Can I buy a car as a tourist?
Posted by Proud-Koala687@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 213 comments
NZ citizen, wanting to do a road trip in the future, wondering if I can buy a car? (and then register and insure it)
Planning to be in the US for 3 months, but if I can get a B-1/B-2 then for 6 months
So renting a car for that whole duration will become very costly
I have friends in Utah and in California that I could use for address? Idk if that helps
Heykurat@reddit
It would be cheaper to rent a car for 3 months than buy a reliable one. If you rent through a major company (like Enterprise/National/Alamo), you are also covered for maintenance.
Buying a car in the US requires registration and insurance, and frankly might take 3 months just to set up correctly. It's a lot of trouble for a temporary stay.
whyvalue@reddit
Idk what context it would take 3 months to buy a car but as someone who's worked in the auto industry, dealers are typically salivating to get you to drive off the lot in something.
bluerog@reddit
The thing with buying is, you can sell it after. Yeah you pay sales tax, but that's cheaper than the 3 months of depreciation/9k miles you put on the car. Buy a $9,000 car, pay $600 ish in fees and taxes, sell it for $8,500ish.
Eubank31@reddit
Buying and registering a car is annoying enough as-is, I can't imagine doing it as a non resident
mosurabb@reddit
Imagine spending 3 months abroad and your first experience is waiting at the DMV đ©
toenail-clippers@reddit
every time i have to go to the dmv i think of DMV - Primus (if i had to choose one artist to only be able to listen to itd be them)
"I've been to hell. I spell it...I spell it DMV
Anyone that's been there knows precisely what I mean
I've stood in line and waited near an hour and fifteen
And if I had my druthers I'd screw that chimpanzee-call it pointless"
SirTwitchALot@reddit
Selling is annoying too. Either you sell to a dealer for a significant discount or you wade through weeks of marketplace "is this available? Do you deliver? My parrot has cancer would you accept $5000 less so I can afford her chemotherapy?"
pierogi_boy@reddit
Not the my parrot has cancer story again
Gecko23@reddit
Or you call Carvana and they come to you and pick it up no questions asked and direct deposit into your account within 24 hours.
You donât even need a notary.
Hersbird@reddit
If you buy a car from Carvana, and then sell it even immediately, you will lose at least $4000. Yes selling is easy there, but they pay wholesale and sell retail just like any other dealer. You can just as easily take a car to any car dealer and sell it without doing a trade or buying a new car, you just are getting wholesale value.
Gecko23@reddit
I did take it to a dealer first, Carvana offer was $3500 higher.
Hersbird@reddit
Now try and buy it back, it will be probably $5000 higher than what they paid you. Obviously if one place is offering more on a no trade sale take the highest offer. I checked Carvana as well when I sold my last car and it wasn't as high as the Hyundai dealer offer. I still didn't take either and just sold it myself for $2000 more than even the highest wholesale offer.
Jumpin-jacks113@reddit
Someone pulled this on something we were selling.
I told my wife Iâd give it away just to get it out of the garage. She wanted to list it on Facebook marketplace. Anyway, she lists it at $500. Some guy asks for more pictures as heâs about 45 minutes away. He gives his cell number.
So I have to uncover it spread everything out, take pictures of individual parts. Then he says he wants a video. I send him a video.
He gives me some sob story, then says heâll only pay $300 because itâs going to cost him $200 to pick up. Anyway, both my wife and I think heâs lying to us about the sob story, but Iâm like âwho cares? I wanted to give it away, Iâm sick of storing it.â My wife is like âno, he thinks we are stupid. Tell me $450 is the final price.â I tell her âif you want to do this itâs all on you and you handle the negotiation, but I want it gone.â So she start messaging him on Facebook marketplace again.
So itâs been two weeks and the guy is gone and my garage bay is still takenâŠ.
Eubank31@reddit
Oh man I dealt with this trying to sell a Ranger for $4.5k and my friend offered $3.5k so I sold it because I was so tired of those Marketplace messages
1TBSP_Neutrons@reddit
Come on man, have you seen what ornothologist oncologists charge?!
Designer-Issue-6760@reddit
Same process for a non-resident.Â
Mr_MacGrubber@reddit
These days a $9k used car is going to be at least 10yrs old and thereâs a good chance something breaks on it driving non-stop for 3 months.
Rumple_Frumpkins@reddit
Yeah... The used car market is not what it used to be. Used to be you could get a gamble of a clunker for a few hundred and a solid dependable used car for 2-3k. Now it's often 2-3k for a flooded out pile of garbage and even the ones that cost 8k are almost certainly in need of major work. And almost any kind of work on modern cars costs a ton of money even for the simplest things.
I miss the old days when everything wasn't computer and you could fix your own shit or get it done cheap.
Mr_MacGrubber@reddit
A while ago I was looking for an old truck to use around my property. The only things under $5k were either obvious scams or would have like no hood, every panel was a different color, and had 300k+ miles and theyâd still be asking like $4800.
osteologation@reddit
need to up that radius on marketplace. that kinda truck is 2500 all day here. though that still seems overpriced.
Mr_MacGrubber@reddit
This was 2021 so they mightâve gone down a tad since then
osteologation@reddit
Oh for sure I bought my sierra then it was the only thing under 10k that didnât have a dent in every panel.
