Ever Wonder What to Do About Mail, Banking, and Legal Documents as a Full-Time Traveler
Handling mail, banking, and legal documents can be a challenge for full-time travelers. Learn how to go paperless, manage your finances, and stay compliant on the road with these essential tips!
If you’re a full-time traveler or vanlifer without a permanent home, figuring out how to handle your driver’s license, passport, banking, insurance, social security, and taxes can be overwhelming. But don’t worry—many nomads have found reliable solutions. In this post, we’ll break down the best options for managing your important documents and mail while living on the road.
1. Choosing an Address for Legal & Mailing Purposes
Even though you may not have a fixed home, you still need an official address for things like legal documents, banking, vehicle registration, and more. Here are your main options for maintaining a legal and mailing address:
Use a Family or Friend’s Address
The simplest and most straightforward option is to use a trusted family member’s or close friend’s address for all your mail. This allows you to maintain residency in your home state and ensures you reliably receive important mail. However, make sure they are okay with receiving your mail long-term.
Use a Mail Forwarding Service
If using a family or friend’s address isn’t an option, a mail forwarding service is a great alternative. These services provide you with a legal address for residency purposes. They receive, scan, and forward your mail to wherever you are, ensuring you never miss an important document.
Some popular mail forwarding services for full-time travelers include:
- Escapees RV Club
Escapees specializes in mail forwarding and domicile services for full-time RVers and travelers. They offer services in Texas, Florida, and South Dakota.
Website: Escapees RV Club - America’s Mailbox
Based in South Dakota, America’s Mailbox provides mail forwarding services, helps with legal domicile in South Dakota, and scans/mail your documents wherever you are.
Website: America’s Mailbox - Traveling Mailbox
Offers mail forwarding, scanning, and online management of your mail. You can view and manage your mail online, making it an excellent choice for digital nomads.
Website: Traveling Mailbox - SBI Mail Service
Provides worldwide mail forwarding and scanning services, making it convenient for international travelers.
Website: SBI Mail Service - My Dakota Address
Another South Dakota-based service offering mail forwarding and domicile services for full-time travelers.
Website: My Dakota Address - Mail Forwarding Service (Pahrump, Nevada)
A popular option for travelers who use Nevada as their domicile state, this service ensures your mail gets forwarded wherever you are.
Website: Mail Forwarding Service - PostScan Mail
This service scans your mail and forwards it to any location you choose. They operate in multiple states, and you can manage your mail online.
Website: PostScan Mail - Virtual Post Mail
Provides a virtual mailbox, allowing you to scan, forward, or discard mail as needed.
Website: Virtual Post Mail - Earth Class Mail
This service offers secure mail scanning and forwarding, along with cloud storage options for important documents.
Website: Earth Class Mail - US Global Mail
A great option for full-time travelers, US Global Mail offers a virtual mailbox and mail forwarding with options to scan, shred, or forward your mail.
Website: US Global Mail
Each of these services offers unique features, so it’s important to choose the one that fits your needs best based on pricing, services, and the states they operate in.
Use a UPS Store or USPS PO Box
Renting a UPS mailbox allows you to receive mail at a commercial address, and you can pick up your mail at your convenience. You could also use USPS General Delivery, which lets you pick up your mail at a post office for free for up to 30 days.
2. Banking & Finances for Full-Time Travelers
Managing your finances while on the road is crucial, and thankfully, many banks and services cater to travelers.
- Go Paperless
Whenever possible, opt for paperless billing and online banking. Most banks now offer mobile apps and online services to help you manage your finances wherever you are. - Mobile Banking
Choose a bank that offers mobile banking with no or minimal fees for ATM withdrawals. Popular options for full-time travelers include Chase, Charles Schwab, and Ally Bank, which provide free ATM access nationwide and in some cases, internationally. - Digital Wallets
Apps like PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App are incredibly useful for managing payments and sending money on the go. These services can help you avoid the hassle of dealing with physical checks.
3. Handling Insurance & Social Security
You can manage your insurance and social security while traveling by ensuring your address and contact information is always up to date.
- Health Insurance
Make sure you have a plan that covers you nationwide or internationally. If you’re traveling abroad, consider a travel insurance policy like World Nomads or GeoBlue. - Social Security
Keep track of your social security benefits and ensure you have online access to your account. You can manage your social security information through the Social Security Administration’s website.
4. Vehicle Registration & Driver’s License
Without a fixed address, it’s important to choose a domicile state that allows full-time travelers to legally maintain a driver’s license and vehicle registration.
- Domicile States
Some states are particularly friendly to full-time travelers, such as Texas, Florida, and South Dakota. These states don’t charge state income tax and have options for travelers to register their vehicles and maintain a legal driver’s license. Escapees RV Club is a great resource for setting up legal domicile in these states. - License Renewal
Many states allow you to renew your license online or by mail. You can have your new license sent to your mail forwarding service, or a family or friend’s address if they’re willing to assist. Be sure to plan ahead for your license and vehicle registration renewals to avoid any lapses.
