Across USA road trip

[johnbuckley]

Toying with the idea of a road trip across USA. Need your local input USAers for this UK limey. It's not worth shipping my own A, so how feasible would it fly in, buy a Model A (maybe in advance) , tax it ,insure it then and drive across USA, then be able to sell it, all within a holiday time frame of say 6-7 weeks Any ideas/input gratefully received. What officialdom bureaucratic hurdles do I need to be aware of?

[rfitzpatrick]

WOW!! Do It!
Mechanic at the airlines I worked with -- when he would transfree to a new station - he would purchase an antique -- when he was transfreed out, sell the car usually for a more than he paid. He would do this until retirement.
Other than insurances/licenses, can't see a problem
Plz post often if you do this
Thanks

[ronn]

this has been discussed at length on a thread here on the Barn. (Bike maniac)



Very well could be done. your time frame is good. I would buy on the east coast and sell on the west, because I think it would be more profitable then vs versa for resale.
I would buy an enclosed car, most likely a sedan.
If you need an address, PM me. Im in NJ.

[oldforder]

Sounds like it would be a lot of fun. BUT, I can forsee possible problems. Registering and licensing antique cars seems to be different in most every state. With an A you need to be sure all the numbers match, or some states won't let you license it. When it comes to selling it in a different state that you bought it in there is sometimes problems that can take a long time to get right. Also, I would think that you are going to want a fairly high dollar car, so as to be less chance of breakdowns. Then when it comes to sell it--- My luck would be, I would have to sell it for 1/2 of what I paid for it to sell it fast. But, maybe none of that is a problem for you!

[Dick Steinkamp]

I don't even see a problem with insurance or licensing.

To be sure you can call or email Grundy or Hagerty and explain what you are going to do and see if they would have any problems insuring you. I have taken a 2,000 mile road trip in one of my collector cars. I'm with Grundy. Although their policy states that the car is to be kept in a locked garage, they had no problem continuing the insurance when I called them and explained the trip I would be taking.

Also contact the state(s) that you are thinking of purchasing the car in and ask them about licensing (in the US, every state has different laws relative to registration and licensing).

I think it might be good to get 1-3 others interested in doing the same with you. Either fellow countrymen or folks from here. A big group would be more trouble than it's worth (MHO), but a few might make it more fun, more interesting, and safer.

I think a max of 200-250 miles a day would be my target. The car can probably do more, but I may not be able to . This would allow for stops at interesting spots, and an early end of the driving day to relax, service the car (and maybe have a beer? ). 6 weeks would be plenty of time to shake out any problems in the "new " car, do the 3,000 miles, and sell it at the end of the trip.

It would be great to live blog the trip. Another good reason to stop early in the day...to write the blog entry. By doing so, you may have a line up at your destination to purchase the now famous Model A.

[johnbuckley]

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Thanks , you have already touched on possible difficulties that I was unaware of ... As a non-USA national can I even purchase, tax and insure a car? Is getting proof of ownership/registering the car in my name a lengthy process, thus delaying the start? If I buy in say Fl can I sell in Ca?

[Dick Steinkamp]

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

Thanks , you have already touched on possible difficulties that I was unaware of ... As a non-USA national can I even purchase, tax and insure a car? Is getting proof of ownership/registering the car in my name a lengthy process, thus delaying the start? If I buy in say Fl can I sell in Ca?

My guess is that you may have to have a temporary address in the state where you register the car. If you buy the car in Washington State I can be that temporary addy for you. Best to check with the state(s) Department of Licensing/Deparment of Motor Vehicles, etc (also in the US, every state's vehicle licensing bureau has a different name ).

It is not normally a lengthy process. The simplest is to go to an office of the DOL/DMV of the state in which you purchase the car with the seller. The clerk will do the transfer of ownership in minutes. You will pay sales tax (rate depends on the state/county/city) and the license fees.

I have bought cars in a state other than the one I live in, registered it in my state, and sold it in a 3rd state. I don't see a problem with buying in Florida and selling in California. For peace of mind, contact both states to be sure.

[Floats]

Hi John,
What about taking your most reliable, most loved, car overseas.
It would be your most enjoyable, most adventurous endeavour ever, taking your own car, halfway across the world, to enjoy an unbelievable adventure.
There should be no problem taking your own car into another country, without changing the registration, licensing, etc.
Take it with you and at the end of your visit, bring it back. It might be a little more costly but you know your car and the best reward will be that you did it together. Imagine that.
We are privileged to visit our Daughter and her family, twice a year in the UK.
I have dreams of grandeur, taking my E Type from South Africa to visit them in the UK for a few months.
Just imagine driving your own car, warts and all, in another world for a few weeks.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

[barnstuf]

My nephew did the reverse of what you plan, about 35 years ago. He took his Massachusetts license plates with him to England. He bought a well used Ford Popular in England, phoned his insurance agent in Massachusetts who registered the car in USA for him and airmailed him the registration. He spent an entire year in Europe and drove in every country except he could not get admittance to Russia. He ended up in Perugia Italy where he spent 3 months in a college there. He booked passage for he and the car on a freighter, the car sitting on the deck with a dismantled motorcycle he bought hiding in the back seat. He arrived inNew York City, car unloaded from freighter and he drove it home. HE told me that if he had not brought the car home he would have had to go to England and sell it there.
This is a true story from out of the past. An interesting sideline to this story is that his Massachusetts plate was a vanity with his name. He was stopped several times by police who had never seen a vanity license plate, and very simply were curious.

