Trave OK

Hi,
   my friend and I would like know the cheapest way of getting car in
statetes for about two months to travel through U.S.  If anyone, who
knows or has gone on the same trip, can advise us what's the best for us
and what everything we need to get the car and especially for how much,
we would appreciate it.

Thanks,

        Petr

I suggest going to a company that rents used cars, such as Rent-A-Wreck.

Unless you spend a bunch on insurance, on the old car you buy, you will
 lose your shirt and piles more if you have an accident. Better to rent and
let the rental company worry about the insurance. The only catch is that
if you plan to rent in one city and drop off elsewhere. However, the cost
of decent insurance on an older car, if you can even get it, will cost almost
as much as renting a near new car for the same time.

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I am going to the states for 5 weeks in july and august 96. We compared the
total costs for rental car and a used car. For us it's cheaper to buy a used
car, considering a rental price of $ 400,- a week (including all taxes and
insurance ....) Also consider dropp off costs up to $ 900,- for >1500 miles.
What we are going to do is: we buy a used car of +/- $ 1500,- and then try to
sell it at the end of our vacation for as much as possible. Even if we get only
$ 100,- for it, it will be cheaper than a rental car.

Don't know what country your from, but I'm from Holland and it is possible to
insure a car you want to buy in the States for about $ 500,-, in advance. We
just have to fax the  "car info" and wait for reply fax.

So I think  you better buy a use car instead of renting a car. Only problem is
you won't receive any kind of service when your car brakes down, but in some
newsgroups I read that rental service isn't always that good. Some rental
companies are franchised and therefore they all have other policies (most of
the time to your disadvantage, for instance when it comes to replacement cars)

Wim Slabbekoorn.

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Quote:>I am going to the states for 5 weeks in july and august 96. We compared the
>total costs for rental car and a used car. For us it's cheaper to buy a used
>car, considering a rental price of $ 400,- a week (including all taxes and

...more lines deleted...

Quote:>Don't know what country your from, but I'm from Holland and it is possible to
>insure a car you want to buy in the States for about $ 500,-, in advance. We
>just have to fax the  "car info" and wait for reply fax.

That is funny, I'm from Holland too and only a few years ago I asked my
insurance agent about such an arrangement and he replied (after a few
days) that NO Dutch car insurers insure cars while outside Europe (and
possibly Asia). You better double-check with your insurance company and,
if they are really willing to insure your American car while inside
North America, let us all know. (And tell us the name of your insurance
company, I might consider switching.)

...even more lines deleted...

Quote:>Wim Slabbekoorn.

Buying a used car to take a long trip in a foreign country is a very risky
thing. What do you do if the car you buy from some stranger breaks down
a few hundred miles into your trip and needs costly repairs? What do you
do if you're stuck out in the middle of nowhere and the only mechanic in
town wants to rip you off for repairs you can't do without? Renting a car
may be expensive, but if your userd car needs repairs, the cost of the
rented car becomes much less than the used car plus you don't have to
wait around for a rental car to be fixed usually, you just get a
replacement and let the rental car agency worry about the repairs. And
there's also the insurance which seems really doubtful to me that you can
get like you think you can.

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My opinions are all mine. They do not reflect those of my employer.