9 Month Road Trip, but I need a car!!

"JamesStep" wrote in message
...
I'm in the UK and am...planning to spend about 9
months travelling all over the states...
I'm angling towards buying [a car]...

If you're buying a used car, remember that the warranty would
almost certainly require that you return to the place where you
purchased it.
-
If you buy, say, a used Honda from a Honda dealer and purchase Honda's
warranty as opposed to an after-market warranty, any Honda or Acura dealer
will honor that warranty. The important thing is to make sure it's a
manufacturer's warranty. If a person buys a used car and has problems, it
could end up costing a lot of money; if he rents a car it will definately
cost him a lot of money. Buying is the better choice. KM
--
(-:alohacyberian:-) At my website there are 3000 live cameras or
visit NASA, play games, read jokes, send greeting cards & connect
to CNN news, NBA, the White House, Academy Awards or learn all
about Hawaii, Israel and mo http://keith.martin.home.att.net/

"Russell Patterson" wrote in message
...
On 23 Mar 2004 14:54:44 -0800, (robindotadams)

If you can purchase a car with insurance and everything, why not
consider purchasing a used motorhome? I say used only because you
will have to sell it 9 months later.

Because the amount of money he'll spend on fuel and insurance alone will be
greater than if he rents a car. KM
--
(-:alohacyberian:-) At my website there are 3000 live cameras or
visit NASA, play games, read jokes, send greeting cards & connect
to CNN news, NBA, the White House, Academy Awards or learn all
about Hawaii, Israel and mo http://keith.martin.home.att.net/

"Peter L" wrote in message
...
"alohacyberian" wrote in message
...
"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...
Its kinda hard to drive across the Atlantic, the water comes
in under the doors

Keith

Not only does the water come in under the doors, coral can cause severe
damage to tires and if water enters the engine compartment in sufficient
amounts, it can dampen engine performance considerably. KM

There are coral reefs in the Atlantic?

Haven't you ever driven in the Atlantic? KM
--
(-:alohacyberian:-) At my website there are 3000 live cameras or
visit NASA, play games, read jokes, send greeting cards & connect
to CNN news, NBA, the White House, Academy Awards or learn all
about Hawaii, Israel and mo http://keith.martin.home.att.net/

Thanks for your assistance (all of you!). Just for a bit of
background on the last note. I've gone through the fun of getting a
Visa at the US embassy and have a full 2 year tourist visa all done
and ready to use! The impression I get is that for me to buy a car
and then sell it back at the end of my trip is going to be challenging
to say the least, which then leads me to the rental option. Getting
long term rates out of some rental companies is a nightmare. Any
suggestions? Also for reference I'll be in Florida to start with
(first 2 months) before travelling up the east coast.

Cheers
Robin

(robindotadams) wrote in message . com...
Thanks for your assistance (all of you!). Just for a bit of
background on the last note. I've gone through the fun of getting a
Visa at the US embassy and have a full 2 year tourist visa all done
and ready to use! The impression I get is that for me to buy a car
and then sell it back at the end of my trip is going to be challenging
to say the least, which then leads me to the rental option. Getting
long term rates out of some rental companies is a nightmare. Any
suggestions? Also for reference I'll be in Florida to start with
(first 2 months) before travelling up the east coast.

Cheers
Robin


Robin,

Have you given up on the idea of buying a car then ? Is it not
possible to ask the US embassy where you got your visa if it is
possible to obtain all the relevant documents. Renting a car is going
to be very, very expensive (at least £100 per week inc. insurance) -
but from my experience you do need a car to get around. I have had a
look on some DMV sites for the different states, some will issue a
licence, which seems to be the problem part, some are a bit vague as
to what documents you have to show i.e I94 visa - District of Columbia
state will issue a licence on showing a valid I94 visa(only valid for
3 months) and not a B2 visa which I presume you are travelling on.

Please post any more details you find out as I am also wanting to
drive across the US, and want to buy a car to do it!


Regards,

Alex.

Keith Willshaw wrote:

"Peter L" wrote in message
...

"alohacyberian" wrote in message
...
"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...
Its kinda hard to drive across the Atlantic, the water comes
in under the doors

Keith


Not only does the water come in under the doors, coral can cause severe
damage to tires and if water enters the engine compartment in sufficient
amounts, it can dampen engine performance considerably. KM

There are coral reefs in the Atlantic?


Yep there are cold water corals as far up as Norway.

The Darwin mounds west of Scotland are amongst the more famous.

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhy136/darwin_mounds.hti

Keith

Also coral reefs on the Atlantic side of Florida Keys.

On Wednesday 24 March 2004 12:17 pm, Peter L wrote:


"Stefan Patric" wrote in message
news:YYa8c.4936$pd1.2005@okepread04...
On Tuesday 23 March 2004 05:07 pm, Peter L wrote:


"robindotadams" wrote in message
om...
Hi all,

I'm in the UK and am in the process of pulling together a trip of
a
lifetime starting in July this year. I'm planning to spend about
9 months travelling all over the states fulfilling a child hood
dream. I've got most of the things I need sorted (any tips as ever
would be
cool), but the one loose end I have is actually getting around.
I've considered renting, but for the length of time, I'm angling
towards
buying. Problem is I can't seem to get any sense on things
stopping
me from buying, such as registration, insurance etc. Is there a
good no nonsense website which will tell me how to go about buying
and
insuring a car when I have no fixed location? Can someone out
there
provide me with some guidance? All help appreciated. If I go to
a car dealership with a big wodge of cash can I drive away?

Without a permanent address and a US driver license, I think your
chances of getting legitimate insurance for a purchased automobile
is pretty slim.


