Buying a car as a foreigner

[disruptive]

Hi

I have a British driving licence and am thinking about purchasing a cheap motor which could be sold afterwards. So my question relates to this:

1. Is buying one easy (just a standard saloon)...are there any putative registration requirements or taxes?
2. Can I insure for a short period, in UK this is possible, say one month.

Am I barking up the wrong way or is this a good way to get to the playa from SF with stuff.

Thanks all.

[MikeVDS]

Insuring is easy and can be done for even less than a month.

I'm not sure about license requirements. I think with many other contries licenses, you can get one here with a simple test, but you'll have to look into that.

If you just want a car for the burn, you may want to rent. Buying one is easy, but getting a good deal so you can sell it for nearly or as much as you paid for it, can be difficult.

To register it, you usually have to get it "smogged" (testing the air out of the tail pipe), if you are in California. I don't think you need that if you get it in Nevada. Nevada registration is also much cheaper than California.

If you're going to have it less than a month, it could be quite a bit of hassle and you might just want to rent. If you have it longer than that, it's probably worth buying.

[mojo]

Buying one is very easy, but there are registration fees and taxes - which are considerable in California, particularly if you buy from a dealer and not an individual.

I think you would be far better off to rent a vehicle and not worry about having to sell it later or arrange for insurance. I think it may cost you less in the long run to rent as well... Your problem is finding a rental at this late date, depending on what type of vehicle you want.

[Artemis]

I think renting is cheaper and easier.

You can own a car for 10 days before you have to get it registered in California. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/topbuysell.htm Fees themselves aren't that much but there's a bunch of paperwork.

I guess you can get insurance and then later cancel it.

But most places will want to see proof of local residence as well.

Point being, I guess you could do it, but thinking back to the last time I had to get a car registered it's a LOT more work then renting a car....

[disruptive]

Thanks for that,

my concern was the state that the vehicle would come back in - fiddling with my motor is ok, but the rented vehicle in the desert...

I've driven in the Sahara and the dust gets everywhere - impossible to remove and requires days of cleaning. I know I would have to clean a bought car as well, but would feel less uncomfortable if it were mine.

I'm flying into SF so would it be prudent to rent one there and drive the way?

[Artemis]

There are plenty of carwash places in Reno that offer Burning Man deals. They clean and detail it really well and it should be fine.

This, however, assumes that you are super careful during the week to keep the car closed so that there is as little dust as possible in the car.

Renting in SFO should work.

[LostinReno]

To register it, you usually have to get it "smogged" (testing the air out of the tail pipe), if you are in California. I don't think you need that if you get it in Nevada. Nevada registration is also much cheaper than California.

NV registration is still cheaper than CA, however, you have to smog your cars in Washoe (Reno) and Clark (Vegas) counties unless the car is less than 2 years old. Also if you purchase the car in CA (from a car dealer)and want to register it in NV, you will get double dinged on sales tax (so not really coming out ahead on that registration thing). I agree that just renting would be much easier in the long run, so what, you have to spend an hour or two cleaning it.

[ygmir]

do like the amigos:

buy one the license is not expired on yet, (say Oct or later)
don't even bother to register it, just drive it.

sell it for what you can, or walk away when you're done.......

[joemomma]

While you can buy a car, you won't be able to register it in NV. You must have a nevada address and proof of that address, i.e. elect bill, phone bill, ....

[LostinReno]

do like the amigos:

buy one the license is not expired on yet, (say Oct or later)
don't even bother to register it, just drive it.

sell it for what you can, or walk away when you're done.......

Then they ditch them in my neighborhood!

[Sail Man]

do like the amigos:

buy one the license is not expired on yet, (say Oct or later)
don't even bother to register it, just drive it.

sell it for what you can, or walk away when you're done.......

Then they ditch them in my neighborhood!

So, just start a Yellow Car program

[LostinReno]

do like the amigos:

buy one the license is not expired on yet, (say Oct or later)
don't even bother to register it, just drive it.

sell it for what you can, or walk away when you're done.......

Then they ditch them in my neighborhood!

So, just start a Yellow Car program

That's so awesome dude!
Usually they take the tags with them

[The Bee]

I would agree with others that renting may be easier. However, if you want to keep the car for more than a week, or you want an old 60's van or something you can't rent then, yes you can buy.

In California, a smog cert is required when a car registration is transfered. By convention (and maybe law) the seller provides the smog certificate. If you buy from a dealer, it will be smogged, and usually the dealer will help with the registration.

You will need proof of insurance before you can register it. I suspect you need a mailing address too.

Try searching for used car dealers in the SF Bay area and emailing them, or look on CraigsList.

[Elliot]

Smog check is the responsibility of the seller, by California law, yes.

Now.... I'm not suggesting you do what was suggested up above. But the fact is that in California the license plates go with the car, and the year and month of expiration are little stick-on lables. So if you buy a car that has, say, October 2009 on it, that car can drive freely around until November 1 before it gets pulled over. (Assuming it was not a wanted car allready!)

The problem is the financial liability. Liability insurance is required for good reason.

Now.... I have driven in England. Based on that, I would caution you that you ARE going to make mistakes while driving on the "wrong" side of the road. That can get you pulled over real easily.

On the whole, I would say: Buy a car with valid registration at least thru September, get insurance coverage, but never mind the registration. Heck, I tried to go to a DMV office today -- a normal Friday -- and they were closed.

I see plenty of cars for a couple thousand dollars on Craigslist.com.

Remember, I did not tell you to do that.

[Sham]

With so much involved in planning for your time at Burning Man, do you really want to deal with all the people selling cars and everything involved in getting it on the road?
Car rental companies are offering some really low rates on weekly car rentals and you just have to wash it and drop it off. Do you really want to spend several days after the burn trying to sell your car? With all the dust, you probably won't get what you paid.
A rental is easy, effortless and probably cheaper.

[Elliot]

I agree with Shambala.

I also recognize that some "of us" would rather own the thing. And maybe perhaps see a bit more of the US after the burn. And perhaps maybe give or sell the car to a burner. Heck, you might wind up driving the same car to the burn every year. (But leave me out of it -- I have enough Stuff parked in my yard for future use!)

[gyre]

I don't think it's such a bad idea.

Let us know which way you go.

You could always get something fun.
I understand 500 hp cars aren't too common where you are.
Still available here, especially the "not legal in california but stuck there" kind.