Driving across the USA? Tips etc
Discussion
Planning this for June - August next year, im a complete novice though, the only places i want to visit are vegas and Maine
can i get a long time rental car, i want something fun to do the job properly, thinking mustang or the new focus ST. or would it be better to buy a car out there?
whats the best sort of route to take, not fussed about camping, hotels, hostels etc
il be 21 at the time.
can i get a long time rental car, i want something fun to do the job properly, thinking mustang or the new focus ST. or would it be better to buy a car out there?
whats the best sort of route to take, not fussed about camping, hotels, hostels etc
il be 21 at the time.
Good book / blog I used to plan my road trip.
IMHO, the first half East to Mid-West is great for history/agriculture/swamp buffs but not so good for great roads. For that young man, you need to go West.
There's a ton of stuff online about renting vs buying, but short answer is there's no easy legal way to buy a car in the US for non-citizens. For the price you'd pay for something likely to last the distance, you might as well rent and get something modern.
I too researched renting 'something proper' but found the good stuff is really hard to get one way rental on or big distances. Bear in mind that like space, America is big, really big, so in the real world you'll probably end up being glad of some creature comforts. As an alternative, you could always just hire a 'vette or 'stang for a few days in/around Vegas or one of the major cities and the just use your rental for the long distance stuff.
IMHO, the first half East to Mid-West is great for history/agriculture/swamp buffs but not so good for great roads. For that young man, you need to go West.
There's a ton of stuff online about renting vs buying, but short answer is there's no easy legal way to buy a car in the US for non-citizens. For the price you'd pay for something likely to last the distance, you might as well rent and get something modern.
I too researched renting 'something proper' but found the good stuff is really hard to get one way rental on or big distances. Bear in mind that like space, America is big, really big, so in the real world you'll probably end up being glad of some creature comforts. As an alternative, you could always just hire a 'vette or 'stang for a few days in/around Vegas or one of the major cities and the just use your rental for the long distance stuff.
okie592 said:
Planning this for June - August next year, im a complete novice though, the only places i want to visit are vegas and Maine
can i get a long time rental car, i want something fun to do the job properly, thinking mustang or the new focus ST. or would it be better to buy a car out there?
whats the best sort of route to take, not fussed about camping, hotels, hostels etc
il be 21 at the time.
Did a month last year from Miami to LA. Was amazing, doing a massive loop from Denver > LV> NY > Denver this yearcan i get a long time rental car, i want something fun to do the job properly, thinking mustang or the new focus ST. or would it be better to buy a car out there?
whats the best sort of route to take, not fussed about camping, hotels, hostels etc
il be 21 at the time.
How many people are going? 2 max for the mustang I'm afraid, they're tiny.
Have a look at things you want to do and look at, off the top of my head and stuff we did:
- American Football/Baseball etc?
- Gunrange?
- Basketball?
- Monster truck rally
- Museums (Lot of great military museums)
- Man Vs Food places
- Dates, eg Sep 11th, 4th of July etc
Also try and drop the car off in the same place, it cost me a kidney nearly to drop of my car the other side of a continent.
Don't berate your friend for crap MPG, when in fact it L/100k and it's you who is crap. Not that fuel is expensive.
Do visit the small towns, best places I remember.
Do pick up German hitchhikers.
Don't think that because people are being nice and friendly that they want something, they are just nice and friendly.
Don't order cocktails, sparklers and all, in a cowboy bar.
Don't go to the only fully nude strip bar in Las Vegas.
You will need to fill out an ESTA? it's only 14 dollars or so.
Be careful where you fly too, Miami is a real cesspit of an airport.
All I can think of right now.
Hope this helps
brotherharry said:
...there's no easy legal way to buy a car in the US for non-citizens.
Oh really? Why is that? I only ask because there was an episode of Top Gear when they apparrently bought cars in the US to drive around in.
Obviously there's a lot more behind the scenes stuff on TG that we don't see...but why is there no easy legal way?
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Oh really? Why is that?
