Every year, thousands of people leave the United States to go work abroad or serve in the military. When you’re going to be in a foreign locale for an extended period, the chances are that you’ll need a vehicle of your own so you can get around. However, there are a lot of things to consider when buying a car overseas.
Whether you merely need a used car to get from point A to point B or you want to ride in style while abroad, there are some things you should know before buying a car overseas. Continue reading to learn what you need to know before you buy a car on the other side of the world.
Shop around to find the right dealer.
Potential buyers often arrive at the dealership knowing exactly what car they want to take home. In those cases, the test drive is merely a precursor to a foregone conclusion. However, you shouldn’t take that approach when buying overseas. When you’re shopping for a car abroad, you should prioritize finding a reputable dealer first, and from there, you can find a vehicle that fits your needs. Many overseas automakers don’t build their vehicles to match United States standards. With that in mind, your first step is finding a dealer that sells cars that are fit for U.S. markets.
However, you can skip the dealership process and purchase your vehicle online through an online auction site like Auto Auction Mall. Indeed, you can buy a car from the U.S. via an online car auction and ship it to wherever you are in the world. Plenty of people buy cars in Nigeria and Ghana from live auctions online. By purchasing your car this way, you can be sure you have a vehicle that you can bring back to the states when you return.
Prepare for taxes.
Of course, when you buy a car, you have to pay the sales tax, and half of all car owners in the U.S. also have to pay state property taxes on their vehicles as well. When you buy a car overseas, you don’t have to pay taxes on it until you ship it stateside.
Even though you don’t have to pay taxes on your vehicle until you bring it stateside, it’s a good idea to save up to pay your taxes when your vehicle arrives. Your accounting supplies won’t be much use to you until then.
Look for a dealer that offers a money-back guarantee on their inventory.
Don’t buy an overseas vehicle unless it comes with a satisfaction guarantee. When you order a vehicle from overseas, you don’t fully know what you’re getting until it arrives and you see and test drive it. It’s imperative to make sure you can get your money back or a better vehicle if the car doesn’t meet your expectations.
Buying a new car from overseas can be difficult. It’s important to remain diligent throughout the process to ensure everything, from the condition of the car to its price, fits your budget and needs. Indeed, it’s critical that you keep your eye on the ball every step of the way.
The first step is to shop around for the right dealership to purchase your vehicle from. It’s also imperative to make sure the car fits United States specifications if you plan on shipping it to the U.S. Furthermore, you need to save up to pay the property and sales tax once you bring your car to the states. Buying a car from overseas can be taxing. However, if you follow these tips, you can avoid getting a lemon and breaking your budget.