Rumple_Frumpkins@reddit
Yeah, it's bonkers. There was a really good YouTube essay I watched awhile back about the death of the 3rd owner market and the marginalization of the 2nd owner market and how it's starting to create some pretty big problems for the mechanic industry and the economy at large. It was written/explained from the perspective of a long time mechanic, incredibly clear, concise and damning of the current automotive industry. I wish I could remember who it was
Mr_MacGrubber@reddit
Cash for clunkers did a lot of damage imo
clenom@reddit
Cash for clunkers destroyed a few hundred thousand cars, mostly near the end of their lives. In the wake of the recession there were about 10 million fewer new cars sold than in preceding years. Cash for Clunkers wasn't big enough to make much difference.
osteologation@reddit
followed by the stimulus and covid
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit
A lot of it is a cost of repair problem, any little issue turns into a multi thousand dollar repair bill if you have to take it to a shop to get the work done. My wife's 7 year old car is at the dealership getting work done right now, the estimate is $2,300 to fix 2 bad wheel position sensors, a bad O2 sensor and something to do with the EPS system. Thankfully she bought a premium first owner lifetime extended service plan when she bought the car new in 2018, with a flat $250 charge for all repairs, which has paid for itself 2 or 3 times over already.
Rumple_Frumpkins@reddit
The other big problem is that for a lot of things, even if you can do the work you need to clear the code with a dealer approved computer. Most of the folks I know who work on their own cars exclusively buy older cars these days.
bluerog@reddit
I drive a 25 year old car as my daily driver. I work on the car 1 to 2 times a year â that includes maintenance. It's not a big deal to own an older car. I've never owned one with fewer than 170,000 miles on it.
Mr_MacGrubber@reddit
You do maintenance. Iâd bet most people donât do shit other than occasional oil changes.
bobbelings@reddit
Yeah he can buy a car but how is he going to get it off the lot without insurance? Also, why gamble if the car can last the 3 months without any issues? Any repairs would be on him. Renting is so much easier. He can get a kia k4 at my airport for $4,000 for 3 months.
bluerog@reddit
You can get anything insured? Never an issue for non-Americans.
benicebuddy@reddit
The buyer pays the sales tax.
vt2022cam@reddit
This, you sell it afterwards and recover most of the expenses.
CollenOHallahan@reddit
3 months? This can be done in an hour.
Find a car to buy. Go pay cash for it and make sure it has at least 3 months of registration on the tabs. Go online and insure it, you don't need to own it or register it to insure it.
That's really it.
The only thing OP would have to worry about it transferring the title and reselling. There are some states that OP could actually get this done in, like Montana.
osteologation@reddit
do plates stay with car in Minnesota? because they stay with the person here. you buy a car it aint got tabs till you register it.
spam__likely@reddit
Good luck insuring a car with no driving history or credit history in the US. Heck, I went away for just a couple of years and when back it was a nightmare.
A_j_ru@reddit
Where in the US does it take 3 months to setup insurance and registration?
AnatidaephobiaAnon@reddit
It doesn't. I used to be in car sales at a dealership that got in a few Chinese students every year who were there to buy cars and they were usually pretty easy to set up with insurance. My old football coach was also an insurance agent who worked quite a few brands and I would send them to him. Now, the requirements were more in depth than let's say you or I, but we could get them done pretty easily.
Now, their rates were basically 16 year old brand new driver expensive, but policies would be issued with the right documents.
Heykurat@reddit
It will be more complicated for someone who has not already been residing in the US, and does not have US DMV records or ID.
Purple-Display-5233@reddit
Why would it take 3 months?
Designer-Issue-6760@reddit
More expensive upfront, but youâll get most of it back in resale. A rental would cost $2500 for 3 months. Buying one to resell after 3 months would cost half that. If not less.Â
lendmeflight@reddit
No way. Plus he has to stick around to sell it. Rent a car for three months.
spam__likely@reddit
This is absurd. You are not counting insurance and it will be hell expensive, not to mention no way OP does not lose at least 25% of car price on the sale.
Designer-Issue-6760@reddit
Liability insurance, for 3 months, is like $100.Â
spam__likely@reddit
lol... good luck with that as a new driver. Which OP is, regarding of how many years of license in NZ he has.
snappy033@reddit
Youâre not going to need to do any maintenance in 3 months on a car that is less than 15 years old. An oil change at most depending on how far heâs driving. Cars are crazy reliable these days.
Sassy_Weatherwax@reddit
That is astonishingly optimistic and not based in reality. Cars are machines, and even a reliable car will have systems and parts that are reaching end-of-life or susceptible to wear-related failure after 10 years. You have no guarantee a car was properly maintained.
My husband had a Ford that had over 50 recalls, many of them for significant problems. Even my Acura, which had been meticulously maintained, had a random glitch that left us on the side of the road when it was around 5 years old.
incorene@reddit
Buying is easy. Registering is probably impossible because you would need a driver's license and I don't think you can get one without a green card.
Your friends could definitely register it in their name and add you as an approved driver on their insurance, but this is a BIG ask, because if you crash it, they are liable.
la-anah@reddit
Do you have a credit history, or, can you pay for a car in full in cash?
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Pay full in cash
DJPaige01@reddit
Every cash transaction of $10,000 is reported to the Federal Government to protect against money laundering. What do you plan to do with the car when you return home?
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Sell it, even if I only get a couple grand back :) cover the flight home
spam__likely@reddit
how does that make sense? you will not pay more than 1000 bucks a month to rent a car, probably less.
gargar070402@reddit
Have you actually rented a car for that long, or are you just saying then? Long term car rentals, especially for visitors, are hella expensive
spam__likely@reddit
I have. In fact I do this every year here and in Europe.
Right now I can rent a full size car in Utah, as OP intends, for a little over $800 for a month. Have a credit card that pays insurance or travel insurance that you need anyway, and...booom. car under $1000/month
gargar070402@reddit
They donât have that, theyâre a visitorâŠ
spam__likely@reddit
Oh, the rest of the word does not have that?...lol
Yes, yes they do.
gargar070402@reddit
Iâm not talking about a credit card itself you genius, Iâm talking about a credit card with car insurance. US credit cards generally have way more benefits compared to ones abroad
Why did you ignore the second half of your own quote?