How to Handle Mail, Banking, and Legal Documents as a Full-Time Traveler
If you’re a full-time traveler or vanlifer without a permanent home, figuring out how to handle your driver’s license, passport, banking, insurance, social security, and taxes can be overwhelming. But don’t worry—many nomads have found reliable solutions. In this post, we’ll break down the best options for managing your important documents and mail while living on the road.
1. Choosing an Address for Legal & Mailing Purposes
Even though you may not have a fixed home, you still need an official address for things like legal documents, banking, vehicle registration, and more. Here are your main options for maintaining a legal and mailing address:
Use a Family or Friend’s Address
The simplest and most straightforward option is to use a trusted family member’s or close friend’s address for all your mail. This allows you to maintain residency in your home state and ensures you reliably receive important mail. However, make sure they are okay with receiving your mail long-term.
Use a Mail Forwarding Service
If using a family or friend’s address isn’t an option, a mail forwarding service is a great alternative. These services provide you with a legal address for residency purposes. They receive, scan, and forward your mail to wherever you are, ensuring you never miss an important document.
Some popular mail forwarding services for full-time travelers include:
- Escapees RV Club
Escapees specializes in mail forwarding and domicile services for full-time RVers and travelers. They offer services in Texas, Florida, and South Dakota.
Website: Escapees RV Club - America’s Mailbox
Based in South Dakota, America’s Mailbox provides mail forwarding services, helps with legal domicile in South Dakota, and scans/mail your documents wherever you are.
Website: America’s Mailbox - Traveling Mailbox
Offers mail forwarding, scanning, and online management of your mail. You can view and manage your mail online, making it an excellent choice for digital nomads.
Website: Traveling Mailbox - SBI Mail Service
Provides worldwide mail forwarding and scanning services, making it convenient for international travelers.
Website: SBI Mail Service - My Dakota Address
Another South Dakota-based service offering mail forwarding and domicile services for full-time travelers.
Website: My Dakota Address - Mail Forwarding Service (Pahrump, Nevada)
A popular option for travelers who use Nevada as their domicile state, this service ensures your mail gets forwarded wherever you are.
Website: Mail Forwarding Service - PostScan Mail
This service scans your mail and forwards it to any location you choose. They operate in multiple states, and you can manage your mail online.
Website: PostScan Mail - Virtual Post Mail
Provides a virtual mailbox, allowing you to scan, forward, or discard mail as needed.
Website: Virtual Post Mail - Earth Class Mail
This service offers secure mail scanning and forwarding, along with cloud storage options for important documents.
Website: Earth Class Mail - US Global Mail
A great option for full-time travelers, US Global Mail offers a virtual mailbox and mail forwarding with options to scan, shred, or forward your mail.
Website: US Global Mail
Each of these services offers unique features, so it’s important to choose the one that fits your needs best based on pricing, services, and the states they operate in.
Use a UPS Store or USPS PO Box
Renting a UPS mailbox allows you to receive mail at a commercial address, and you can pick up your mail at your convenience. You could also use USPS General Delivery, which lets you pick up your mail at a post office for free for up to 30 days.
2. Banking & Finances for Full-Time Travelers
Managing your finances while on the road is crucial, and thankfully, many banks and services cater to travelers.
- Go Paperless
Whenever possible, opt for paperless billing and online banking. Most banks now offer mobile apps and online services to help you manage your finances wherever you are. - Mobile Banking
Choose a bank that offers mobile banking with no or minimal fees for ATM withdrawals. Popular options for full-time travelers include Chase, Charles Schwab, and Ally Bank, which provide free ATM access nationwide and in some cases, internationally. - Digital Wallets
Apps like PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App are incredibly useful for managing payments and sending money on the go. These services can help you avoid the hassle of dealing with physical checks.
3. Handling Insurance & Social Security
You can manage your insurance and social security while traveling by ensuring your address and contact information is always up to date.
- Health Insurance
Make sure you have a plan that covers you nationwide or internationally. If you’re traveling abroad, consider a travel insurance policy like World Nomads or GeoBlue. - Social Security
Keep track of your social security benefits and ensure you have online access to your account. You can manage your social security information through the Social Security Administration’s website.
4. Vehicle Registration & Driver’s License
Without a fixed address, it’s important to choose a domicile state that allows full-time travelers to legally maintain a driver’s license and vehicle registration.
- Domicile States
Some states are particularly friendly to full-time travelers, such as Texas, Florida, and South Dakota. These states don’t charge state income tax and have options for travelers to register their vehicles and maintain a legal driver’s license. Escapees RV Club is a great resource for setting up legal domicile in these states. - License Renewal
Many states allow you to renew your license online or by mail. You can have your new license sent to your mail forwarding service, or a family or friend’s address if they’re willing to assist. Be sure to plan ahead for your license and vehicle registration renewals to avoid any lapses.
