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
What problem would he have with the IRS? The only thing I've ever worried about with a vehicle and the IRS is getting a refund on the yearly vehicle license fee.
As far as some of your other questions I'm not in Georgia, I'm in California which many members of this board seem to hate for one reason or another. But the answers are basically the same.
No State department of motor vehicles is going to ask if you are a legal resident or a vacationing tourist. They are going to take the paperwork, figure out the applicable fees based on the vehicle purchase price and the address you put on the form and register the vehicle in your name.
There might be a requirement for an emissions certification. As stated above, if you are buying a vehicle newer than 1995 the test is most likely going to be a computer check.
A caveat to the computer check is that an unscrupulous seller can clear the check engine light and sell the vehicle and then the light will come on a few days later. So before you buy the vehicle have them hook it up to the OBDC tester and show you on the screen that the emissions system is ready and passing and not waiting for all the sensors to read in. It can take days to weeks after the computer trouble codes are cleared for all the sensors to read in and satisfy the computer. So don't buy the story that the issue that caused the failure was fixed and the computer will eventually read all is good in a few days. If the code reader doesn't currently say the vehicle is passing inspection then don't consider buying the vehicle.
Yes you have to have insurance on the vehicle. Don't just settle for the minimum required insurance, For example in California the minimum required insurance is
$15,000 for injury/death to one person.
$30,000 for injury/death to more than one person.
$5,000 for damage to property.
For me personally I would never go with that low of insurance. Bumping up to a higher coverage is typically only a few dollars a month more.
The insurance carriers like Geico, Progressive, State Farm, Farmers, AAA, and many others will know what minimum coverage's are required for your state.
In the United States you only need insurance for the state you are registered in. The insurance will cover you no matter which state you are currently driving in. BUT it will not cover you outside the United States unless you ask for and pay more for coverage in the other country. Don't ask us, the agent you talk to on the phone will be able to tell you if they even cover travel outside the United States.
As far as some of your other questions I'm not in Georgia, I'm in California which many members of this board seem to hate for one reason or another. But the answers are basically the same.
No State department of motor vehicles is going to ask if you are a legal resident or a vacationing tourist. They are going to take the paperwork, figure out the applicable fees based on the vehicle purchase price and the address you put on the form and register the vehicle in your name.
There might be a requirement for an emissions certification. As stated above, if you are buying a vehicle newer than 1995 the test is most likely going to be a computer check.
A caveat to the computer check is that an unscrupulous seller can clear the check engine light and sell the vehicle and then the light will come on a few days later. So before you buy the vehicle have them hook it up to the OBDC tester and show you on the screen that the emissions system is ready and passing and not waiting for all the sensors to read in. It can take days to weeks after the computer trouble codes are cleared for all the sensors to read in and satisfy the computer. So don't buy the story that the issue that caused the failure was fixed and the computer will eventually read all is good in a few days. If the code reader doesn't currently say the vehicle is passing inspection then don't consider buying the vehicle.
Yes you have to have insurance on the vehicle. Don't just settle for the minimum required insurance, For example in California the minimum required insurance is
$15,000 for injury/death to one person.
$30,000 for injury/death to more than one person.
$5,000 for damage to property.
For me personally I would never go with that low of insurance. Bumping up to a higher coverage is typically only a few dollars a month more.
The insurance carriers like Geico, Progressive, State Farm, Farmers, AAA, and many others will know what minimum coverage's are required for your state.
In the United States you only need insurance for the state you are registered in. The insurance will cover you no matter which state you are currently driving in. BUT it will not cover you outside the United States unless you ask for and pay more for coverage in the other country. Don't ask us, the agent you talk to on the phone will be able to tell you if they even cover travel outside the United States.