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Most New Zealanders actually donât use credit cards, I donât have one myself - we donât have any form of a credit score system and we the credit cards on offer here in NZ donât come with the same benefits that they do in North America, plus they have high annual fees, so usually itâs not worth it to use a credit card as a single person (businesses and families who are spending lots, is worth it only)
I did have a credit card and credit score in Canada, but since I left Canada, I closed the account
spam__likely@reddit
Ok, but they do exist and you really really will need one here. You cannot check in most hotels without one and your debit cards will not work. You will have a bad time without a CC, I would bring 2 different ones.
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Iâll most likely just use my Wise card, do you know them? I used it for my other trips to the US (have visited 4 other times in the last couple years, just for a couple weeks at a time)
We have âvisa debit cardsâ in NZ, so they act the same as a CC but with using your own money I thinkâŠ
Travelled to Texas. Montana, Alaska and nyc, so maybe other states need CC? Iâll look into it
& yes, I always have travel insurance when I travel
spam__likely@reddit
The Wise card will work, but to check in a hotel with any debit card, which an Wise card is, they will put a hold on your funds that might take a week to get back. Usually 100-200 depending on the hotel.
even if your debit cards work here, it is risky as hell. There are many many situations where you can encounter a skimmer and boom, your account is drained and you are out of money until you resolve it with the bank.
Traveling with only one credit card is risky, traveling with one debit card is basically asking for trouble.
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Well I will definitely not be taking out 2 credit cards in NZ just for a trip to the US
In NZ, if you are trying to buy your first home, a credit card in your name is counted towards your debt (eg. $3,000 monthly limit, is counted as $3,000 debt monthly) and banks are strict with first home buyers (which in the next couple years I will be)
Anyway, I will consider 1 CC, but have my Wise and visa debit too, will get some cash out when I am over there for a back up too
spam__likely@reddit
you can always cancel the CC as soon as you are back.
Canada_Haunts_Me@reddit
Vulcans would probably get lower rates, though. I imagine they have the best safety records in the Federation.
spam__likely@reddit
true, true.
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Where are those rental places for less than $1000 a month? I looked and couldnât find any, thatâs why I started thinking on buying a car. I even looked on Turo- the peer to peer rental app
coolcatlady6@reddit
Look for people who cater to travel nurses. When I was on assignment in Alaska I rented a SUV from my landlords for around $650/month so I didn't have to move my car from the east coast and back. They required that I have proof of insurance, but that was easy enough.
Hersbird@reddit
They rent them cheap to renters who won't be driving many miles to make their apartment rentals more attractive. If you are being a tourist and driving all over, putting over 1000 miles a week is normal on a rental. Nobody is going to let you run 4-5000 miles a month on a car they are only charging you $650 for. 33 cents per mile is what the IRS says is a mileage depreciation, and 10 cents per mile over average is what most car dealers will deduct from the value. U-Haul charges even more. So you are depreciating their car $400-1650. They are just helping with a car to get you to and from work and maybe a little exploring on your few days off.
spam__likely@reddit
where are you looking? Even Expedia has many cars under 1000 a month, looking at renting in Salt Lake City since you mentioned Utah.
But of course it will depend on dates and pick up. Airports are more expensive. Try to price for a month only , you can always renew or have several reservations.
phathomthis@reddit
Where do you figure "you will not pay more than 1000 bucks a month to rent a car, probably less"?
I literally just went to enterprise and searched for a 1 month rental, sorted by low to high which gets you a hybrid Camry for the month for the low, low price of $1,190/mo before taxes and fees, after taxes and fees it's $1,754/mo, significantly more than your "less than 1000".
He's looking at buying a used car for ~$5000 to use for 3-6 months and then selling it when he goes back.
$1754 x 3 = $5,262 AND he gets none of that back. 1754 x 6 = $10,524
Granted he has to pay insurance and registration with it, but still, renting a car for that long is significantly more expensive.
spam__likely@reddit
Expedia has full size cars in the 800s/ month. Costco has even cheaper (yes, there is Costco in NZ). Travel insurance is cheap even if your CC does not cover the car rental.
Just insuring the car here will cost OP at least $500 bucks a month no matter what because he has no driving history OR credit history. They will treat OP like a brand new driver because of that.
He will certainly lose money on the car deal. Not worth it the hassle. Rent a car even if you need to get a new one every month.
phathomthis@reddit
"at least $500 bucks a month no matter what"
You're assuming full coverage, which I doubt OP is concerned about with an older used car, more like $100 for liability without driving/credit history. It is less than that, even as low as $40/mo for liability with driving/credit history. For reference, my fiance never had a license before we got together and had zero driving history, and full coverage on her car (Camry) is $150/mo.
So realistically $100/mo.
Another point is even at $800/mo for rental, that's before taxes and fees, which add on a good couple hundred dollars. So you're still above $1,000 and closer to $1,500 out the door.
I'm also not sure where you're looking on expedia, but I just searched it and the cheapest option, with taxes and fees included, so price out the door, is a Kia Niro EV for $1,620/mo on sale, or a Camry for $1,646 also on sale.
That $800/mo is base price, not all in price.
neomoritate@reddit
Not true.
Businesses are required to report large transactions, private sellers are not.
But also, the IRS couldn't care less if a non-citizen pays $10,000 cash for a car
DJPaige01@reddit
Actually car dealerships are required to comply with the BSA and report every single cash transaction of $10,000 or 2 or more related transactions using IRS form 8300. The Bank Secrecy Act is an IRS anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism measure as used cars would be an easy way to launder money. For example, if a drug dealer wants to buy a $18,000 used car. They may try to pay the dealership $9,000 to hold a car and then return the following week and pay another $9,000 a week later. This series of transactions would be subject to the BAS and the dealership would have to file the IRS form 8300. If the dealer failed to file the proper form to the IRS, they are subject to asset seizure, monetary fines, and imprisonment.
When I was 19 years old and worked at a bank, the BSA was the first thing they taught us. Even after training, our manager would randomly quiz us on possible scenarios. It is a huge deal.
