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i am planning to go on a trip around the USA in july/august and i was thinking about renting or buying a used car. i want it to be the cheapest ever so i don’t want to spend more than 00 and i would like to sell it at the end of the trip. i would arrive from Spain to New York city.
1) is it possible to buy a used car even if being a foreigner? do i need some special documents?
2) do you recommend buying o renting? which is more economical?
3)if buying, where would you recommend me to look? in location or by web site.
4)is it better to buy once outside NYC (economical)? where would it be a good place to buy?
5) i looked on craigslist and some cars cost like or less, what is the swindle?
6)which type of car would you recommend? one that doesn’t consume a lot of fuel. Diesel, gasoline?
7) do you know anyone who has travelled that way?

thanks a lot!

4 Comments »

1. 

   Renting is the most sensible. Most rental car companies have road side protection if you break down, will give you maps, insurance options, and low mileage cars, on weekly rates I dont think any companies will give you monthly rates, but that will cost you with insurance(I recommend you get it, since I doubt European insurance companies will cover it) roughly 200 dollars a week, which equates to about 140 Euros a week for a good car. You may even be able to get it cheaper. I am not completely sure how much cars cost to rent in NYC since I never rent there and take public transportation when I am there, but I know LA, and other cities is fairly reasonable.
   As buying a used car as a foreigner, buying one wouldnt be a problem to someone trying to get rid of a car out of their driveway, but what you are going to run into is you need to register it under your name, since you dont have a US adress that will be difficult, and all states require insurance, so you will have to find an insurance company that will cover you, which will be difficult with no driving record here in the US. Also most states require you to have a state drivers license in addition to the registration. So if the cars registered in NY, then you also need a NY drivers liscence to go with it, which could take a week minimum 1 week depending on the law, and that would take 1. Getting a residence in the US, 2. Studying a manual, 3. Taking a driving test. Probably many more hoops to jump through then what I am writing also. I wouldnt buy in New York either becuase the taxes are very high, probably New Jersey may be better, but the North East is expensive all around in my opinion.
   You may be able to check with Chevy, Ford, GMC, an American Car company, to see if they have a similar program like BMW, Volvo, Mercedes, etc. Where you buy a car from them in the US, and they take care of everything for you and ship it back home to you, and let you drive it around the country for a while, but I doubt it, just not enough demand, last year when I was in Europe I didnt see many US cars, and the ones I did see were cars that they dont sell in the US, and even if they do you would spend way to much than you need, and I am sure it wouldnt apply to used cars.
   The cars on Craigslist that list for 40 dollars, are mainly for auctions, some cars may start bidding there, but they wont sell for that. Or it may have no transmission etc. You wont be able to buy a car for 40 dollars here unless you know someone.
   As for cars I would recommend, get at least a midsize car, dont go economy, I would try to get maybe a Toyata Corrolla or something similar, most economy cars, they rent at car agencies are like Geo Metros, Dodge Neons, something really small, and not really suitable for driving cross country comfortably in my opinion.
   As a citizen of the EU, your liscence is good in the US for renting cars, I believe for 90 days.
   I dont know any people from Europe who bought a car here in the US, and travelled cross country, but I have ran into Europeans who rented a car here and travelled across country.
   I hope that helps. Have fun on your trip

   Comment by subvet — September 7, 2011 @ 11:28 pm

2. 

   Of course you can buy old cars cheaply. If you buy a car for $1200 or less I would not risk traveling that far with it. It may break down. USA is a large country with many miles of open rural areas. Do you want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere with an old car? If you buy a car for $1200 or less, you are taking your chances. I would look into longterm rental, Rental cars are brand new and reliable. Small cars use much less fuel. Many stations do not sell diesel so I would go with gasoline. If you are sure you want to buy, a good web site is AUTOTRADER.

   Comment by morris — September 7, 2011 @ 11:28 pm

3. 

   My first reaction to your questions is that RENTING a car for your cross-country trip is the most sensible…they’ll have the right insurance, repair services available if you need it, and if you go with a national rental firm [like Hertz or Avis or Budget] you’ll have contacts and help all the way across the country. They can also answer questions as to your driver’s license requirements for foreign visitors, etc. You’ll also get a decent newer car of whatever size you need [compact, mid-size, etc.] with some economy as to gas mileage.

   Buying a used car and then selling it at the end of your trip? Horrible concept–even locals with ‘savoir faire’ when it comes to automobiles can get rooked, and getting stranded out in the great western plains with a problem vehicle? No thanks! What you’d get for $1200 wouldn’t make it thru the Holland Tunnel…

   Comment by constantreader — September 7, 2011 @ 11:28 pm

4. 

   I can’t answer the other questions, but you can, at least where I live (Minnesota), get a tolerable car for under $1200- although breakdowns are a possibility. My car would probably sell for $500 but i take it on long trips every summer. Have it inspected by a mechanic first. The best older fuel efficient cars are Japanese. Midsize to large US-made cars can be good (like mine) but the little ones are often junk.

   Comment by Michael S — September 7, 2011 @ 11:28 pm

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