UK resident driving in USA

[LukeMc]

Myself and a friend, both 22, would like to drive route 66, buying an automobile in Chicago IL. What issues would we have to look into regarding buying an automobile when arriving. i.e. would insurance from the UK or USA be better? would the car have to pass an equivelant MOT test? and would we have to register the car in our names (whilst providing an address in the US) If so, what would it cost in terms of time and money?

any info would be greatly appreciated!

[JonnoGenie]

I bought a gem of a 25 year old car, a big old 70's classic, from a private classified ad, and she never let me down. So it can be done. I then sold her a year and half later for what I had originally paid. (I still miss her - faithful motor :))

Practicalities.
You buy a used car, but you do not buy the plates with it. You have to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles office. There you pay sales tax on your purchase (maybe 6% for example), and buy new plates (maybe $100).

If you want to own a car in the US, you'll need insurance. The thing with the US is that they really are not set up to deal with foreigners. So if you do not live or work there or have a US credit card (etc) this will prove a hurdle!

Driving license. In my experience this is tied into the insurance. If you own a car in the US for more than 6 months you have to take a US state driving test. I winged this for 18 months (having a UK license) but in retrospect am glad I never had an accident or crossed the law.

Then after your trip, you have to resell your car. I did so via local classifieds but it took perhaps 3 weeks.

Consider the pro's and cons. Buying, registering and selling a car is one avenue. But then also explore whether hiring a car might be a cheaper and simpler.

Best of luck to you.

[LukeMc]

Thanks alot, covered every area...alot to think about eh!

[JonnoGenie]

One thing I did miss! I don't recall any form of statutory MOT or test (at all). I just took my motor in for oil/filter etc changes every couple of thousand miles, but that was completely at my own discretion.

And I can't see a UK company issuing motor insurance on a car bought in America. I expect you would have to get it in the US. (I used to insure via http://www.statefarm.com/insurance/insurance.a sp
if you want to look into this aspect some more.)

Thinking about it more. Perhaps you might consider that unless you have a base (friend/relative) in the US, buying your own car for a one off trip might be pushing your luck. Otherwise I mean, if you wanted to eventually sell your car, what are you going to do, sit in a hotel room for a week, two, longer, while you try to sell it?

If you're only planning on going for a few weeks, I'd suggest that hiring a car might be a hell of a lot easier, and less stress. If you're going for longer, to work/live/study perhaps, I'd say go for it, but allow plenty of time...

Have fun!

[Dee Sa]

depends how long you want to take, friends I used to know delivered a car from east coast to west coast, they had to put down a deposit which was returned on delivery but they had to do the trip in 10 days, pay the gas etc it was through an agency, maybe someone fro the US can tell you about it.