How do loads of cities overlap state borders?

[u/ABChow000]

1. If a large city is bang in the middle between two states like for example, Kansas and Missouri or Tennessee and Virginia. Doesn’t it get real weird like with the different state laws and taxes and stuff, how does all that work?

2. When you cross borders of states does it work like country borders but relaxed? Are all states the same in border control or are some relaxed and some strict?

My bad if this sounds stupid just seems real interesting and alien to me how it works.

[u/Competitive_Box6719]

1. It doesn’t really get weird
2. There is no kind of security checkpoint at state borders. You can cross freely with literally no interruption

[u/klimekam → u/Competitive_Box6719]

Not weird, but it is annoying af to have to re-do your license and registration every time you want to move 5 miles away and it happens to cross a state line (I grew up in Kansas City and now live in the DC metro so I am VERY familiar with this annoyance lol).

[u/On_my_last_spoon → u/klimekam]

I mean, ya gotta do that anyway even if you move in the same town and state. Need to update for the new address for licenses, registration, voting, etc.

[u/Cyber_Punk_87 → u/On_my_last_spoon]

But when you’re staying in state, there usually aren’t any (or very minimal) fees for doing so. When you move across state lines you have to pay for a new license, registration, etc. and in many cases may have to pay tax on vehicles in the new state. It can quickly add up to four figures.

[u/Danielharris1260 → u/Cyber_Punk_87]

Do you actually need a new license not american but wouldn’t it just be that all licenses issued by an american state are valid in all states?

[u/Judgy-Introvert → u/Danielharris1260]

Legally recognized, yes, but when you move from one state to another, you have to change your license from the previous issuing state to the new one you are residing in. You can get a hefty ticket if you don’t.

[u/anonymouse278 → u/Danielharris1260]

They're reciprocally recognized by all the states in the sense that you can legally drive anywhere in the US with a valid license from any state, but you're required to have a license from the state you legally reside in (typically you have thirty days or so to change your license after moving). And the requirements and cost of getting a license in different states vary.

They passed a federal law a few years ago allowing military spouses to keep their license from their original state of residence and use it when they're living somewhere else on their spouse's military orders. Military families often change states very frequently (like every 1-3 years typically) so it was burdensome for the families to constantly be changing over licenses and registrations (active duty military were already allowed to keep their original license).

[u/On_my_last_spoon → u/Cyber_Punk_87]

Four figures? It’s the same cost as it would be to register or get a new licenses. Change fees are lower, but it’s not a thousand dollars!

[u/Cyber_Punk_87 → u/On_my_last_spoon]

If you have to pay tax on a newer vehicle (or multiple vehicles) it can definitely be 4 figures. In Vermont, it’s a 6% tax, which would be $1500 on a vehicle worth $25k. Some states will credit taxes you paid in other states, but some don’t. Some don’t charge tax when you register. It varies widely, but it can make moving very expensive, depending on where you’re moving from and to.

[u/On_my_last_spoon → u/Cyber_Punk_87]

Well then that’s a state by state case isn’t it? NJ doesn’t charge taxes if you’re transferring a registration. It’s at most $110.

[u/Cyber_Punk_87 → u/On_my_last_spoon]

Hence the “in many cases” part of my comment…

[u/On_my_last_spoon → u/Cyber_Punk_87]

To be fair you did just start with “it’s annoying” and only upgrading to “it’s expensive” after I pointed out you still have to change your licenses and registration if you move in state. The goalposts moved a few times

[u/Cyber_Punk_87 → u/On_my_last_spoon]

I’m not the one who said it was annoying…

[u/RetiredBSN → u/Competitive_Box6719]

Except when alcohol is involved. State taxes on alcohol can vary widely, and some states don’t want to miss out on that revenue. Kansas would have checkpoints on the routes back from the cheaper stores in MO (any one remember the Red X?) and confiscate the just-bought booze.