In terms of the IRS, to the best of my knowledge, they seriously frown on money laundering. Please see the link below which outlines the BSA in relation to car dealership
https://www.leftlanesoftware.com/blog/the-irs-8300-form
neomoritate@reddit
A. Buy a car from a person. Or
B. Pay under $10,000 for the car. Or
C. The vast majority of "Cash" car buyers, especially over $10,000, are generally referring to paying in full, not financing, but not paying with physical currency. Or
D. By the time the IRS gets around to investigating this car sale (they won't), OP will have been back in NZ for years.
When I say the IRS couldn't care less, I mean a dealer will file an 8300 if OP pays with physical currency, then nothing else will happen because the IRS has thousands of agents to investigate billions of transactions.
NotherOneRedditor@reddit
C. Is the one that really applies here. $10k+ in âcashâ straight from one bank to another in the form of paper check or electronic transfer has already been logged by the IRS.
DJPaige01@reddit
Under the BSA, car dealerships must file IRS form 8300 for all cash transactions of $10,000 or more in a single transaction or in a series of transactions. For example if a drug dealer pays a car dealership $8,000 this week to hold a car used or new car and $9,000 the following week, the dealer must file form 8300.
BogBabe@reddit
That requirement is for when you pay with actual, literal cash â or âphysical currency,â as the IRS calls it.
When people talk about paying for a car in cash, they usually mean only that theyâre not taking out a loan. Theyâre using a personal check, a cashierâs check, a wire transfer, or some other method of payment. They donât typically mean theyâre walking into the car dealership with a briefcase full of actual cash.
According-Couple2744@reddit
He said he would get the money from the ATM, but I forgot the reason why.
hx87@reddit
"Cash" doesn't necessarily mean physical paper cash though. A wire transfer from a NZ bank probably makes more sense.
DJPaige01@reddit
Correct, a wire transfer would not be subject to the BSA.
DrGerbal@reddit
Than yes
AtheneSchmidt@reddit
Your situation is literally the only time that leasing a car makes sense. Ever.
You should probably look into that.
cscracker@reddit
You still need to register and insure a leased vehicle. This is also not a good case for a lease. What OP should get is a long term rental.
Boo-Boo97@reddit
Many states require you to have a local driver's license to register a car. Should probably look into that before you make any plans.
TheBimpo@reddit
Can you purchase a car? Yes.
Registration and insurance are required and are difficult as you would not have a permanent US address.
No, you cannot just use your friendâs address, the Department of Motor Vehicles would put a pretty quick stop to that. Address verification is a legal process and you would not be able to qualify in those states.
The state of South Dakota has some loopholes that make getting an address relatively easy. But you would have to buy the car in South Dakota and go through this paperwork there. Check /r/vandwellers or other related subs for how this process works.
A halfway decent used car is going to be in the range of $10,000 or more.
Buying a car here is not like buying a moped in Thailand or something. We are a very highly regulated society.
bladel@reddit
Agreed, I donât see how registration would work in this situation. OP doesnât have a permanent mailing address in the US, and sounds like theyâll be moving around so even a hotel or PO Box isnât going to work. The DMV is going to issue a temporary plate or sticker, and then want to mail the permanent plate/sticker toâŠwhere?
Long term rentals are going to be the best option.
JohnMarstonSucks@reddit
It should be noted that should one buy a car in South Dakota, that they will want a very fast car in order to reduce their remaining time in South Dakota as much as possible.
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
You're thinking North Dakota. South Dakota has neat stuff like Black Hills National Forest and Badlands National Park.
DummyThiccDude@reddit
The geography is beautiful, but the state still kind of sucks.
Tom_Tildrum@reddit
It's a quirky state to visit. Sioux Falls is the only place I've been where there are signs advertising "SHOOT A MACHINE GUN" at the airport.
Sassy_Weatherwax@reddit
I'm a west coaster and visited friends in Minnesota. As we were driving along the road, there was a huge sign for a "Meat Raffle" which was just so surreal to me. My friends were just cracking up like "yeah, they raffle meat! You've never heard of that?"
ProtossLiving@reddit
I can't imagine that Las Vegas doesn't have any ads for Battlefield Vegas or similar in the airport?
ballrus_walsack@reddit
Is this the Minnesota nice Iâve heard about? Or just Minnesota telling it like it is?
spam__likely@reddit
well, he said "kind of". That was being nice.
Haruspex12@reddit
Youâve left out the Corn Palace!
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
I have to say it was quite underwhelming, IMO.
Haruspex12@reddit
Doesnât matter. Itâs at the top of the list, but itâs a short list.
freebaseclams@reddit
Oh fuck, there's TWO Dakotas now??
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
And two Carolinas too. No, there shouldn't be.
Two Virginias too, at least that one made sense at the time. The second one has too much recidivism to the days before that decision made sense now though. Should be remerged. Or WV residents could stop flying those flags that they originally split away to be damn sure they never wanted to be associated with.
bluerog@reddit
You misspelled "Ohio." But agreed on South Dakota too.
MarbleousMel@reddit
I have had to bring proof of residency every time I moved and needed to register my car in the new place.
Honeybee3674@reddit
Well, most things are highly regulated. He could buy a gun easy peasy.
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Iâve seen older jeeps and Chevy trucks around $4â6k on Facebook marketplace. I like older vehicles a lot more than these newer ones. Less things that break haha
Mindless-Client3366@reddit
I know Enterprise has monthly rental rates that are cheaper than the weekly rates. I had to do this a couple of years ago and renting ran me about $1200 a month with taxes and fees and everything. I assume other major car rental companies here have the same deal. Might be worth looking into if you haven't. I will tell you any car you get off Facebook Marketplace for that price is highly unlikely to be a reliable vehicle. Jeeps are especially notorious for this in the US. You will have no recourse legally if the car turns out to be terrible.
hx87@reddit
Make sure air conditioning is not one of those "less things" though, or you're going to have a rough time anywhere remotely hot.
anonymousdlm@reddit
Heâs from Australia, I think he understands hot better than we do.
