Buying a car in New York, USA

I’ve been preparing for months. I read hundreds of websites and cleared every conceivable obstacle out of the way. And failed, landed flat on my face. What’s so difficult about buying a car in New York, USA?

Many things. Firstly: buying a car in New York is pretty much the most expensive in the USA. No problem, still cheaper than driving around the USA for 9 weeks in a hire car (at least 2800$, one-way to Los Angeles). Car is sold in LA, at a big loss, but still cheaper than renting.

Secondly, all car dealers in the USA tend to cheat even more than in Germany. No problem, my host in New York knows a good Latino garage. Okay, the handover of the vehicle documents only worked out on day 3 after 17 cancelled appointments. But, hey, after that the world lit up pink. My car, bought in New York!

Thirdly: I even called insurance companies from Germany beforehand. Among other things (FUCK!) Geico said: 9 weeks, German in the USA, registration in New York, German driving licence. No problem! As soon as I bought the car in New York, I try to fill out the online application: Yes zefix, where do I get my US driver’s licence number now? Call again: nope, you, so we: only with a US Drivers Licence. Of course I’m the idiot. I forgive you for assuming that I would get a US driver’s licence for nine weeks. It takes a maximum of 4 weeks. Of course, visa-free tourists without a permanent residence prefer to get the necessary Social Security Number within 2 days rather than the usual 2 months.

So a lot of phoning around. Fortunately, all insurance companies in the USA can be contacted by freephone. After 2 days, 13 hours and about 120 homepages, I finally find a broker who would insure me for the mega-mini-super price of $350 per month. (Public Auto Insurances, Atlantic Mall, 265 Atlantic Avenue, New York) Okay, that’s about 250% of the regular rate in the USA and 600% of my German car insurance. But hey, it’s the USA. One worn fingernail = $1,000,000. That’s what the lawyer adverts in the Subway say. An international driving licence saves $600 a year, then it’s only $3600. Unfortunately, I only realise after driving all over New York that the opening hours of the German embassy are quite German: 8.00-12.00. After that, no more driving licences are translated. Nevertheless, the people there are very helpful. I translate the 7 necessary words on the driving licence myself. In the metro. The agent accepts it. And I’ve ticked off the United Nations.

The broker at Public Auto Insurance is fit, and very helpful, for a commission of $50. She checks all my documents, praises the preparation, calculates the necessary credit points for Proof of Identity. After an hour, I finally go to the DMV New York after two days without a cold sweat at 30 degrees and trembling knees. I didn’t want to believe, after all the precipitation, that this was finally it. And it wasn’t.

Fourthly: The Americans have been crazy since 9/11. To make a long story short: in the state of New York it is practically impossible to get the necessary 6 credit points for the Proof of Identity without a visa. It would be wonderful if these morons would mention this somewhere in plain language. Therefore: I am not me. Or: Allemagne. Zero points. Just like the Eurovision Song Contest. My passport counts for nothing (wrong stamp), my German driving licence counts for nothing (that Nazi paper won’t help ya), my credit card counts for nothing (so where’s the holograph?), and all the rest doesn’t help me either. I’m not a member of the US armed forces, I don’t have a New York gun licence, and I’m not enrolled at a high school in New York…

In New York, I think it’s easier to get a pilot’s licence than to get a number plate. That’s understandable. If they’d given it to me, I’d probably have driven into a tower block first. American houses are just not built as sturdily, so you have to ensure “safety” elsewhere.

What remains is the positive rest: I only lose $500 from the emergency car sale. I won’t have any engine damage. I’ll build up muscle until I drop while dragging my 45kg of luggage all over the USA. I won’t have an accident and I won’t have to pay a million dollars for a fingernail. I’ll get to know more people, on the bus, on the train, on the journey. I’ll have to concentrate on far fewer places, but at least I’ll be able to experience them really intensely.

Please, dear people who found this page via Google: don’t make the same mistake!
Buying a car in New York, USA is expensive, tedious and stressful.
Everyone will tell you something different, especially insurance companies.

Go flying, cycling or hitchhiking.
Or go all Forest Gump.

I’m walking
yes indeed i’m walking…