Driving in the US as a foreigner

[Phinn]

I've always wanted to travel around the US by car. Unfortunately rental prices are astronomical for drivers under 25 (I'm 23) and it's very difficult to buy a car in the US as a foreign driver (despite the Top Gear US special making it look so easy) thanks to high insurance premiums and registration problems thanks to no US address. Does anyone have any solutions/experience in doing America by car on the cheap? I'd be looking to go for around 6 weeks.

TIA!

[KaJuN]

The high prices for people under 25 are totally understandable because as soon as someone turns that age they become a completely safe driver and everyone younger than that is an extreme danger to other motorists. Or something like that...

That's an interesting problem you've got there. I wish I could be more helpful.

[epp_b]

I guess you can't board a ferry across the Atlantic, eh?

[TomCat]

Well, my dad managed a few rental car companies for quite a while. I'm not sure about being under 25, I've never had to deal with that. But if you end up having to rent a car, always reserve the smallest car possible. And try and reserve it at the airport rental agency, as they're usually the busiest. They never have enough compact cars on hand. Usually they only have a few per location. So they'll almost always end up giving you an upgrade at no additional cost.

[BlaRo]

Do you know anybody who lives in America? If you do, you could always have them buy a car for dirt cheap and pay them back for the car, taxes, title, registration, etc. Then you two can cruise around like Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, and he can sell it after he's done with it and you can get some money back or something. Ok, I'm talking out of my ass, but it could happen.

Good luck, road trips are terrific and it's a great way to know everything you already knew and/or didn't want to about America. 8)

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by Phinn

I've always wanted to travel around the US by car. Unfortunately rental prices are astronomical for drivers under 25 (I'm 23) and it's very difficult to buy a car in the US as a foreign driver (despite the Top Gear US special making it look so easy) thanks to high insurance premiums and registration problems thanks to no US address. Does anyone have any solutions/experience in doing America by car on the cheap? I'd be looking to go for around 6 weeks.

TIA!

my dad has to pay huge amount for his insurance on his 335i because he has an international drivers license as opposed to a texas license. He didn't have any problem getting his car though.

[Spectre]

Originally Posted by Phinn

I've always wanted to travel around the US by car. Unfortunately rental prices are astronomical for drivers under 25 (I'm 23) and it's very difficult to buy a car in the US as a foreign driver (despite the Top Gear US special making it look so easy) thanks to high insurance premiums and registration problems thanks to no US address. Does anyone have any solutions/experience in doing America by car on the cheap? I'd be looking to go for around 6 weeks.

TIA!

Actually *buying* a car here isn't the problem. Main dealers are more than happy to sell you a car, and they'll even process all the paperwork.

The problem is that the temporary registration you will be issued will only be valid for 14-30 days. And your paperwork and registration (usually being mailed to you) is a bit of a problem in some states, like Texas. Other states, like California, you can get it all done on the same day, but it will take ALL day, or maybe two.

As someone else stated, your best bet would be for a friend to purchase a vehicle for you.

Plan B would be purchasing a car from a private party that is still registered and inspected, and simply pass the vehicle on when you're done.

About renting a car in the US, check this out:

http://www.bnm.com/uage2.htm

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-...tml?id=1262493

It still costs more, but not exorbitantly so.

[wooflepoof]

Talk to ur governor and see if you can go on official business. then you can get one issued to you complete w/ diplomat plates speed all you want and not get prosecuted

[Blind_Io]

Originally Posted by Spectre

Actually *buying* a car here isn't the problem. Main dealers are more than happy to sell you a car, and they'll even process all the paperwork.

The problem is that the temporary registration you will be issued will only be valid for 14-30 days. And your paperwork and registration (usually being mailed to you) is a bit of a problem in some states, like Texas. Other states, like California, you can get it all done on the same day, but it will take ALL day, or maybe two.

As someone else stated, your best bet would be for a friend to purchase a vehicle for you.

Plan B would be purchasing a car from a private party that is still registered and inspected, and simply pass the vehicle on when you're done.

About renting a car in the US, check this out:

http://www.bnm.com/uage2.htm

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-...tml?id=1262493

It still costs more, but not exorbitantly so.

If you are buying from a private owner you can go right to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and process everything right there. Some states even keep a stock of plates in the office so you can be road-legal and out the door. If you are buying a car you can tell the salesman that you want to have plates in-hand and want to go to the DMV to get them. Explain your situation and that you can only buy a car if the paperwork is done this way. Most places will probably send someone with you to process the paperwork if that's a condition of the sale.

If you make it out to the Bay Area stop and spend the day. We'll go grab some drinks and I'll show you around.

[Phinn]

Thanks for the prompt and informative replies everyone! As I suspected, there doesn't seem to be a cheap and easy solution. Looks like I need to find someone in the States who would be willing to loan me their address for the registration documents. I suspect insurance would still be a killer, but nothing I can do about that. Food for thought anyway, thanks very much!

