Route 66 and buying a USA car
Discussion
Hi
Thought someone might be able to answer a few questions.
I'm going to drive the classic route 66 next year now, I'm going to buy the car which I'm going to drive the route then bring back home
Now,
I'm worried about insurance and where/how to go about making sure I have the correct insurance to drive the car in the US
Shipping the car back, Its going back the "drive on drive off" ferry route but how long/how much does this cost.
What fee's are involved in bring the car back? taxes etc in this country.
Breakdown cover? ( its gonna break down as its gonna be a old VW )
and the whole process of buying a car over there.
I would really like some help on this
Thought someone might be able to answer a few questions.
I'm going to drive the classic route 66 next year now, I'm going to buy the car which I'm going to drive the route then bring back home
Now,
I'm worried about insurance and where/how to go about making sure I have the correct insurance to drive the car in the US
Shipping the car back, Its going back the "drive on drive off" ferry route but how long/how much does this cost.
What fee's are involved in bring the car back? taxes etc in this country.
Breakdown cover? ( its gonna break down as its gonna be a old VW )
and the whole process of buying a car over there.
I would really like some help on this
The buying process depends from State to State. In Massachusetts where I am you need at least a learners permit to register a car after you buy it so when I turned up I was a bit screwed as I needed to get an SSN, get a Learners permit, buy the car, get insurance, go get it registered and put the plates on it (the plates are linked to the person not the car and are transferred when you get a new car. So check which state you are registering in and if you can indeed even do it without a license.
Oh and check if when you register the state has a sales tax. Mass collects it when you register.
Oh and check if when you register the state has a sales tax. Mass collects it when you register.
Yes if you've owned the car out there you get tax concessions when you inport it. I would have a good look at the Customs and Excise web site if I were you so you know exactly what the current situation is. Last thing you'll want is an unexpected bill when you return.
Jealous by the way, have seen many photos taken by friends who have done route 66. I wll get to do a small part in Sept when Im going out for the Reno air races
Jealous by the way, have seen many photos taken by friends who have done route 66. I wll get to do a small part in Sept when Im going out for the Reno air races
It's my goal too
I'm not going till August 2014 but planning it now. 4 weeks there and doing it in a vw bug.
My other dream was to drive down the strip in Vegas in a vw bug so I'm doing that also.
You gotta have dreams! And I've got the year to save up and do it.
Thanks for everyone's input, I'm learning different things each day
I'm not going till August 2014 but planning it now. 4 weeks there and doing it in a vw bug.
My other dream was to drive down the strip in Vegas in a vw bug so I'm doing that also.
You gotta have dreams! And I've got the year to save up and do it.
Thanks for everyone's input, I'm learning different things each day
Posted this back in January - but it died a death....
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
OK so take a look http://www.dmv.com/il/illinois/vehicle-registratio... I would get insurance and pick up a temp registration permit and then just stick it on the boat. Make sure you have your UK license on you. If you get pulled it might be a long conversation to convince the guy you are here on holiday and plan to ship the car home.
Now that Im sat behind a keyboard I will embelish my earlier post. You can only avoid duty and VAT if you can demonstrate that you lived abroad for the required time and further, that you ran the car, as opposed to simply owning it and not using it.
This is intended to allow people who have lived and worked abroad to bring their psosessions home when they return without a tax penalty and its intended to prevent those people from speculatively buying a car to bring home which otherwise would have been liable for duty etc.
This is intended to allow people who have lived and worked abroad to bring their psosessions home when they return without a tax penalty and its intended to prevent those people from speculatively buying a car to bring home which otherwise would have been liable for duty etc.
If you have a half decent car you can do what I did.
I shipped my Corvette out from Southampton( Roll on roll off ) to Baltimore . Flew out ,picked up the car , drove across Virginia and joined Route 66 at Springfield.
I then followed 66 all the way ( quite tricky in places ) to Arizona ,then diverted north to Las Vegas, across Death Valley , up to San Francisco and finally down Highway 1 to LA,
I left the Vette at Long Beach and it arrived back at Bristol Docks 6 weeks later. The paperwork is quite straightforward if you use a shipping agent, insurance is more tricky but I got mine through an agent in New York who sells a policy tailored to visiting tourists.