I only ask because there was an episode of Top Gear when they apparrently bought cars in the US to drive around in.
Obviously there's a lot more behind the scenes stuff on TG that we don't see...but why is there no easy legal way?
Hope you're sitting down when I break this to you but Top Gear is not a good measure of reality. They do an awful lot of things that the average member of the public can't. Most people don't have fixers to sort out road tax, foreign insurance, etc.I only ask because there was an episode of Top Gear when they apparrently bought cars in the US to drive around in.
Obviously there's a lot more behind the scenes stuff on TG that we don't see...but why is there no easy legal way?
Did Vegas not so long ago, hired a mazda tribute. Sort of MPV/4X4 lookalike. Reasonable hire charge but remember to take your paper AND plastic licence. We took it from Vegas across the Nevada Desert to the Hoover Damm. On the way back we drove through the Valley of fire State Park. Great day out but a lot of driving. In the way of "tips" theres nothing really that springs to mind other than behave! We were told they dont let speeders off lightly. DOnt worry about the fuel, we covered a lot of miles and it was about 20 dollars to fill it on return
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Oh really? Why is that?
I only ask because there was an episode of Top Gear when they apparrently bought cars in the US to drive around in.
Obviously there's a lot more behind the scenes stuff on TG that we don't see...but why is there no easy legal way?
Hope you're sitting down when I break this to you but Top Gear is not a good measure of reality. They do an awful lot of things that the average member of the public can't. Most people don't have fixers to sort out road tax, foreign insurance, etc.I only ask because there was an episode of Top Gear when they apparrently bought cars in the US to drive around in.
Obviously there's a lot more behind the scenes stuff on TG that we don't see...but why is there no easy legal way?
Yeah I know, it's a slick, well-scripted entertainment show, with very little based around reality - I understand that! My question used it as an example - probably a bad one I agree. I just wanted to know why you couldn't buy a car as a holidaymaker (or should that be 'vacatonist?!')
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Yeah I know, it's a slick, well-scripted entertainment show, with very little based around reality - I understand that! My question used it as an example - probably a bad one I agree. I just wanted to know why you couldn't buy a car as a holidaymaker (or should that be 'vacatonist?!')
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Yeah I know, it's a slick, well-scripted entertainment show, with very little based around reality - I understand that! My question used it as an example - probably a bad one I agree. I just wanted to know why you couldn't buy a car as a holidaymaker (or should that be 'vacatonist?!')
But it's amazing how many people on PH get the hump and take umbridge at things on TG - coming on here after every show each week, giving it large 'keyboard warrier'...cracks me up!
An american road trip can be a fantastic experience, and is one of my favourite types of holiday
Gasoline prices vary according to tax levels in each state, but is currently about $3.10-3-50 per US gallon (1 US gallon = 3.8 litres), so it's a bit less than half the UK price.
Motels are probably your best bet for accommodation. There are national chains such as motel 6, and econolodge which offer cheap, reliable accomodation and can often be found in competing clusters around highway intersections. There is generally no need to book in advance, unless you are travelling to an area where a major event is taking place, or on a public holiday.
a smartphone or wifi enabled laptop is a very useful bit of kit, because you can log on for free at any McDonalds.
Have a great time!
Gasoline prices vary according to tax levels in each state, but is currently about $3.10-3-50 per US gallon (1 US gallon = 3.8 litres), so it's a bit less than half the UK price.
Motels are probably your best bet for accommodation. There are national chains such as motel 6, and econolodge which offer cheap, reliable accomodation and can often be found in competing clusters around highway intersections. There is generally no need to book in advance, unless you are travelling to an area where a major event is taking place, or on a public holiday.
a smartphone or wifi enabled laptop is a very useful bit of kit, because you can log on for free at any McDonalds.
Have a great time!
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
It IS or certainly was a PITA to sort a car out.
