How often (can) you move from a State to State? (apartment, insurance)

[Hannah7]

I have changed my address several time but it has always been within one State only.

I wonder how often can you move without having too much troubles with your life and governments. I am asking this because I am deliberating to move to California for searching for new opportunities.

But I am a bit worried that if California thing doesn't go well, I will have to move either back to midwest or a different state after couple of weeks or months. I will of course need to switch my ID for Californian and my car plates too. Then California or any other state will want to tax me as a resident. Especially in case of California I've heard they have "exit taxes" too.

Am I worrying too much? Is there anyone who want to share his experience from frequent moving from a State to a State?

[missmc66]

If your just going to go check it out California I wouldn't change anything yet. You can always put in a change of address from there. I'm also considering California for pastry arts schools. I have been researching it quite a bit. Cars have to be smog tested there. Insurance rates are higher. Not sure about how they tax your vehicle. Parking is hard to come by and expensive. Weekly motels are around 350 week the list goes on........

[Newsboy]

Unless you're specifically running from something (the law, creditors, etc.) I don't think it matters one iota how often you move around the country. Many military personnel move every year. No big deal, but it can be a pain in butt for you.

[Hannah7]

Well, thank you guys I much appreciate your inputs.

I think especially the job search it is a matter of several weeks to live in an area to find out whether you get a job and whether you like your surroundings. And the law, in most of the states I know, is that you have to register and replace your ID if you get apartment there or if you get to stay for more than 10 or 20 days.

[CrowGirl]

No, there is no rule regarding how often you move from state to state. It all depends on how tolerant you are to the PITA it entails. And how much of a PITA the move is will depend on your circumstances and the states involved. For example, if you bank at Bank of America or some other large bank, you may not have to switch banks. If you have a gmail account rather than email through a local cable company you won't have to switch email addresses. And so on. Each state has its own rules about how long you are supposed to be there without switching your ID. But you can change it as often as you need to. But the costs will add up as you move around, and if you keep moving here and there and it manifests itself on your resume it will become increasingly difficult to look appealing to potential employers.

I have never heard of an "exit tax" from any state.