Question from Dutch Chapter member

[Michael W.]

Hello,

Just a question. We will make a route 66 tour this summer and we will end at the Nationals in San Jose. The question I have in my mind is:

"would it be possible as a foreigner to buy a car in the States and drive it around (along the route 66) and drop it at the LA port for shipping to Europe?"

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[Michael W.]

Question from Dutch Chapter member

Hello,

Just a question. We will make a route 66 tour this summer and we will end at the Nationals in San Jose. The question I have in my mind is:

"would it be possible as a foreigner to buy a car in the States and drive it around (along the route 66) and drop it at the LA port for shipping to Europe?"

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[Bob D.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

Michael

I'm no expert but that certainly should be possible. You would probably ship the car from Long Beach. Not sure what the cost would be, but I shipped a car from Bremerhaven, Germany to Long Beach in the mid 80s. I also shipped one from England to Baltimore. Both were relatively easy procedures. Bob

[Don S.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

I am a Canadian and I can buy a used car any time I want in the US. However, I cannot buy a new one and GM US is not allowed to sell to Canadians. We have to buy from GM Canada who adds about 25k extra onto the price. But I am a snowbird and spend 5 months in the US and have a US address so I can buy one and give them my US address.
You may have no problem being Dutch but you would have to check with a US dealer. You will have to pay US state sales tax in the state where you bought it, which (in Florida ) runs about 6%. There are some mechanics (I believe) in the US laws for recouping sales tax if you ship the car out of state within a certain time period. These vary from state to state. I am sure that others on the board have the definitive answer on the above problems but one way or another you should be able to do it. You can always have a friend who has a US address buy the car in his name for you and resell it back once it is a used car or when you get overseas. (He obviously should be a trustworth good friend.) There is a definition of a used car and I think it is a car with over 3,000 miles on it.

[Don S.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

One other thing is that if you have to pay the US state sales tax and cannot get it back ,then you would probably have to pay that tax twice as I believe that you probably have a tax to pay where you live when you get it licenced when you get home. These are substantial dollars involved. maybe it is cheaper to ship your car over and sthen ship it back

[Erik S.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

Michael - yes, it is possible to buy a car in the US and drive it to LA (I have done it as well driving from Prescott AZ), but the problem is you cannot insure it (as you are not a US citizen with a US address). At the time I did it I lived in NY so that solved my issue although I am Dutch as well,

Erik

[Harry S.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

Michael, if your bought a car in Italy and drove back home would your normal Insurance company initiate insurance in Italy?

If yes, call you insurance company, tell them of your plan and get a reaction. If they agree, have them FAX you the insurance paperwork after you purchase the car. I believe all they need is the VIN.

You could have a friend go to Motor Vehicles at home obtain tags and air ship the Dutch tags to your US Hotel.

[Erik S.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

Michael, if your bought a car in Italy and drove back home would your normal Insurance company initiate insurance in Italy?

If yes, call you insurance company, tell them of your plan and get a reaction. If they agree, have them FAX you the insurance paperwork after you purchase the car. I believe all they need is the VIN.

You could have a friend go to Motor Vehicles at home obtain tags and air ship the Dutch tags to your US Hotel.

It is my experience that typically one is running in circles here as it would not surprise me if your NL insurance requires a NL license plate for the insurance which obviously you do not have. Yes, it's not easy duplicating "Thelma & Louise" but the idea alone is great isnt it?

[Michael W.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

All,

Thanks for the feedback, but to make it more clearer:
- car will be used (not new)
- shipping cost we know (we did it before)

So the main questions are:
- can a Dutchie buy and drive the car to LA?
- can we get it insured? if yes what is the procedure?

Within Europe insurance is possible, because I did it. We put " temporary export plates" on a car and have a short term insurance on the vehicle.

From a friend I learned that for insurance tripple A might be an option!? any opinions?

Your feedback is appreciated.

mike

[Mark P.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

I've known several that have done that. My friend shipped a car to Rotterdam and I helped a guy ship a C4 to Calais a while back. They both arrived well.

Here is a place that could help.

http://www.shipmyvehicle.com/default.aspx

Would run about $1,700 or so from Long Beach (car shipped to Rotterdam) or $2,400 if you shipped from Northern California (car would be trucked to New York then shipped to Rotterdam). These fees include customs clearance. If you take route 66 you could swing by Long Beach and ship the car or do it after the convention.

On Rob M's web site he explains what was involved to get the car legal in the NL.

With the strong Euro and weak auto market right now it would be a good time to buy.

[Grant M.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

Michael,

One more thing you might want to be aware of is that US Customs requires 72 hours notice of the port of export for the vehicle and you will need to fax them copies of the title/ownership documents at least that far in advance of it being shipped. This is apparently in order that a search can be initiated to ensure that the vehicle was not involved in a crime.

Grant

[Michael W.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

Grant - thanks for the usefull info.

[Mark P.]

Re: Question from Dutch Chapter member

I think you could do it this way:
1. get an international drivers license in Holland
2. before you depart from Holland find a US insurance company that will insure you with an international drivers license - see below link. Try GEICO, 21st Century, AAA, State Farm, etc.
3. buy a used car but hold off on registering it to avoid Sales Tax. The Bill of Sale and seller signed Title will suffice to prove you are the owner
4. insure it and try to get monthly premiums. They will charge the first payment with a credit card

http://www.carinsurance.com/kb/content10447.aspx

I have an international drivers license and will be in the U.S. working for one year and want to buy a car. Can I get the car insured in the name of someone else?

Insurance premiums are based on many factors including the people that will be driving the car. It is not based on the name of the policy holder. In other words, the price would not be any different if your insurance policy was in some one else's name as you would still be listed as a driver on that policy. In addition, the named insured ( or policy holder) should be the same as the registered owner of that vehicle. Whomever's name the car will be registered in should purchase the insurance policy.
Some of our insurance companies will allow you to buy a policy with your international drivers license but may require that you obtain a valid U.S. license afterwards.