Next Years Holiday - Help Needed

[Pete B]

Hi,
Next years plan is to fly to California, buy an old 40's/50's yank and drive it across to the east coast, where we'll either ship it back, sell it or leave by the roadside, depending on how we like the car.
Is there anyway of getting insurance for this, & how do those ownership come licensing laws work?
Any help would be appreciated.
Pete....

[jeff m]

A 40s/50s car capable of making it across the States will be very expensive,
more than a new car.
This has been discussed in the USA forum recently.
Hurdles to overcome are;
Buying and registering a car without a US driving licence.
Insurance.
Rules vary State to State.

[LuS1fer]

Very difficult to get insurance if not a US citizen. I ended up using an agent and he used my sister's insurance to cover his use of the car. No, I didn't understand it either.

[Pete B]

LuS1fer said:

Very difficult to get insurance if not a US citizen. I ended up using an agent and he used my sister's insurance to cover his use of the car. No, I didn't understand it either.

Any chance you could give me the details of the agent you used.

[jeff m]

Pete B said:

LuS1fer said:

Very difficult to get insurance if not a US citizen. I ended up using an agent and he used my sister's insurance to cover his use of the car. No, I didn't understand it either.

Any chance you could give me the details of the agent you used.

Pete,
Registering when buying the car is the problem. Caused by not having a US driving licence, which has become the "main identifier" thanks to Homeland Security (Gov Dept.).
I would contact the State in which you intend to buy a car and ask the requirements for registering a vehicle.
I checked this in my DMV in New Jersey recently for somebodyelse.
Citizenship is definately not a requirement for getting insurance, I have insurance, I am not a citizen.
However an address probably is a requirement as it would be in any country.
Try leaving it blank on a UK insurance application and see what happens

Insurance in the US is on the vehicle not the owner, if that helps.
Some insurance will be written with "no drivers under xx years" . Application will typically ask the age of all the drivers in your houshold and write a policy accordingly. eg "no drivers under 25" if an all adult houshold. This is not intended as a restriction its just that the broker can get you 10% off if that is the case. So that's what he does as he is competing for your business.

So ask "can I register a vehicle in (name of State) using a UK or international D.L.) at their website. If affirmative, keep a copy, as the person at the desk may be a burger flipper.

Dealer purchased car, they do the paper work
Private purchase, you do
However Dealers typically give you your perm tags after three weeks as they do their DMV stuff in bundles. I don't know of any West Coast dealers on PH.
Starting a thread "Any West Coast Car dealers" might be the way to go.

Edited by jeff m on Friday 26th December 16:48

[LuS1fer]

Pete B said:

LuS1fer said:

Very difficult to get insurance if not a US citizen. I ended up using an agent and he used my sister's insurance to cover his use of the car. No, I didn't understand it either.

Any chance you could give me the details of the agent you used.

I don't think he does it any more. It was a few years back. there is a company called Golden Chariots who might be able to help.