QuestionHello Bud.My wife and I are from Australia and will be vacationing in the US from June until October this year. I write to seek your opinion on the best way for us to get use of a car.
It is not easy to get rental cars that suit our trip and taking out a "mini lease" is very expensive (from AVIS anyway - US$8,500 for a Chevy Cavalier or similar).
We now wonder about either buying one ourselves? or "taking over" someone else's lease. From searching on the net it seems that either of these would cost about US$4,000, maybe less. Your opinion on these would be most valued.
There are two things that worry me about doing our own thing:
1 We might end up with a poor quality car that ruins our vacation, and
2 I wonder if insurance of a car owned by an Aussie without an American address or past history might be difficult?
Bud, your view on this will be appreciated.
Thanks a lot, Rod
PS. In case it matters, our trip will start and finish in Seattle and we will be going to Oregon, then to Chicago, Denver, Utah, up to calgary, back to Yellowstone, to Las vegas, maybe Tucson and finish back at Seattle (or maybe San Diego).
AnswerHi Rod, this is a tough one as you are not where you need the vehicle. My normal advice would be to find an automotive broker and tell him your needs. The main problem I can see is the number of miles you are going to be driving as this would severely reduce the value at the end of your trip. I would think insurance would not be an insurmountable problem. Check with your local insurance agent/broker and ask for corresponding agents in the US. If you have more specific questions I would be glad to try and help but since I am in Florida my connections in the Northwest are very limited. Best of luck to you and I hope you enjoy your visit to the USA. At sometime my wife and I would love to come to Australia. Bud