An amazing trip , quite expensive ,but bearing in mind its a once in a lifetime experience worth every penny.
I would do it again tomorrow given half a chance
I shipped my Corvette out from Southampton( Roll on roll off ) to Baltimore . Flew out ,picked up the car , drove across Virginia and joined Route 66 at Springfield.
I then followed 66 all the way ( quite tricky in places ) to Arizona ,then diverted north to Las Vegas, across Death Valley , up to San Francisco and finally down Highway 1 to LA,
I left the Vette at Long Beach and it arrived back at Bristol Docks 6 weeks later. The paperwork is quite straightforward if you use a shipping agent, insurance is more tricky but I got mine through an agent in New York who sells a policy tailored to visiting tourists.
An amazing trip , quite expensive ,but bearing in mind its a once in a lifetime experience worth every penny.
I would do it again tomorrow given half a chance
Hi GC8,
Not sure how the price was calculated but my car went on a car transporter with brand new Minis Jags and Range Rovers.
The agents I used in Southampton were P.E.L Agencies, Unit 7 Longbridge Ind Est. Southampton. SO14 3 FL (sorry don t have phone number).
I am sure they could give you a quote but ask what other charges are involved. For instance I was charged $200 "Terminal Handling Fee" at Baltimore
Also make sure you have insurance while the car is in transit. It all mounts up so worth asking a few questions beforehand.
Car also needs to be taxed and MOTd while in the US.
Take at least one spare set of plates. I had a pair nicked in Kentucky.
I left my car with agents in Long Beach at the end of the trip and they charged me a "storage fee" until they could get the car on the next available ship to the UK.
Again another $200 i was nt expecting.
If I were to do the trip again I would probably make it a round trip ie. start and finish on the east coast. It would certainly save on the shipping costs.
My 6 week trip cost me approx £5000 inc shipping , hotels(cheap budget), fuel etc. Worth every penny!
Not sure how the price was calculated but my car went on a car transporter with brand new Minis Jags and Range Rovers.
The agents I used in Southampton were P.E.L Agencies, Unit 7 Longbridge Ind Est. Southampton. SO14 3 FL (sorry don t have phone number).
I am sure they could give you a quote but ask what other charges are involved. For instance I was charged $200 "Terminal Handling Fee" at Baltimore
Also make sure you have insurance while the car is in transit. It all mounts up so worth asking a few questions beforehand.
Car also needs to be taxed and MOTd while in the US.
Take at least one spare set of plates. I had a pair nicked in Kentucky.
I left my car with agents in Long Beach at the end of the trip and they charged me a "storage fee" until they could get the car on the next available ship to the UK.
Again another $200 i was nt expecting.
If I were to do the trip again I would probably make it a round trip ie. start and finish on the east coast. It would certainly save on the shipping costs.
My 6 week trip cost me approx £5000 inc shipping , hotels(cheap budget), fuel etc. Worth every penny!
Thanks.
$200 isnt that bad. Id expect to pay £70 at Southampton. The insurance is essential - not to protect you from loss (most marine insurance isnt much use for this) but to indemnify you in case the ship sinks and they call general average. This will bancrupt pretty much anyone who doesnt have cover.
$200 isnt that bad. Id expect to pay £70 at Southampton. The insurance is essential - not to protect you from loss (most marine insurance isnt much use for this) but to indemnify you in case the ship sinks and they call general average. This will bancrupt pretty much anyone who doesnt have cover.
davepoth said:
Insurance is always the issue for this - US companies are a bit sniffy about issuing short term policies to non-residents. Anybody know of a company that can help?
Progressive, cheap and easy to sort out over the phone. Used this for a 8 week road trip where me and a mate bought a '84 500SEC and did a 8000mile journey LA to NYC.We bought 12 months figuring we'd cut our losses on $600 policy but got a $400 refund when we cancelled!
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