Nat1CommonSense@reddit
OP is from New Zealand
ClickClick_Boom@reddit
Aren't those just Australians?
RollinThundaga@reddit
NZ has a warm and wet climate not unlike the mid-pacific seaboard.
Nat1CommonSense@reddit
Different country, but sure I guess theyâre close enough. In other news, Cubans are now from the USA
TheBimpo@reddit
If you think a $4000 Jeep is going to be a reliable vehicle for a 6 month road trip you are in for a lot of surprises.
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Mate! You should see what I cruise around in now đ
ENovi@reddit
lmao yeah I can relate. Do you know a bit about car repairs/maintenance? Iâve driven nothing but the biggest pieces of shit my entire life so Iâve had to learn as I go. If youâve the same way thatâll be an asset, especially when looking at whichever shitbox you find on Facebook or Craigslist. Donât be afraid to take a look under the hood and ask questions because you donât want to be stuck with a lemon that eats up your time and travel funds.
If Iâm being real youâll have some hoops to jump through (registration, insurance, etc) but I hope you pull it off because if youâre successful it sounds like a hell of a good time. Good luck dude!
Daddysheremyluv@reddit
Reddit appears to be full of opinions on this subject. Go to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)of the state you may be using and review their rules. Also contact insurance companies and discuss it with them. Insurance is required
Purchase is possible, it seams car dealers love money equally regattas it was.
Registration and insurance are the challenges
A title is a document specific to the car. That is often required to license and register the vehicle
Warmasterwinter@reddit
Yea you can buy a car here. Getting insurance on it as a foreigner on a travel visa may be difficult however. And youâre legally required to have that insurance in order to drive it.
tcspears@reddit
There would be lots of requirements to buy, register, and insure a vehicle in most states Iâm aware of (each state is different). Plus owning a car and selling it manage tax implications depending on the state as well, which may be complex if you arenât a resident.
Why not rent a car? Renting will often be cheaper, and easily accessible.
alaxsxaq@reddit
Not sure how much the registration process changed in the past couple of decades, but a friend of mine from Australia flew into San Francisco, bought a used car from a dealer sand drove back and forth across the US for a few months. He sold the car back to the place he bought it from before flying home. Not sure whether he saved any money over a rental.
PrestigiousHair618@reddit
I know a guy, wasnât me, that when they were in the army would buy a car at every place they stayed overseas. Drove it and either sold it or left it, some parts of the world you can get a crappy car really cheap, Same guy also once trade a goat for dental work overseas. Start your trip in a modern city buy a 4wd make your last stop Alaska or some other rural area where you have a better chance of selling a 4wd, fly home. Iâve got a 97 4wd Dakota, for $3500. Iâd drive it anywhere, my brother currently has an 02 Chevy 4wd for 2k. There are deals out there you donât have spend 9k you just need to know what to look for. Register it in a place that doesnât require smog or emissions checks and drive it like you stole.
fugsco@reddit
I've met multiple Aussies who have done exactly that: buy some beater car for their big USA tour, clock 10,000 miles, then dump it and go home. If you're not too risk averse, beat up old cars can be had pretty cheap.
Odd-Guarantee-6152@reddit
No, you canât. You need to register a car, and you canât without a permanent address.
Crafty-Owl8555@reddit
In Vegas lots of people drive without plates or insurance cause no one stops them, so if you can get away with it...
pohart@reddit
I don't know about Utah or California, but NY has a lot of non residents, and allows non resident registration.. I recommend calling the NY county DMV and talking with them about how to do it, if Northeast will work for you.
Or maybe a travel agent in NZ.
Ok_Adeptness_1523@reddit
Could one of tour friends in Utah buy a car and put you on their insurance for the car?
Senior-Tour-1744@reddit
The hardest part would be registering, but yeah nothing forbids anyone from buying a car inside the US, you can drive it on the roads if you have a license, get insurance, and get it registered. This all said, if you get into a car accident or get a ticket, your ability to leave the US is gonna become heavily restricted or expedited depending on the facts of the case.
Mikeseddit@reddit
In 2019 my Dutch cousinâs kid came to visit the US and drive around for three or four months. I helped him buy a $5,000 10-year-old Honda Pilot in Chicago and it worked out great for him. Big enough for him to sleep in, and he took it off road enough to justify it. Drove half of route 66, visited all the big national parks in the southwest and up to Yellowstone, then drove pretty much the entire West Coast, and sold the car in LA for a few hundred dollars more than he bought it for.
Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit
Iâd check out something like Turo where you can rent monthly. You can probably get a hoopty on Facebook marketplace or whatever but then you have to worry about selling it/figuring out what to do with it and run the risk of maintenance issues
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Yes I was looking on Turo, but it works out more expensive, and there are restrictions on how many miles I can drive etc⊠but then the flip side is if I buy a car I will have to pay for any mechanical services and ultimately sell it
This isnât my first time buying a car overseas. I lived in Canada for 2 years and bought and sold a car there
smartnsimple@reddit
Rent through major rental companies such as Enterprise, National, Avis etc. They offer monthly rates that are less than Turo which has personal cars put up for rent.
AngryTexasNative@reddit
At least in California youâre going to pay nearly 10% in taxes and fees to purchase a used car. I canât imagine it coming out ahead for only 3 months.
