Buying an RV in America 🤔

PeterO

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Anyone know of a way to buy and run an RV - or, indeed, any other vehicle - legally in the USA as an occasional visitor/traveller 🤔
 
If you haven't found one yet, you can purchase from a dealer or a private seller. The tricky part is registering and insuring it. The requirements vary by state, but most of the time you'll need a US address where you can register the vehicle. Some states, like South Dakota, are popular with RVers because they have relatively relaxed rules on residency and vehicle registration.

For insurance, you'll also typically need a US address. Some insurance companies cater to foreign RV owners, so it might be worth calling around to see what they can offer. You'll need to ensure that you've got the proper level of insurance to cover any incidents on the road. Lastly, remember that driving rules can vary across states, so make sure you're aware of the general driving laws, especially for large vehicles like RVs.

Oh, and one more thing - there's a really handy website I've been using that lets you verify info, this https://rhodeisland.recordspage.org/ so if you're buying from a private seller, it could be a good way to vet them beforehand.
 
PURCHASE OPTIONS to decide
New
- cost
- type
- Big RV
- Small European style
2nd Hand
- newish
- old

I am in USA touring and see many options.
Common are:
- Mercedes bases sprinters
- RAM 3500 (A Modern Fiat Ducato van)
These now very common base vans as FIAT bought CHRYSLER and introduced them to USA.

- Winnebago have a small van called VIEW.
- Traditional RV, Long and lorry based.

BUYING
Each State sets it in taxation, so you need to research who treats RVs better if buying new.
From memory MONTANA, NEVADA, WASHINGTON, OREGON are good.
Not CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE PRICES currently are very very high.
Many youngsters are struggling to buy old as they cost so much.
We notice RVs for sale on the kerbside, often with a phone number to ring. No price indicated.
A couple of very old 30+ yrs were $10k. Mad.

INSURANCE
Get hold of a broker, to discuss.
Hard to contact big insurers direct unless you have a zip code.
We uses a chap from Michigan.
Roughly $1200 for 6 month for old LHD hobby 659.

ANOTHER OPTION
Set up an LLC ( limited coy), buy vehicle using the coy and it allows you to get coy insurance.
Costs are near $1000 to set up.

Any Q ask.
 
Stanski said:
PURCHASE OPTIONS to decide
New
- cost
- type
- Big RV
- Small European style
2nd Hand
- newish
- old

I am in USA touring and see many options.
Common are:
- Mercedes bases sprinters
- RAM 3500 (A Modern Fiat Ducato van)
These now very common base vans as FIAT bought CHRYSLER and introduced them to USA.

- Winnebago have a small van called VIEW.
- Traditional RV, Long and lorry based.

BUYING
Each State sets it in taxation, so you need to research who treats RVs better if buying new.
From memory MONTANA, NEVADA, WASHINGTON, OREGON are good.
Not CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE PRICES currently are very very high.
Many youngsters are struggling to buy old as they cost so much.
We notice RVs for sale on the kerbside, often with a phone number to ring. No price indicated.
A couple of very old 30+ yrs were $10k. Mad.

INSURANCE
Get hold of a broker, to discuss.
Hard to contact big insurers direct unless you have a zip code.
We uses a chap from Michigan.
Roughly $1200 for 6 month for old LHD hobby 659.

ANOTHER OPTION
Set up an LLC ( limited coy), buy vehicle using the coy and it allows you to get coy insurance.
Costs are near $1000 to set up.

Any Q ask.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this. I'm thinking that setting up a company is the way forward so I'll look into how that's done because I'm now also considering ownership of a boat in the US and I can imagine a number of advantages 👍
 
This may, or may not be part of your plans, but be aware of the vehicles' overall width. We know someone who didn't check and they had it shipped here and it didn't get off the docks at Liverpool, after they measured it. The vehicle was 4" too wide to be on UK roads without a wide vehicle escort! It was loaded onto the next ship back.
 
Thanks for this - what an expensive pain that must have been 🤕

Our little dream was to buy something in the States and use it on an occasional but regular basis over a couple of years to explore a bit more of America than what we've previously managed using hire cars and motels 😉

Having thought a lot more about it, the latter doesn't come out as such a bad option so ..... 😄

Pete
 
What PeterO says, Not by MH but sometime ago I spent year over there and I travelled in 42 States. Hire a MH you will then have access to any MH dealership network for repair and maintenance. They have some magnificent MH; they can be large. Check out Snowbirds who full time in them. I can imagine a purchasing a MH might be cheaper than long term hire but selling to come home might take time. I guess a return deal might be negotiated /sorted at purchase.
 
Have a look on TikTok before you decided to drive over there. The local Police will pull you over for any number of minor infringements which go towards their salary. Remember to indicate at least 100 yds from the junction, make sure you stay in lane. Dont touch the white line unless you indicate first. There appears to be 101 different reasons for a traffic stop. One of my favourites is asking you what speed you were doing repeatedly because if you admit it they can give you a ticket without having to prove it. I know its TikTok but there must be some truth in it there are certainly enough videos on the subject. Have fun.
 
QFour said:
Have a look on TikTok before you decided to drive over there. The local Police will pull you over for any number of minor infringements which go towards their salary. Remember to indicate at least 100 yds from the junction, make sure you stay in lane. Dont touch the white line unless you indicate first. There appears to be 101 different reasons for a traffic stop. One of my favourites is asking you what speed you were doing repeatedly because if you admit it they can give you a ticket without having to prove it. I know its TikTok but there must be some truth in it there are certainly enough videos on the subject. Have fun.
Click to expand...
Don't do Tik Tok but, if whatever is being said is true, then everybody driving anything is going to be suffering the same problem; a problem which I'd guess, is only of consequence if you're actually doing something wrong 🤦‍♂️
 
Tad Bonkers said:
Have a look at travel beans on youtube. They went through the process a couple of times now they store one out there while back in the uk
Click to expand...
IIRC, the way the Travel Beans did it was through an American company to which the RV is registered. They did this via a Montana organisation that specialises in this sort of thing. The website linked in their video is https://www.visitor.us/ and the YT is
 
We lived in the States and bought a camper there before spending a couple of years doing the PanAm. There's a chap on the PanAm Facebook group who's set up a little sideline finding & registering vehicles for foreigners at a very reasonable cost. He'll even fly across the country and drive it back for you (think he's up in the NW somewhere, in one of the good states without sales tax). If you can't find him ask me, as my missus will remember his name (my memory is appalling)!

Our Dodge Roadtrek was an amazing vehicle. We got the 'small' 5.3 litre engine! Would have bought it back to blighty if we could buy petrol as cheaply as out there.
 

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Had to ask the better
FiL said:
We lived in the States and bought a camper there before spending a couple of years doing the PanAm. There's a chap on the PanAm Facebook group who's set up a little sideline finding & registering vehicles for foreigners at a very reasonable cost. He'll even fly across the country and drive it back for you (think he's up in the NW somewhere, in one of the good states without sales tax). If you can't find him ask me, as my missus will remember his name (my memory is appalling)!

Our Dodge Roadtrek was an amazing vehicle. We got the 'small' 5.3 litre engine! Would have bought it back to blighty if we could buy petrol as cheaply as out there.
Click to expand...
Had to ask the better half, but his name is Alex Smith. Well known in the traveller community and we know quite a few people who used him.
 
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