Overhaulin'

In the US, can a tourist buy and sell a car?

I'm thinking of traveling all over the US for around one month. The cost of a rental car is prohibitive. Can a tourist buy a car, take out insurance, drive it and then sell it again (maybe in another state)?

Public Comments

1. That is a good question. I think the paperwork and red tape would take more then a month to do. I don't know if you can or not. Since 9/11 there is so much paper work for people coming into the USA. Maybe if you went to a buy here,pay here place and paid cash.
2. pay cash, job done, forget about insurance etc. only way
3. There are no restrictions for foreigners who want to buy a car in the USA. All you need to be able to do is pay for the vehicle and insure it. The dealership you buy it from can provide a temporary license plate that will be valid for at least a month. However, buying a car and selling it a month later will almost certainly NOT save you any money compared with renting a car. If (for example) you buy a car for $20,000 and use it for a month you will be lucky to be able to sell it for $17,000. The same percentages apply even if you buy a used car, and it won't be reliable if it is very cheap (a "thousand dollar car' is a cliche' for a junk car). Realize the USA is geographically huge, and "traveling all over the US" means spending a LOT of time just driving from place to place. Consider using a mix of travel modes (air, train, bus) and rent a car only when you need one for a local trip. www.southwest.com www.jetblue.com www.airgorilla.com www.amtrak.com www.greyhound.com Also consider joining SERVAS, which is a global network of travelers & hosts who have passed a background check. SERVAS will give you local contacts in most places, even if you don't choose to stay with a host: www.servas.org Good luck!