You would need to be strategic about which state you purchased in.
cornlip@reddit
Buy my Saab and sell it back to me for slightly more when youâre done lol
TheBimpo@reddit
Right, but you were living in Canada. You had an address, a residence. You will not have that for your visit to the US.
mrblue6@reddit
Idk the exact laws or anything, but maybe itâs possible to buy a car in Canada and drive into the US, then drive back to Canada when leaving to sell it
Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit
I can see that. Maybe you can see about leasing at a car dealership. Iâm not too sure about the finances of that either. Iâm thinking about a road trip and using a camper. Itâs another expense but I figure I can cut hotel expenses. Idk if Iâm gonna do that option instead of using my car but itâs worth considering
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Oh yup, I am thinking of camping in a tent and occasionally air BnB
Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit
This trip sounds cool! Hope you get to do the 6 month trip.
Eagle_Fang135@reddit
So in my state you need a state DL first before registering a car.
So you would want to buy a car with registration good for the time you are here. Then you can just âfloat the pinkâ. You just leave the owner spot on the ownership form (title) blank. Then when you sell it the next owner registers it.
But then your problem is it will look shady selling a car out of state (assuming you drive around) and not have proof you own the car.
And you wonât be able to easily get a state DL as you have to show proof of residency. And this assumes they accept your current
bobboblaw46@reddit
Yes, you can buy a car. But it wont be easy to get it street legal. You dont have a US drivers license or a US domicile so youâd have to figure that out to legally register the car. And it would be illegal to use an address you donât live at. And insurance would be an issue.
You could get your American friend to buy, register and insure a car for you. But heâd have to make sure his insurance would cover a driver without a US drivers license, which I imagine the answer will almost always be âno.â But he can research that if heâd like.
personally, I think renting a car is much less hassle and probably wonât be that much more expensive when all is said and done.
Hersbird@reddit
A lot of places you should be able to get a 30 day temp registration which can then be extended at least once. I believe California goes 90 days on the temp tag right off the bat. Just call some US insurance companies and ask. I'm sure a 90 day policy is possible. The dealership should be able to issue you a temp tag on the spot. If you buy from a private party you will have to go down to the DMV.
Charlesinrichmond@reddit
sure
Haruspex12@reddit
I am not an attorney and this is an attorney question. However, I suspect the vehicle needs to be registered in New Zealand. It will need insured and likely it would be New Zealand insurance. It would drive with New Zealand plates.
Penguin_Life_Now@reddit
Yes, though I don't know the details, I know a guy from NZ that bought an RV in the US a couple of years ago, with the intention of traveling here repeatedly and exploring the US over a number of years 3-6 months at a time.
Adrenaline-Junkie187@reddit
Sounds like a terrible idea. lol
Commercial_Count_584@reddit
Depending on how trustworthy your friend is. You could have them buy a car for you. Then when they registers the car for tags and insurance. They could put your name down along with yours as co owner. This way everything is still legal. No shady stuff.
Extreme_Turn_4531@reddit
So I typed into Google, "buying and registering a car in California on a foreign visa". The response was that you can use your NZ license for up to a year. As far as the registration, etc, it appears that it would be far simpler to buy from a dealer who would then manage the registration process, get temporary tags, etc. Dealers do this every day, so it is really simple on your end.
You might try reaching out to an organization like Carvana. This would seem to be a very easy way to do most of it online - as well as sell it when done.
Utah would make you obtain a Utah driver's license first which seems like an overly complicated extra step of taking a test, eye exam, etc.
Beneficial-Horse8503@reddit
You can totally do it. Just donât get pulled over. Lmao
Ok-Entertainment5045@reddit
One option might be to work a deal with a dealership in one of their used cars that they would either lease or guarantee a buyback.
I think a rental would be a lot easier though
UTtransplant@reddit
I have friends from the UK who stay in the US for 6 months at a time. They bought a truck and RV (caravan) in the US. It is perfectly doable, but there are some hoops to go through. In both cases they registered their vehicles in Montana which seems to be fairly easy to do. Do some more investigation. However note that after 10 years of half-time residency in the US, one couple is having difficulty selling their setup. This just isnât a time of big demand, and they are being forced to see at a significant discount to a dealer.
Entire_Dog_5874@reddit
Using someone elseâs address to register and insure a car is fraud.
jhumph88@reddit
Not necessarily, you can do it in California. I know several people who do this. I have a friend who lives in the Bay Area and registered it at another friendâs house in a county that doesnât require smog checks. I know someone else who lives in LA, but his car is registered at his parentâs house to save on insurance and sales tax. Itâs perfectly legal.
scudsone@reddit
LOL what? Neither of those things are at all legal. Your friends are both committing fraud.
Does this happen all the time, sure. But it is still not legal at all to use your parentsâ address or a friendâs address. You are required to use your own, permanent address always. Wherever you sleep 183 or more nights a year is the typical standard.
murphy1600@reddit
Sure itâs illegal but really how is anyone going know?
Motief1386@reddit
This is Reddit, nobody here has ever made an illegal u-turn, or fibbed a little on a form. What youâre suggesting is incredibly common. Insurance companies will still cover an accident. You can just say you were traveling out of town when you get in an accident.
Necessary_Zone6397@reddit
No, but your insurance carrier will deny you coverage when you're involved in an accident and they find out the vehicle was not garaged where the policy it was domiciled. And yes, insurance carries routinely deny coverage for that reason.
murphy1600@reddit
But whoâs to say heâll get in an accident? Iâve been driving for over fifty years and have been in one accident and that was when I was twenty years old.
Necessary_Zone6397@reddit
So why do you still carry insurance?
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Awesome thatâs why I was asking lol in NZ things are a lot different, so thatâs why I ask before I do something in another country. Wild concept
sics2014@reddit
How does registering a car work in New Zealand? You can use any address?
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Any address, no need for proof of address either- basically itâs just where documentation gets sent but now in NZ the entire registration and insurance system is online (you donât carry physical paper work in your car with you)
Also! A full year of car insurance can be as little as $115 USD (for the whole year!!) so cheap over here and legally, you donât need insurance (but most have it)
I lived in Canada, and bought a car whilst I was there and it was a nightmare (unfortunately I am expecting the same for the US) I had to go in person and have multiple forms of ID and addresses and it was a shock to me haha
Engine_Sweet@reddit
Insurance policies in the US are typically written in 6-month terms. Month to month can exist, but it is more expensive.
