>
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1999 14:05:55 -0500
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Status: RO
Urs Draeger wrote:
> I have already found a car but found out that to insure it could be a major
> hassle.
> I don't really know what I have to do in order to get me safely on those
> highways.
It may help if you can organize a letter from your current insurance company in Switzerland that states you have a good driving record.
Also in order to get the car onto the street you need to have proof of insurance. There are some substantial registration fees and you probably need to change the title of the car to your name. The title is a document that shows that you own the car.
It will be quite difficult to find a good deal for this short time by yourself (e.g. the insurance agent can't make that much money with you and you may not understand half of the terminology he is using).
With many insurance companies you get insurance also as a person. This means that you will also be insured if you drive a rental car and you can deny the additional costs the car rental place wants to charge you (just a comment for the other Swiss reading this).
I would say if you found someone who will make a contract with you, you should take it even it is 2 or 3 times as much as an American motorist would pay.
I also think it is worth to check your Swiss insurance company and ask if they would cover you.
I know of friends who bought a car in the US for a long vacation trip and I can ask them. As far as I remember they got the car from people who specialized in selling cars to tourists and know about the paper work.
If you plan to sell the car in the US again you should check if the car is popular in the area where you want to sell it. (E.g. mini vans and buses are not that popular in Texas but as far as I heard in California).
Urs
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Received on Fri Aug 20 1999 - 12:05:00 PDT
