Buying a car in the USA

[One More Solo]

Sometime next year (around May hopefully), I want to spend about 6 weeks travelling in the States, doing the full coast to coast thing. Since I'm 18 hire companies won't touch me, so I'm thinking about buying a car there (probably in NY), driving it for 6 weeks, then selling it at the end of the 6 weeks. Obviously there'd be a fair bit of depreciation in the meantime but it should be pretty cost effective considering the cost of hire.

So, what do I need to buy and drive a car out there? I assume the UK license is sufficient. Can foreign nationals buy and insure cars?

 

[Tomsk]

http://www.workandtravelusa.net/travel/getting_around/transportation.html

HTH

Insurance will be expensive. IIRC In 1999 I paid ~$500 for four months cover on my own motorcycle, which I shipped over. I was 33, with no accidents and >10 years experience riding motorcycles.

 

[Mickey_D]

If you have any specific questions to ask, let me know. I have unlimited free long distance calling within the contiguous 48 states, so I can call up companies / municipalities / state offices and ask them for you.

 

[Stiff_Cookie]

Well, I came back to the US to live after living in the UK for 7 years and having a UK licence. Car Salemen were more than happy to talk to me but they wouldnt sell me a car without a US licence. Thats new and used.

If your just doing travelling than you may find it difficult. You will need to register the vehicle so will have to have it insured which means you gonna have to have a residence.

I think you would find it very difficult to buy a car.

 

[One More Solo]

Done some looking round and it is looking difficult depending on how long I plan on staying. I see that there is a decent travel pass available for the Greyhound buses though.

 

[darko]

The Greyhound idea is an ok option but nothing will give you the freedom or as real a taste of America as cruising in an old Lincoln or something.

do you have no point of contact there that could register a car on your behalf?