Sales tax can be almost 10% of the purchase price, and registration is generally only a few hundred dollars for a car under 10k
Most states require that your driver's license match the state of registration. The ones that allow it require some proof of temporary residency.
Practical-Ordinary-6@reddit
Definitely expect something similar. I don't think the buying part is the hard part. (In a pinch you could probably have one of your friends buy it for you and hold the title but "loan" it to you, although that might have liability issues for them that they wouldn't necessarily want to take on.) The hard part is registering and getting insurance. You absolutely have to have insurance to be legal in every state that I'm aware of. How old are you? That might make a huge difference. If you spent two years in Canada you're probably not young enough where it would make that huge difference, though. But in general legal matters and official residents are important considerations and they're generally pretty serious about that. Insurance companies don't necessarily want you buying insurance from them and then disappearing into the void with no sure ability to contact you.
Jujubeee73@reddit
I would look into leasing a car through a dealership. Iâm not 100% sure if youâd be able to as a foreigner, but it would be easier & more cost effective.
Specific-Peanut-8867@reddit
People have rented cars as tourists
The challenge isnât buying them. You have to get them registered and insured.
stanolshefski@reddit
First things first.
Are you flying in and out of the same city?
Try looking for car rentals from non-airport weeds locations. They can often be 10-50% less per day.
Try that first.
soulsista04us@reddit
With zero credit? Better to rent.
Lisagirlcali@reddit
In California, if you buy from a car dealership, you can't even leave their parking lot without insurance, so it might take you days to find insurance, being from another country, especially working around a time/date difference.
I have no idea how it works if you buy from a private party or the numerous online car sales apps.
Cinisajoy2@reddit
Be sure and tell Customs exactly how much money you have on you and why.
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Itâs very difficult to get foreign physical cash in NZ, so I usually wait to I get to the country and withdraw from an ATM or use my Wise card
Mindless-Client3366@reddit
I would suggest using a wire transfer from your bank in NZ for the purchase of the car if you can. ATMs here will charge you a fee for every transaction, and have a withdrawal limit of $300 or so. That will add up quickly. If you want some cash on hand, whenever you buy something, if there's a cash back option when you pay, use that. It's less than what you get from an ATM, but there's no fee.
henare@reddit
withdrawing $10k from an atm two-three hundred at a time will be tedious.
Cinisajoy2@reddit
That will be a big help. Â
murphy1600@reddit
Honestly you can buy the car and drive it for three to six months, donât register it and then sell it before you leave. There are plenty of car flippers that do the same thing. You just have to obey all traffic laws so you donât get pulled over by the police. Keep an undated bill of sale in the glove box, so if you do get pulled over you can say you just bought the car and havenât registered it yet.
Buy a car for $2000 - $3000 dollars. Itâs much easier to sell a cheap car.
Cranberry-Electrical@reddit
Call the DMV of the state you going to be bases in with this question.
Amethyst_princess425@reddit
Renting is still cheaper if you stick with the monthly rates instead of the daily rates. Heck, with economy car, itâs only $900 a month. If you fly into cheaper markets such as Phoenix, Salt Lake City, or even Vegas⊠you can rent cars under $1000 monthly. Itâs also much much cheaper if you rent it from rental places outside the airport.
Donât buy a car in the US if youâre going to abandon it⊠and trying to resell it isnât that simple. After purchase, youâre going to spend a week dealing with insurance, emission testing, dmv visits for registration, auto service, etc. And if you try to sell it within the last few days of your trip, you going to get lowball offers and lose out on a lot of money.
SquidsArePeople2@reddit
You can buy a car. You wonât be able to register it and insurance will be next to impossible. Just rent.
Turdulator@reddit
Itâd probably be easiest to give your US friend the cash to buy the car, and pay them to get insurance under their name that covers other drivers, and then just âborrowâ the car for the rest of the trip. Just get an IDP âInternational Driving Permitâ before you come and you can drive it anywhere with no problem.
bluerog@reddit
This was going to be my suggestion too. Some folk say it's cheaper to rent. It's not really. You hy a car for $9,000, pay $600 in taxes/registration, then resell for $8,500 a few montha later.
Having a friend buy it is best.
lil-smartie@reddit
Yep, would be easiest & can be there ready when you arrive too.
Tasty_Fuel35@reddit
Do NOT apply for a B visa if you are ESTA eligible. You will be denied (because you have to have one helluva reason to get that B visa when you have ESTA. The rejection rate for B visas for anyone eligible for ESTA is one of the highest rejection rates in immigration) and if you are denied, you lose your ESTA FOREVER! Itâs so so foolish. There is no reason you need 6 months in the US as a tourist. 90 days is PLENTY.
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Thank you for that insight, I do know another NZer who got a b visa for tourist reasons, but I didnât know I could lose the ESTA
Annual-Budget-1756@reddit
Yes but it would be a huge hassle. It's easier and cheaper in the long run to just lease a car or get a long term rental. When you factor the cost of registration and insurance, plus selling at a loss once you need to leave, you will save time, hassle of dealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles. And potentially going and getting a smog check certificate for the car, depending on the year. Also, I know you can BUY a car without a state driver's license but I think you may need the license for car insurance. It takes like 6 weeks to even get your license in the mail in California, but different in other states. It just seems like the whole process may take up a huge chunk of energy and time when you could just do a long term rental. Almost like buying a house when you are going to be somewhere for only 6 months.
Chemical-Drive-6203@reddit
I bought a car using my UK driving license. Insurance was a pain but they allowed it for short periods of time before I got a US license.
You will need proof of address though. Maybe a friends house
lemonprincess23@reddit
Buy a car? Yes. Register and insure it? Really doubt it. And unfortunately unless you register and insure it, you wonât be able to drive it. I mean you can have it sit in your friendâs driveway and look at it, but thatâs about it.
