rhys 0 #1 January 1, 2009 Hi, My Fiance (will be my wife then ) and I will be going to the United States of America for two tourist visa, 90 day periods. We will be going to Europe for 2 weeks after the first visa period. The first 90 days will be training for the skydiving world cup and the second Leigh is participating in the 'Jump for the Cause' record attempts again in September. I am interested in purchasing a car while there and have had a browse on the internet here and find it difficult getting good information about the legal side of stuff, Insurance, drivers license law, vehicle ownership law etc... Looks like we will most likely purchase a car (older toyota or similar) in Florida and drive to California and sell it there in the end. I will have a New Zealand and Australian (queensland) drivers license upon arrival in the USA. If any of you have any advice or can make any helpful suggestions, they would be very much appreciated. Blue skies, Rhys"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tetra316 0 #2 January 1, 2009 Search craigslist and newspaper ads for used cars. Do NOT buy a used car from a dealer. Not only will you have to have proof of insurance but you will most likely pay a higher price. The best deal would be to buy from a private party. If you know cars make sure you check it out or spend $50 bucks or so and have a mechanic check it out first. Pay cash for the car and register it in whatever state you buy in. You'll be fine in all 50 states after that as long as you have liability insurance. I don't think the rules would be different for foreigners but I'm not sure. Not sure if you would need an address in that state to register but I'm suspecting you would. Maybe a PO box? This is speaking from experience and working for 5 years at different dealerships Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #3 January 1, 2009 One thing I know is that California has different emmissions (pollution equipment) laws than the rest of the country, so selling a car there will be tough if it is brought in from another state."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhys 0 #4 January 1, 2009 QuotePay cash for the car and register it in whatever state you buy in. You'll be fine in all 50 states after that as long as you have liability insurance. This is the kind of talk I want to hear, I have no worries checking out a car I know older toyotas and hondas reasonably well and looking at some of the listings, honda accords and civics are 'cheap as chips' and they are reliable motors and I can fix them on the side of the road if I have the parts. The registration and insurance thing is my main concern."When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuFantasma 0 #5 January 1, 2009 You can always fly into Florida... write a worthless check to someone in California, turn yourself in when you are ready to go and the goverment will give you a ride back to California .... pay the check to the court when you get there and then fly out ... all you need is a low amount check... Just a thought ! :-) P.S. I am not a lawyer !Y yo, pa' vivir con miedo, prefiero morir sonriendo, con el recuerdo vivo". - Ruben Blades, "Adan Garcia" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #6 January 1, 2009 Quote Hi, My Fiance (will be my wife then ) and I will be going to the United States of America for two tourist visa, 90 day periods. We will be going to Europe for 2 weeks after the first visa period. The first 90 days will be training for the skydiving world cup and the second Leigh is participating in the 'Jump for the Cause' record attempts again in September. I am interested in purchasing a car while there and have had a browse on the internet here and find it difficult getting good information about the legal side of stuff, Insurance, drivers license law, vehicle ownership law etc... Looks like we will most likely purchase a car (older toyota or similar) in Florida and drive to California and sell it there in the end. I will have a New Zealand and Australian (queensland) drivers license upon arrival in the USA. If any of you have any advice or can make any helpful suggestions, they would be very much appreciated. Blue skies, Rhys Well, you're going to get a whole bunch of conflicting advice, so I'll add my $0.02 of confusion as well: http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml -- one place to start. Quote An International Driving Permit (IDP) serves as an official translation of the holder's driver's license into 10 foreign languages. The purpose of an IDP is to supplement, not replace, valid government issued licenses. It serves as a translation of a drivers license and assists with understanding, but does not provide driving priveleges by itself. We recommend, especially if your foreign license is not in English, that you contact the automobile association or driving authorities in your home country to get an international driving permit before traveling, as the United States does NOT issue international driver's permits to foreign visitors. Also, since it looks like you'll be purchasing the car in Florida, and registering it there, you'll need to look up the "Department of Motor Vehicles" in the state of Florida, and search around that crazy stuff: http://www.flhsmv.gov/ If you want to do it by the book, you're in for a bit of work, but I don't think it would be too difficult. Insurance is easy to get and pay for, but you're going to pay out the nose, with no history of being insured in the US. Also, even if you pay cash for the car and own it outright, get full coverage on the vehicle, you don't want to deal with some uninsured/underinsured @ss or be caught swinging if get caught in a twist. Buying the car, you'll have plenty of options, but if you're in a hurry, and want the paperwork done fairly quickly, and have a better chance of it being done "right", then dealers are not a bad option. You might pay more, but believe me, if your paper work isn't right, and you get pulled over for speeding...let's just say that right now, municipalities in the US are using their police departments to make up for massive budget shortfalls in tax revenue right now because of the economy. As for selling the car in California, you won't have to worry about emissions rules, that's the responsibility of the "owner" who registers the car in that state. First place I'd go, is to your Foreign Office, or what ever your version of the US Dept. of State is. The IDP should clear the way for a reasonably painless purchase.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhys 0 #7 January 2, 2009 Thanks very much for the info and links, much appreciated. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flamingo 0 #8 January 2, 2009 Hi Rhys, Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I have recently moved from Australia to the US and have had to sort out a car, etc. Here is what I found out. The International Driver's License you can get from the NRMA before you leave Australia. It is simply filling out a form and $50 AUD if you are not already a member and it is valid for a year. Then theoretically you can drive using your NZ/Australian license AND the IDL. I got my IDL before I left, and when I got here I rang up the governing body that issues licenses here in TN just to double check that I was doing the right thing with regards to licensing. After checking with many people, they told me they don't recognise the IDL it and I needed to get a TN license within 30 days. This, however, may have been because I was intending to stay here to work for an extended period of time. You will probably be fine as a tourist, particularly if you are hopping state to state. And you might as well get the IDL, then you can always feign ignorance if you get pulled over. I bought my car from a guy who was leaving the company I was in and I got a good deal because he literally needed to sell before he left the country in 5 days time. To insure it, I did some internet searches and came up with a few places that allow you to get an online quote. I asked around and everyone said that the price quoted seemed reasonable and that they were reputable. I did the whole thing online, got the papers emailed to me, signed 'em, sent 'em back, got my insurance card and policy stuff a few days later. You do get shafted with international license, but it is not too bad. I have no idea if the company I went with is US wide, but if you want I can send you the company website in a pm. I am not sure if they require a US address, I put it in because I had one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taylor.freefall 0 #9 January 2, 2009 I bought a car from a dealership in California on a UK/international license, no problems whatsoever. The biggest problem was finding insurance, I could only find two that would insure an international license, Geico and Progressive, Progressive being the cheaper. Other than that no problems at all. It's probably easier than you think, hope that helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
