???

thanks!

Answer 1

Your vehicle can be registered in either Maryland or South Carolina.
Your Driver's License can be either from Maryland or South Carolina.
Your vehicle Insurance has to be from either Maryland or South Carolina.
If you go to Base Vehicle Registration they will be able to assist you in where you need to go to get all of these things done. I do not know if SouthCarolina or Maryland require a vehicle inspection. If either one do and that is the state that you choose to register your vehicle in, most on base auto craft shops can do this inspection.
Being in the military gives you the advantage of claiming the state you are stationed in or claiming your home of record for State income tax. You do not automatically forfeit being a Maryland resident just because you are stationed in South Carolina. Genereally where you have a Driver's License from is your State of residency.
I was in for 20 years and kept my home of record (Alabama) for 12 years until I was stationed in Texas. Then I changed to Texas until I retired and then had to switch back to Alabama.
You do not have to switch all of your vehicles plates and driver's license to the state that you are currently being assigned to. Yes that state does have a law on its books that says if you are residing in that state after 30, 60 or 90 days that you have to. Check with your Legal office to confirm but the military has an exception to that law. You dont honestly know if you are going to be stationed there for 30, 60, 90 1 year or how long. You could be there for 90 days get your vehicle registered for there only to be reassigned somewhere else. and go thru the whole ordeal again only to be reassigned again. All personnel are assigned where the Military needs them to be.
Again contact Legal assistance, post vehicle registration or the Fleet service center for assistance. Also dont forget about your husbands unit family readiness group. they can assist you greatly.
Thank You for yours and your husbands service.

Answer 2

One Stop (on post) has the answers. You should have a base phone directory with those numbers in it. But I can say from my experience in NC (claiming TX as home station), I had TX registration but went through the regular ordeal to get a NC driver's license. I liked having a license in the state I was living in just because it made things easier to understand for whoever needed it - financial institutions, those pesky policeman who say I can't read the speed limit signs, etc.

Don't forget everyone in the marines and their wives (cause they're "in it" too) - everyone is a transplant. They've been through the same transitions you're going through so use them. They're a fountain of knowledge and military families are usually very accepting.

Answer 3

This IS NOT covered under the Soldier and Sailors act.
Thats for other monetary things.
I am SC too, Parris Island.

We put our registration in SC. It just is a lot easier. You do not have to pay the taxes and fees you will pay in MD(we are from there as well)

It really makes it a lot easier to do it here. As for a license, I have mine from here, he has his from there. I got mine here because I did not want to have to fuss with mail and all the other bs MD needed.
It is the law that if you are here longer than I think 30 or 90 days, you have to get license plate from here. But, we know most cars have tags from all over.

For convenience, and not messing with MD, because they require A LOT of paperwork, and you still have to go into a burea there, it is easier to just do it here. MD gives you a "temp" card or registration, until you can come in and do it in person...what a horrid time consuming task!!
When taxes come around though, you can claim MD as your home of residence.

I hope this helps!

Answer 4

I was in the military and I was stationed in Virginia but Claimed Illinois Taxes because that was my residency. I kept my Illinois driver's license but registered the car in Virginia. Whose name is the car registered in? You won't be able to drive to Maryland because the registration is outdated. You will have to register and get the car Insured in South Carolina. Take a copy of your husbands military orders with you to the DMV and Dependent I.D.

Answer 5

No. It is part of the Soldiers and Sailors Act. I recommend logging onto military.com or searching for the specfics of the act. There should be an ombudsman that you can call and verify what I am saying. Your license only has to be current. Different states have different requirements on how you register but you do not have to change registration. Also be careful which state you get a drivers liscense in. I recommend being a citizen in a state that doesn't have a state income tax like Nevada or Texas.

Answer 6

whatever the laws for SC say with regards to dependents and car registration/licensing. The dependent is NOT covered under base /military regualtions.

Answer 7

Get your car registered where Insurance is the cheapest....probably SC.

They probably have a family center on the base, or you can go ask the base cops at the pass office.

Answer 8

If you claim residency i MD, you can keep your MD license. My car is registered in TX, but I live and am licensed in VA.

Answer 9

Some states will allow military personnel stationed in their state to claim military, or non-state residency and pay reduced rate in the state...

Answer 10

Different laws for different states. You need to call your local DMV, the driver's license office. They may allow special provisions for military personnel.

Good luck, dear one.