Buying a car...

[Karaoke 0]

Ok I am getting close to getting the car!!

I will call DMV tomorrow to ask if my temp. driving license can be used to buy the car (I heard the number is the SAME as the final one -is that true?).

I also checked insurance. It is CRAZY :angry: what they charge foreigners!!!!

The cheapest I could find was www.progressivedirect.com

I see that in this country are normally 6 months. What happens if you decide to change company before then? are they obliged to give you back any money? Does the rate improve only if you have been insured continously with the SAME company?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Ok I am getting close to getting the car!!

I will call DMV tomorrow to ask if my temp. driving license can be used to buy the car (I heard the number is the SAME as the final one -is that true?).

I also checked insurance. It is CRAZY :angry: what they charge foreigners!!!!

The cheapest I could find was www.progressivedirect.com

I see that in this country are normally 6 months. What happens if you decide to change company before then? are they obliged to give you back any money? Does the rate improve only if you have been insured continously with the SAME company?

I know State Farm gives me a renewal discount, mult-car discount, as well as discounts for taking defensive driving, for teens who make good grades, carpooling, and various things like that. I added my husband and they are not charging extra because he is a foreign driver. I guess it's what the State Insurance Board will allow them to charge in each state that determines their policies.

[Ian + Anne 0]

I've found that State Farm are the best all round with price.

Got my Cadillac STS (1999) insured with them for a little over $240.00 for six months with full cover, none of the other insurance quotes come close to the price I have with the same amount of cover, they all want over $380.00 .

I've only held my US driving licence for just over a year now.

[Karaoke 0]

That's a good price!!

I will check with State Farm too.

Normally, if I buy insurance TODAY, do I have to wait until I receive anything in the mail to drive the car? or do they give you something to print out to prove you have insurance while waiting for the actual documents?

I've found that State Farm are the best all round with price.

Got my Cadillac STS (1999) insured with them for a little over $240.00 for six months with full cover, none of the other insurance quotes come close to the price I have with the same amount of cover, they all want over $380.00 .

I've only held my US driving licence for just over a year now.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

That's a good price!!

I will check with State Farm too.

Normally, if I buy insurance TODAY, do I have to wait until I receive anything in the mail to drive the car? or do they give you something to print out to prove you have insurance while waiting for the actual documents?

If you use a local agent with an office near you, they can normally do a printout until the regular one comes from the company. I don't know how it works if you use an online company. That's a question to ask them. Perhaps they email you something for temporary proof.

[Karaoke 0]

I could print off the online policy.. They said they will mail the original papers in 1 week, but the paper off the internet is fine, because it comes with a 1-800 no. to verify the policy in case they stopped me...

My only other worry is that the previous owner didn't renew is Texas registration last year, so when I go to switch title, they might charge me a penalty or give me a hard time for an infraction of the previous owner?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Make the owner meet you at the tax office to do the deal or call and ask that question. Tell him if there's a penalty, you expect him to pay it. If he wants to sell the car, he should agree to that. Has he been driving it without a license? Is the car in Texas now?

[clairehair 0]

Car insurance is significantly less when you have a State driving license. You can however buy a car whenever you want in your name or any name you like if you don't mind them owning the vehicle but you will pay more with a temporary driving license for insurance. Rest assured , if you want to buy a car someone will find a away to sell one to you, whatever your situation! As to how tax works and title handling , it varies from State to State. usually, if you buy from a dealer they are responsible for paying the tax on your behalf with your money and if it from a private owner, you have to go to the tax office yourself . To buy from a dealer you need car insurance to actually buy it and to buy from a private owner you need to take your car insurance to the tax office after purchasing it. If you buy privately ususally they hand the title to you when you take the car and from a dealer it comes in the post. My American husband usually deals with all this but this is what i can remember. We live in Texas so it might vary for you.

[Karaoke 0]

Yes, both the seller and me are in Texas.

I called after posting, and they told me there is no penalty UNLESS a cop pulls me over on the way to the county tax office!! In that case, I will show him the title and explain to him the situation...

Yes, the seller has been driving MANY months without registration! He cannot come to the office with me, so I will go by myself. Do they actually need to see the car at the office?

Make the owner meet you at the tax office to do the deal or call and ask that question. Tell him if there's a penalty, you expect him to pay it. If he wants to sell the car, he should agree to that. Has he been driving it without a license? Is the car in Texas now?

[Dr. Obvious 49]

My only other worry is that the previous owner didn't renew is Texas registration last year, so when I go to switch title, they might charge me a penalty or give me a hard time for an infraction of the previous owner?

I'd lean towards no. We bought a car with expired tags and it never made a difference for us when we went to transfer title. It wasn't in Texas, so YMMV.

I'd check the title over very, very carefully. I am not sure where you found this car, but if it was off of Craigslist, Christ, 6 out of 10 'sellers' had serious title issues when we were trying to buy through there.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yes, both the seller and me are in Texas.

I called after posting, and they told me there is no penalty UNLESS a cop pulls me over on the way to the county tax office!! In that case, I will show him the title and explain to him the situation...

Yes, the seller has been driving MANY months without registration! He cannot come to the office with me, so I will go by myself. Do they actually need to see the car at the office?

No they don't need to see the car at the tax office, only your driver's license and proof of insurance. It may be that if the vehicle license sticker expired say last August, you will get an August sticker, so you will have to pay again before getting a year's use out of the vehicle.

[Karaoke 0]

Checked with AUTOCHECK, the title was clean and had no troubles switching it to me.

If anyone is interested, there was no charge/penalty for the months the car was NOT registered!

I will receive a new title in about 1 month, I was told!

Now, if only gasoline prices stayed low...

My only other worry is that the previous owner didn't renew is Texas registration last year, so when I go to switch title, they might charge me a penalty or give me a hard time for an infraction of the previous owner?

I'd lean towards no. We bought a car with expired tags and it never made a difference for us when we went to transfer title. It wasn't in Texas, so YMMV.

I'd check the title over very, very carefully. I am not sure where you found this car, but if it was off of Craigslist, Christ, 6 out of 10 'sellers' had serious title issues when we were trying to buy through there.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Cool! Good luck with your new ride!