[jb-ob]

JB,


A couple of thoughts...


First you should have left already.... from mid- June on mid America is too hot to cruise in a Model A.


Buying a Model A sight unseen for a cross country road trip ?? Does the seller offer nationwide road side assistance ??


You might consider driving the Lincoln Highway to the mid-point. Or tour the New England states.


Research US Model A clubs in areas of America you'd like to see most & join them on a tour. Example, the Iowa A Club does a yearly tour of a different corner of their state. Combine several events, meet the locals for a tour of the area they know best.
Ask, I'd think you'd receive some interesting offers.


Sweet Dreams, JB

[RUNNERBUN]

John, good luck if you decide to go ahead with your plans. You proved that anything is possible when you did something similar in Australia. Please share your experience with us here on the Barn. I remember when you gave your talk in Aust. You said you were born to travel. Go for it.

[J Franklin]

Here are some cars for sale, not mine.

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/307623...omment-1721801

[M2M]

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

Toying with the idea of a road trip across USA. Need your local input USAers for this UK limey. It's not worth shipping my own A, so how feasible would it fly in, buy a Model A (maybe in advance) , tax it ,insure it then and drive across USA, then be able to sell it, all within a holiday time frame of say 6-7 weeks Any ideas/input gratefully received. What officialdom bureaucratic hurdles do I need to be aware of?

You need advice from someone like me, not a "USAer", as they are not foreigners in their own country. Americans are not aware of restrictions on foreigners when doing common things like opening a bank account, getting a US driver's license, insurance on houses and cars. Since 9/11 there are more restrictions than before.

In almost all US states a visiting foreigner (as opposed to a student, refugee, a person with a work visa) cannot Title a car in their name. This "ban" is sometimes explicit such as in OH; while in other states they require certain forms of ID that a visiting foreigner just doesn't have such as a US passport, US driver's license, and a social security number.

DMV websites do not often list detailed rules for foreigners making online research difficult, and if you visit a DMV in person you need to speak with someone who knows the fine print otherwise you may get the wrong info.

AR and CO (unless things have changed recently) are two states where it can be done although you would need an address in that state. There very well may be no other states apart from these two. In places like FL, NY, NJ and CA many foreigners do buy cars, but the cars go into containers for export...they are not Titled.

Progressive is one of the few insurance companies that will touch you, but expect to pay several times more than an American. Lack of US driver's license is the problem with other insurance companies.

If possible, have a American friend you trust buy you a car in their name.

If that's not an option then I might be able to help you out in AR.

[GerryAllen]

Just a suggestion, before you leave England get an international drivers license.

[M2M]

Oh, I forgot to say. If you decide to bring your car to the USA, ship it to Canada then drive over the border as US Customs procedures are different when entering the USA at a land border. I know an Aussie who shipped his Model T to the USA for the 2009 centenary and he went through hell with US Customs as they feared he would sell the car and avoid paying import duty. They even rang the MTFCA to confirm he was known to them and it was the Model T centenary. Once they let you in, the USA is a great country to drive around in an old car.

[M2M]

Originally Posted by GerryAllen

Just a suggestion, before you leave England get an international drivers license.

No, he doesn't need one.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by jb-ob

JB,


A couple of thoughts...


First you should have left already.... from mid- June on mid America is too hot to cruise in a Model A.

Sweet Dreams, JB

"too hot to cruise in a Model A"? Aw, c'mon! People did it all the time back in the day. That's what the fold out windshield is for!

[daveymc29]

John, if you end your journey in the San Francisco Bay Area You can use my place to get the car sold. I'm about 30 miles east of SF in the Town of Danville, CA. I'll PM you my email and if I can be of assistance, respond. I speak fair English so no worries. We will be able to communicate unless my hearing aids quit. I have spent time in the UK and have hosted many folks from the UK at our home.

Dave Mc Arthur
Henry's A's (MAFCA)
Livermore, CA

[M2M]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

First you should have left already.... from mid- June on mid America is too hot to cruise in a Model A.

Sweet Dreams, JB
---------------------------------------------------------

"too hot to cruise in a Model A"? Aw, c'mon! People did it all the time back in the day. That's what the fold out windshield is for!

Yeah JB, give us a break (to use an American expression). Some people can survive without constant 5* luxury, while some of us even seek to avoid it.

[Jim/GA]

John-
The following weblog was created by a friend of mine that wanted to do a similar trip in a 1963 Buick Riviera. He discusses many of the logistics issues that you would be concerned about. Se the "Practicalities" tab in his blog.

http://www.ealees.com/roadtrip/index.html

He did his trip in 2 separate ventures of about 6 weeks each. He could probably cover more miles per day than you will in a Model A.

Security surrounding banking, mail, car titleing and registration, etc. have been significantly tightened up since Jon did his epic journey, due to terrorist activities. This will complicate things for you. But it can be done.