[Steve Levin]

Speaking of insurance, even if you rent a car, you need to address liability insurance. In the US, if you should hit someone, you will be liable for the damage to their car (and occupants).

If you can arrange cover that's valid in the US at home, then you can easily come over and purchase a car (although getting a car that'll get you around the country isn't going to be cheap). While you are supposed to register it within 30 days...well...that's not one of the big deals in the universe. Not being insured...that's a big deal.

Steve

[zenkidori]

Take the train.

[thedguy]

hit up autotrader, find someone with a Geo metro that runs (about $50, gets great fuel mileage), tell them to sign title, and just don't ever goto the dmv. When you're ready to leave, dump said car.

As long as your not a moron, you won't get pulled over, and get a car that has upto date tags (at least that will last the 6 weeks) and you could get away with it.

Got to admit, it would make for one cheap rental car

Originally Posted by zenkidori

Take the train.

Bus is cheaper and you get to see the great interstate!

[Blind_Io]

The fact is that the US is huge. While it may seem romantic to do a road trip through the US there are large sections where the driving is just tedious, there's no scenery and the land goes to the horizon and beyond - and you're still in the same state.

Unless you have a car that is designed for long distance cruising and have at least one co-driver you are going to hate life. You will do better to fly from one location to the next unless there is a particular drive that you really want to do. In that case my recommendation is to find someone else who wants to make the same trip (maybe someone from the forum?) or bit the bullet and rent a nice new car.

[BlaRo]

Or just be like Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo and get lots of drugs. I'm sure there's a few people on this forum that know who you can talk to.

[Phinn]

I'm planning to do the trip with my girlfriend as both of us love to travel and neither of us has been to the States before. We're determined to see as much as possible since going somewhere again never is quite as exciting, hence the idea of an epic summer road trip. I've been finding halfway decent Geo Metros (aircon, AT, reasonable mileage) on Autotrader for $1000 (a la Top Gear ) Knowing it's essentially a rebadged Suzuki Swift doesn't instill huge confidence, although you can't argue with 50 mpg.

My maths says that at 50mpg, gas costing $3 a gallon in the US and NY-LA being about 3000 miles by road, it would only cost you $180 in fuel to drive across the entire country!? That's under a hundred quid! Unbelievable. For comparison, petrol in the UK is $8 a gallon.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by Phinn

My maths says that at 50mpg, gas costing $3 a gallon in the US and NY-LA being about 3000 miles by road, it would only cost you $180 in fuel to drive across the entire country!? That's under a hundred quid! Unbelievable. For comparison, petrol in the UK is $8 a gallon.

You'll spend most of your life on the highway...get the stick.

As Blind_Io mentioned this country has huge amounts of boring parts, naming the sections west of the Mississippi (river), until you get to PCH. Trust me I know, I've had to do the drive several times, it's all desert.

But if you must, I've driving whats left of actual Route 66 is far more interesting than just driving I-40 thru texas/New Mexico/Arizona/California is horribly boring. The only things to see are Cadillac Ranch, a couple of Native American reservations, and the Grand canyon.

If course there are plenty of ways to take which go through Colorado which is a nice drive once you get to the rockies and head towards Grand Junction (lots or river and scenery to go with it). But then your talking about climbing the rockies... in a Geo Metro. I pity anyone having to take on such a task.

[sarcasm] Buy a VW bus and drive to San Francisco

[Spectre]

I would get something a little larger than a Metro, or you'll find yourself hating life *really* fast on those long drives with the tiny three-or-fourbanger screaming away below decks and the wake from large trucks passing you blowing you off the road.

And, as thedguy pointed out, we have these extremely large mountains in several sections of the country. Geo Metros may not be able to climb some of the mountain passes.

Get something like a Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, or Nissan Maxima with a V6 (and in the Maxima's case, make sure it has recent timing belts). They're reliable, reasonably fuel efficient, comfortable, and can actually climb mountains. And older ones are *cheap*.

Also, be advised that you will want a vehicle with working heat and air conditioning. Temperatures here in the continental US range from 55C during the day to -20C at night - and in the high desert, you can get that in one 24 hour period or have the temperature change that much in three hours, as the sun goes down.

thedguy: The Cajon Pass in California has claimed the lives of many small cars (like Geos) as they tried to crawl up it. And you forgot the Appalachian Mountains - they have some equally bad spots. Death Valley is flat, but it also kills small cars with overworked engines.

[Phinn]

Given the cheapness of fuel and the excellent points made by Spectre, I think something like this seems a good idea.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ler_id=1360489

Only £750 with the excellent current exchange rate. AC, AT, ABS, power steering, CD player and only 24 miles from JFK for easy pick up

thedguy: Going via the old Route 66 is definitely the plan.