If you trust your friend you could have them take out the insurance and registration in their name while giving them the money to do so, then once you come over they can transfer it to you
Jennings_in_Books@reddit
Might be easier legally to have a contract with your friend to be the actual owner of the vehicle on paper and to have the insurance with you included as another driver on the policy.
jhumph88@reddit
Not necessarily, you can do it in California. I know several people who do this. I have a friend who lives in the Bay Area and registered it at another friendâs house in a county that doesnât require smog checks. I know someone else who lives in LA, but his car is registered at his parentâs house to save on insurance and sales tax.
ScotchRick@reddit
You can purchase a used car. I might know of a way you can register and insure it. There is a way to register vehicles, 2014 or older, inMontana.
Better-Delay@reddit
Don't know as to legality, but i bought my dad a car, registered it in my name, in my state, and he is currently "borrowing it". If one of your friends was willing to go this route, it would probably save a lot of headache.
PurpleLilyEsq@reddit
A friend willing to do that should be sure to understand the liability risks involved (not my area of legal expertise.) Assume the worst and be prepared for it.
coronarybee@reddit
Some of the budget car rental places (like sixt) offer fixed monthly pricingâŠ..
procrasstinating@reddit
Yes you can do this. Probably cheaper and easier in Utah vs California if those are your 2 choices. Will be easier if you can use your friends address for registration and insurance, but you donât need to be an Utah resident or US citizen.
Check out KSL.com classifieds as well as Facebook marketplace. KSL is still a pretty popular place to sell things person to person in Utah. The Utah DMV website has all the forms online that you would need to fill out to do a private sale. Print those out. Fill them out when you are checking out the car. Sign the bill of sale, odometer statement and get the title signed when you hand over cash. Lots of police stations have sections of their parking lots designated as sale spots with plenty of cameras so you donât have to worry as much about getting jacked for a wad of cash.
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Thank you! Very helpful
Endy0816@reddit
Would suggest looking at long-term rental instead.
soggyballsack@reddit
You can completely buy a car. If you pay the seller some extra cash you can keep it in his name with registration. Just buy your own insurance and you can completely do everything, legally. Or you can rent a car.
Meilingcrusader@reddit
Sure, if you've got tens of thousands of dollars
ActuaLogic@reddit
This is America. The question is whether you have enough money.
blipsman@reddit
Youâre better off just renting than buying, paying the taxes, registration, insurance, etc. and dealing with hassle of selling. And unless youâre going to spend pretty good amount on a car, youâll be buying something older with high mileage that may encounter costly maintenance or repairs.
crispyrhetoric1@reddit
I knew one guy who came on a short term student visa because he was going to community college. His parents purchased a vehicle for him and paid cash for it, so he was able to have a car for the time he was there. I doubt if he wouldâve been able to do that if they try to finance the vehicle.
DJPaige01@reddit
I knew several people who were in the US on student visas and purchased cars. However, they all had apartments and real addresses.
tecateconquest@reddit
I watch a YouTube channel called Philly and Keely. They bought a motorhome in Canada (British Colombia), got it registered and insured (in Canada)and have been driving around the US for 6 months
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Yeah I was thinking of that route too- I used to live in Canada and owned a car there. Might be easiest option
Maronita2025@reddit
You would likely need a ITIN (individual tax identification number) if you are not a permanent resident and don't have papers to stay here. You would also have to be able to get a drivers license. NOT all states allow non-citizens to get drivers licenses. You would then have to get insurance. If you are able to do all those things I can't imagine why not.
DiscontentDonut@reddit
There is a such thing as leasing a car. You still go to a regular car lot for purchase, but they should have leasing options where you can pay slightly higher than a normal car purchase monthly payment, but not have to commit to buying and keeping or later selling the car.
The only thing I think may be a struggle is the American credit score system. This would come into play regardless of purchase or leasing. I am not sure how it would work for someone from out of country, but usually if you have no credit, or no American major purchase history, it can be just as difficult as if you had bad credit.
I don't know if anyone else in this sub has any experience beyond my average, everyday Joe knowledge. But if you have an opportunity, I would try to call or otherwise contact a car lot/store to see if they are able to help you prior to your visit so you can have your affairs in order first.
TheBimpo@reddit
Leases still requires registration and insurance.
DiscontentDonut@reddit
Right. But there may be options for the registration and insurance that we as laymans may not know are available. Hence why I refer OP to contact someone at a car dealership who may have further knowledge about opportunities you nor I may not know about as citizens with no need for those options.
Proud-Koala687@reddit (OP)
Yeah I have no credit scoreâŠ
DiscontentDonut@reddit
Right. Which is understandable. However, being as I am not in the car service industry, I am not sure if there may be special consideration for those who don't primarily reside in the U.S. which is why I say to still connect with a car dealership. There may be something beyond my knowledge, or they may be able to point you in a direction I would not know to point you in.
ngshafer@reddit
Iâm sure you can do thatâHOWEVER remember that vehicle registration is done on a state-by-state basis, so you would have to be certain to buy the car in a state that allows non-residents to register a vehicle. I believe California will allow that, so I would start by reaching out to some reputable used car dealerships in CA.Â
RollinThundaga@reddit
It varies by state.
TL;DR, most states require you to have residency within the state, and the exceptions are intended for the likes of out-of-state commuters who spend a lot of time driving in that state.
You're better off just looking for a deal on a long-term rental.
AvonMustang@reddit
Yes, there are long-term rentals.
If you are set on buying though it might be best to have your friend "buy" it and register it. Most importantly have them put you on the insurance with them...
pigeontheoneandonly@reddit
If you have a valid license and ability to pay, there shouldn't be an issue.
TheBimpo@reddit
There are massive issues: insurance and registration. Which are basically impossible for non-residents.