Sure he has a permanent address -- in the UK.

But he is thinking of buying a car in the US.

Doesn't matter. His "home of record" is the UK. He's just traveling in
the US. Vacationing. It would be different, if he were going to be
working and earning money in the US.


He doesn't need a US license. His UK one would most likely do, but
an international one would be best.

Not for purchasing a car and insurance.

All a driver's license means is that you've fulfilled the requirements
to legally drive a car. You can purchase a car without one: you just
can't legally drive it home. ;-)

Our OP, being a foreign national, would most likely need another form of
ID -- like a passport -- because of more security after 9/11 to verify
that he is who he says he is.



As for insurance: His UK insurance company should cover him while in
the
US with a rider on his original policy. This is what I do when I
drive my personal car into Canada or Mexico etc. for any extended
trips.

Yes but your insurance is covering your car. He is thinking about
buying a
car in the US. How is his UK insurance know what car he is buying?

I was at a car dealership one day a few years ago, when a man from
Argentina came in to take possession of a VERY nice heavy duty, Ford
pickup truck, he had just purchased, to take back there. I talked to
the guy. He got a special 30-day "ferrying" permit for the truck,
instead of the normal 10-day temporary tag most cars get. Insurance
was from his insurance company in Argentina. He faxed them the info on
the vehicle, and they faxed back his "proof of insurance." (Evidently,
this had been previously arranged.)

I asked why he would buy a truck here and go to the expense of shipping
it back to Argentina and all. He said, it actually was a lot cheaper
to do it that way, than just buying it in Argentina. And that this
wasn't the first time he had done so. He didn't go into the details of
why, and I didn't ask.


Check with the US State Department (or "local" US Embassy) for more
info.

The US State Dept. don't know anything about auto insurance, which is
a state matter.

Perhaps not the specifics, but they can answer your questions regarding
the laws and procedures of what you intend to do or, if they can't, can
refer you to the proper agency or agencies -- federal or state -- that
can.

--
Stefan Patric

"Stefan Patric" wrote in message
news:3kE8c.8178$pd1.6775@okepread04...
On Wednesday 24 March 2004 12:17 pm, Peter L wrote:


But he is thinking of buying a car in the US.

Doesn't matter. His "home of record" is the UK. He's just traveling in
the US. Vacationing. It would be different, if he were going to be
working and earning money in the US.


As far as the legalities of registering a car go there's no difference
between
the two. I have done this in the past and as long as you fulfilled the ID
requirements, had title to the vehicle , a bill of sale, an address to give
the registration office and and insurance that was fine. The address
was a furnished apartment on a weekly let and the ID was my passport
and visa. They couldnt care less whether it was an H1 or tourist visa
as long as it was valid.


He doesn't need a US license. His UK one would most likely do, but
an international one would be best.

Not for purchasing a car and insurance.

All a driver's license means is that you've fulfilled the requirements
to legally drive a car. You can purchase a car without one: you just
can't legally drive it home. ;-)

Our OP, being a foreign national, would most likely need another form of
ID -- like a passport -- because of more security after 9/11 to verify
that he is who he says he is.


That depends on the State he's registering the vehicle in.

Keith

Unless you'll be staying with friends,
allow about $100 ( e90? ) a day
for gas, lodging, and fast-food priced meals.
Some days may cost more, some less,
but I think that'd be a good average
for financial planning purposes.



On 23 Mar 2004 14:54:44 -0800, (robindotadams)
wrote:

Hi all,

I'm in the UK and am in the process of pulling together a trip of a
lifetime starting in July this year. I'm planning to spend about 9
months travelling all over the states fulfilling a child hood dream.
I've got most of the things I need sorted (any tips as ever would be
cool), but the one loose end I have is actually getting around. I've
considered renting, but for the length of time, I'm angling towards
buying. Problem is I can't seem to get any sense on things stopping
me from buying, such as registration, insurance etc. Is there a good
no nonsense website which will tell me how to go about buying and
insuring a car when I have no fixed location? Can someone out there
provide me with some guidance? All help appreciated. If I go to a
car dealership with a big wodge of cash can I drive away?

rj

(al) wrote in message . com...
(robindotadams) wrote in message . com...
Thanks for your assistance (all of you!). Just for a bit of
background on the last note. I've gone through the fun of getting a
Visa at the US embassy and have a full 2 year tourist visa all done
and ready to use! The impression I get is that for me to buy a car
and then sell it back at the end of my trip is going to be challenging
to say the least, which then leads me to the rental option. Getting
long term rates out of some rental companies is a nightmare. Any
suggestions? Also for reference I'll be in Florida to start with
(first 2 months) before travelling up the east coast.

Cheers
Robin


Robin,

Have you given up on the idea of buying a car then ? Is it not
possible to ask the US embassy where you got your visa if it is
possible to obtain all the relevant documents. Renting a car is going
to be very, very expensive (at least £100 per week inc. insurance) -
but from my experience you do need a car to get around. I have had a
look on some DMV sites for the different states, some will issue a
licence, which seems to be the problem part, some are a bit vague as
to what documents you have to show i.e I94 visa - District of Columbia
state will issue a licence on showing a valid I94 visa(only valid for
3 months) and not a B2 visa which I presume you are travelling on.

Please post any more details you find out as I am also wanting to
drive across the US, and want to buy a car to do it!


Regards,

Alex.


I've not given up hope, just being realistic. As far as I can tell
from the numerous posts I need 2 things (apart from the cash), a
permanent address and the right drivers licence. Getting these seems
to be the issue. I'm starting in Florida and travelling up east coast
so can rent up to a few weeks, but it looks like I'll be buying in
Florida anyways.

Robin