Buying is easy, but to Insure you need a License (USA), to get a License, you need a Social Security number to need a Cocial Security Number you need an address etc etc
Still the case. About the only semi-doable way around it is (if you have one) transfer the cash over to a US citizen mate to buy a car in their name/register at their address, then get yourself added to their insurance. Slighty easier, but still PITA.Buying is easy, but to Insure you need a License (USA), to get a License, you need a Social Security number to need a Cocial Security Number you need an address etc etc
Bradgate said:
a smartphone or wifi enabled laptop is a very useful bit of kit, because you can log on for free at any McDonalds.
Ah, TripAdvisor, you were my friend + you get to feel righteous for sucking up MaccyDs bandwidth and then moseying on off to the local (and better) diner.Out on the stix, where there ain't no golden arches, I found parking up near a motel usually meant I could piggy back their wi-fi as well as most were open.
Edited by brotherharry on Saturday 28th July 23:47
Wait until your 23 and do it using driveways.
You could end up anywhere - guarenteed to see off the beaten track
http://www.autodriveaway.com/view_car_list
You could end up anywhere - guarenteed to see off the beaten track
http://www.autodriveaway.com/view_car_list
The real challenge is registering (establishing title) in order to tag the vehicle, rather than insuring it. It is far easier for a non-resident to insure a vehicle they don't own, bizarre as it seems. Getting a (legal) vehicle title without a US address is not possible, unless the car is temporarily imported.
Top Gear did it using BBC America Inc as the purchaser.
It's a nice idea, but not practical or feasible, in reality - at age 21, no more than a fantasy to do it legally.
Top Gear did it using BBC America Inc as the purchaser.
It's a nice idea, but not practical or feasible, in reality - at age 21, no more than a fantasy to do it legally.
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Sorry, but you'll struggle to hire anything worth hiring at your age. You certainly won't get anything like a Mustang or similar.
Have a look on the holidays & travel forum, there are quite a few threads on US car hire.
I'm 21 and will be driving route 66 in 4 weeks time. We had no problem hiring a mustang. We went with a company called auto tours usa btwHave a look on the holidays & travel forum, there are quite a few threads on US car hire.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Try to start and end the adventure near people you know or would be internet strangers willing to help (PH'ers??) you buy and then dispose of at the other end.
Everywhere between is up to you.
...and that's where the problems tend to arise. I reside in the US so it's not an issue for me personally. I would be reluctant to act as facilitator for an aquaintance and no way in hell would I do it for a stranger. The reason is plain. I would be on the hook for any tickets and or violations, many of which could lead to my license being suspended if not taken care of. Also it would be my insurance record that got tarnished as a result of a claim caused by someone I added to my policy. It doesn't make any sense to expose yourself to the risks.Everywhere between is up to you.
This subject has come up on here before and nothing much has changed in the meantime. There seem to be a few people who've had "a mate that did it", but not much first hand, to say that it's a realistic proposition.
You cannot title a personally purchased car in the US without a residential address and proof that the address ties to you. Only Mexi's PR's and Cubes can get away with that!
fiatpower said:
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Sorry, but you'll struggle to hire anything worth hiring at your age. You certainly won't get anything like a Mustang or similar.
Have a look on the holidays & travel forum, there are quite a few threads on US car hire.
I'm 21 and will be driving route 66 in 4 weeks time. We had no problem hiring a mustang. We went with a company called auto tours usa btwHave a look on the holidays & travel forum, there are quite a few threads on US car hire.
As Matt says, I assume you've hired a base model Mustang? It'll look the business but won't sound it. I'm sure you'll have fun anyway.
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Hope you don't have a problem, but don't count your chickens till they hatch.
As Matt says, I assume you've hired a base model Mustang? It'll look the business but won't sound it. I'm sure you'll have fun anyway.
I once hired a 'fast' car in California, it is too long ago to remember what is was, some Jap turbo, and it was so restricted and choked it was almost a danger.As Matt says, I assume you've hired a base model Mustang? It'll look the business but won't sound it. I'm sure you'll have fun anyway.
Maybe they still tune the guts out of them ??????
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