In the United States, the car is an integral and absolutely necessary part of everyday life. The entire infrastructure of suburbs and small towns, where live the major part of Americans, built considering the fact that each resident has their own machine. Very rare here, except in the middle of a big city, you can find something like a Russian grocery store, or «shop stop». Major shopping malls – malls where the prices are much lower than in city shops, located on the outskirts or even outside the city, based on the «motorized» customers.
Does the structure of public transport. Where there are bus routes, they usually work accurately and on schedule, but travel is not cheap, and the intervals in the movement can be quite significant. Basically, public transport are the poorest of the population, we cannot exclude the possibility of the trip not very pleasant company, especially in the evening. Thus, buying a car is a necessity, if you came to America not as a tourist for a couple of weeks, and for any long time.
Americans and their cars
American attitudes to cars, basically, purely practical, you can even say – the consumer. Although the phrase «car is not a luxury but a means of transportation» was not invented in the United States, it is more accurately defines the situation. To the car are roughly the same as the fridge or the TV – without any awe or adoration. The total weight is vehicles an average dimension and average age – new items do not appear immediately and in large numbers, but the wreck will meet extremely seldom. Although on the streets of cities is a bit crowded, not popular minicar. Obviously, Americans ‘ love of big cars still acting up, although the movement to reduce the size, you know.
Choosing your first American car, it is better to focus on something in between, common in the area. It is not necessary to throw dust in the eyes of the neighbors, or try to show your bright personality, buying a car, which you obviously can not afford – it will be perceived, at best, humorous. But we should not show excessive greed. Too old or much worn-out machine will not only pull money from you for repairs (they are expensive), but will lower your social status in the eyes of neighbors and acquaintances.
A brief overview of the market
Buying a new car is not difficult enough to choose the right brand and appeal to the dealer, and voila – you are the owner of a new car and all the hassle of paperwork will take on the motor show (for your money, of course). To buy only need proof of address, which will fit the bills for electricity, Internet or letter from the Bank to the specified address. It is necessary to take out insurance, to go without which is impossible. You can protect yourself through the Internet or in the office of the insurance company, it will take very little time.
Buying a car with mileage, you can save well, and, when buying a car the dealer hassle will not be much more. The options here are a few:
- Official dealers of brands, selling b/a car with the diagnostics, preselling preparation and warranty is virtually hassle-free way of buying.
- Car dealers used cars offering cars with mileage system «as is», where the responsibility for the condition of the selected vehicle is already on the buyer – cheaper and not much more troublesome.
- Buying from a private individual, through specialized sites (www.cars.com, carsforsale.com) or free ads (for example, www.craigslist.org) is the cheapest, but relatively risky option.
Check the history of the purchased vehicle through a government website www.vehiclehistory.gov or any of the many services that offer checking for the VIN and look at the average market price of cars not new – services www.kbb.com or http://www.blackbook.com.
Your purchase and registration
Rules of purchase may be slightly different in different States. If there are no friends to turn to for advice, more details on the website of the local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles – DMV). In General, when buying with it, the procedure is as follows: you, together with the old owner of the car fill out the required fields certificate of the vehicle (there are specified, among other things, the mileage at the time of sale and the amount of the transaction), then the certificate is signed and is divided into two parts. One is the seller, the second confirms your right of possession of the car purchased.
This document and the note of passing the smog-check (analog inspection) go to DMV (in most States it is 10 days), pay tax, about 10% of the cost, and the car is registered. Immediately issued temporary documents, and the originals come in the mail when buying a specified address.
Purchasing a car, it is necessary to pay attention to peculiarities of local traffic regulations. They are not just different from the European, but also vary, though not substantially, from state to state. Violations are punishable not only significant fines but also will be registered in police records and can spoil your «criminal history». In other respects, the purchase of a car will help you to get into the General rhythm of American life, and to obtain greater freedom of action and movement.
Good luck on the road!
