Managing Vehicle and Insurance Arrangements When Your Father-in-Law Moves onto Your Land
When family arrangements change and a loved one relocates to your property, it’s essential to consider the practical aspects of vehicle ownership and insurance. Recently, we faced such a situation: my father-in-law, who is in his 80s, has moved into a motor home on our land in Nevada. Here’s what you need to know and consider if you find yourself in a similar scenario.
The Situation at a Glance
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Land and Lifestyle Changes: My father-in-law has left his previous residence in Texas and is now living in a motor home parked on our property. The motor portion of the RV is nonfunctional—towed here and unlikely to be repaired, as we do not plan to restore it to operational status.
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Vehicle Details: He owns a car that he drives himself, which we occasionally use when he’s behind the wheel. Importantly, he does not operate our personal vehicles, and the motor home is no longer operational.
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Mail and Insurance Considerations: He has not yet forwarded his mail from Texas nor addressed his auto insurance, which was a joint policy with his wife. He has a clean driving record but, at age 80, future health and mobility decline are considerations.
Key Questions and Recommendations
Should He Have a Separate Address and Mailbox?
Given that his residence is now on your property, it might be advisable to establish a distinct mailing address for him—such as an on-property address extension (e.g., “TRLR” or “REAR” after your street address). This helps streamline mail delivery and can be useful for insurance purposes, especially if he plans to keep or register the vehicle.
Benefits include:
- Clear separation of his mail from yours.
- Simplified handling of any insurance communications or official notices.
- Enhanced privacy and organization for both parties.
How to Handle Auto Insurance?
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Registering the Vehicle: Since the motor home is stationary and not intended for use, it might not require full registration, but if you plan to keep it titled and insured, obtaining a dedicated address may facilitate this process.
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Insuring the Vehicle: If he continues to own and keep the car, it’s wise to update the insurance to reflect his residence. Depending on the insurer’s policies, you might need an official address to maintain the policy.
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Shared or Separate Policies: Since his vehicle is solely
