British couple buying an RV in the US
Hello. We are a British couple with long stay US visas. We want to buy a RV to travel round the US and Canada (and possibly down to S America) for a couple of years. We are experienced campervanners a...
Forum Discussion
For Georgia you will pay a "sales tax" based on what the county thinks your vehicle is worth. You can get a lower valuation, but that requires getting someone official (repair shop) to write it up and for the county official to approve it, then send it to a higher-up to approve and a week later you get a modified valuation.
In Georgia the steps are: there are no steps. If it is a licensed/titled vehicle then you just pay for the new title and pay your tax. They issue you your license plate right there in person and all is good. You only need to have proof of insurance.
No inspection is necessary in GA.
The "sales tax" is 6% if I remember correctly.
Please can you help us clarify what are the legal steps to put a RV on the road for use?
1)When we buy a RV, does it make a difference if ownership is transferred to a non US citizen?
no
2)What vehicle checks are required for road worthiness?
none.
None in the states you ask about.
All vehicles in Ga in "metro" counties will have to pass an emissions inspection. For OBII (newer than 1995) vehicles the inspection is just to plug into the computer and get a pass or fail. $12-20 for this. Registering in a non-emissions county means you do not need this.
Larger vehicles and diesels are exempt. I think gross vehicle weight over 7,500 lbs is the magic number, so 3/4 ton trucks and almost all Rv motorhomes are exempt.
3) What is the process to register a RV in the US?
same as a car. proof of insurance and money to pay the fees. emissions certificate if applicable.
4) What insurance is required for full time use of a RV in the registered state and other states?
Dont ask-dont tell. There is no such thing as full-time living as far as the State goes. They only issue your license plate/tag.
Your insurance company might want to know, but again, don't tell them anything they do not need to know. If you have an accident and need to claim, then you can just say this is our first day in the RV on this trip. Living in it weeks or months prior has no effect.
5) What is the period we can drive in the US with a U.K. or international driving license?
As long as you are allowed to stay. How long is your visa? Driving is not the issue, being here is. Years, or decades I imagine is the answer.
6) What issues do we need to consider.
Bigger issue is choosing the right vehicle.
This is America, home of the automobile! We drive, everybody has a car. There is no issues with owning other than depreciation. You purchase of a new vehicle will cost you half of its price tag as soon as you drive it off the dealer lot.
I have received conflicting info as to paying property tax in South Carolina.
I have never heard of "property tax" on non property, but am not from SC. Property is generally just land, not things. You will pay a tax one way or the other. 6% is not going to be far off no matter the state.
In Ga you pay 6% once, then about $20-40 each year after that which you own the vehicle.
I think you are stuck in the socialist mentality of the govt owns you, owns everything, and you get to drive their vehicle. This is America. We still have many freedoms, though it is eroding quickly and we might soon the the USSA instead. We are free, do not like govt intrusion and as far as owning a vehicle you only need the register it to drive on public roads.
Also, in Alabama you are not required to even have vehicle insurance, and can drive un-insured in any State. For that reason it is good to have on your insurance policy a "uninsured motorist" coverage, which your policy will have automatically anyway. If you get hit by an uninsured motorist then your insurance will cover the damages.
Get also "towing" coverage.
If you get a new'ish vehicle there are other insurance plans that will cover all repairs, look into that if you will be driving a lot. It might be well worth the investment.
AAA is a company that does towing, and this site is Camping World and also has the same towing insurance and RV coverage.
Normal insurance companies will act like they have never heard of an RV, so it might be worth using the Camping World for coverage.
In Georgia the steps are: there are no steps. If it is a licensed/titled vehicle then you just pay for the new title and pay your tax. They issue you your license plate right there in person and all is good. You only need to have proof of insurance.
No inspection is necessary in GA.
The "sales tax" is 6% if I remember correctly.
Please can you help us clarify what are the legal steps to put a RV on the road for use?
1)When we buy a RV, does it make a difference if ownership is transferred to a non US citizen?
no
2)What vehicle checks are required for road worthiness?
none.
None in the states you ask about.
All vehicles in Ga in "metro" counties will have to pass an emissions inspection. For OBII (newer than 1995) vehicles the inspection is just to plug into the computer and get a pass or fail. $12-20 for this. Registering in a non-emissions county means you do not need this.
Larger vehicles and diesels are exempt. I think gross vehicle weight over 7,500 lbs is the magic number, so 3/4 ton trucks and almost all Rv motorhomes are exempt.
3) What is the process to register a RV in the US?
same as a car. proof of insurance and money to pay the fees. emissions certificate if applicable.
4) What insurance is required for full time use of a RV in the registered state and other states?
Dont ask-dont tell. There is no such thing as full-time living as far as the State goes. They only issue your license plate/tag.
Your insurance company might want to know, but again, don't tell them anything they do not need to know. If you have an accident and need to claim, then you can just say this is our first day in the RV on this trip. Living in it weeks or months prior has no effect.
5) What is the period we can drive in the US with a U.K. or international driving license?
As long as you are allowed to stay. How long is your visa? Driving is not the issue, being here is. Years, or decades I imagine is the answer.
6) What issues do we need to consider.
Bigger issue is choosing the right vehicle.
This is America, home of the automobile! We drive, everybody has a car. There is no issues with owning other than depreciation. You purchase of a new vehicle will cost you half of its price tag as soon as you drive it off the dealer lot.
I have received conflicting info as to paying property tax in South Carolina.
I have never heard of "property tax" on non property, but am not from SC. Property is generally just land, not things. You will pay a tax one way or the other. 6% is not going to be far off no matter the state.
In Ga you pay 6% once, then about $20-40 each year after that which you own the vehicle.
I think you are stuck in the socialist mentality of the govt owns you, owns everything, and you get to drive their vehicle. This is America. We still have many freedoms, though it is eroding quickly and we might soon the the USSA instead. We are free, do not like govt intrusion and as far as owning a vehicle you only need the register it to drive on public roads.
Also, in Alabama you are not required to even have vehicle insurance, and can drive un-insured in any State. For that reason it is good to have on your insurance policy a "uninsured motorist" coverage, which your policy will have automatically anyway. If you get hit by an uninsured motorist then your insurance will cover the damages.
Get also "towing" coverage.
If you get a new'ish vehicle there are other insurance plans that will cover all repairs, look into that if you will be driving a lot. It might be well worth the investment.
AAA is a company that does towing, and this site is Camping World and also has the same towing insurance and RV coverage.
Normal insurance companies will act like they have never heard of an RV, so it might be worth using the Camping World for coverage.
