Elliecat

We've just moved to Maine on hubby's EB1A visa and working our way through things. Currently trying to close on a foreclosure -very traumatic! We've just bought a car with finance but hubby has a lifetime pension which they accepted as proof we could pay as we have no credit history here The issue on this is that the rate is horrendous. We looked for a cheap car ($3K) thought we had struck lucky with an Equinox which had been p/ex for a new vehicle at a reputable dealer. It turned out to be unroad worthy and couldn't get a sticker (US MOT equivalent). Be careful I would look at seeing if you can do a deal with an Uber car. Build up credit history and lease a car.

Asg123

I think you can rule out being able to buy a cheap reliable car from a dealer. But you do get ordinary honest people selling their cars privately. Someone bought a single-owner damage-free 15-year-old car privately on craigslist for $2,500, and it turned out to be reliable as the seller had said. So you could try buying a car on craigslist, but you need time, and you need to get there quickly.

Bob

I don't know about CA, but look on the DMV for the extras that go with buying the car.

Stuff like cost of a title, registration/plates, inspection, sales tax and possibly a town excise/property tax.

Spend a bit more of the $4K budget on the car and go for minimum state liabilities for insurance and hope you don't hit someone who is a high earner and have assets that'll be taken from you?

Pulaski

The OP could try selectively shopping for discontinued marques as they lose value rapidly and are often especially cheap.

The last marque to withdraw from the US market, I think, was Suzuki, about 4 years ago. SAAB, Pontiac, and Saturn were shut down by GM in 2009 or thereabouts. .... GM also shut down Hummer, but the OP isn't going to get a Hummer for his budget.

Bob

The last Saab was a 2011.

They are cheap to buy and reliable, especially in the colder states, but maintenance can become expensive. Up in Maine, they're pretty cheap and viable as there are a few junk yards that specialise in the parts but down in MA, not so much, so garages aren't as keen to get the parts that'll take a couple days to arrive.

mrken30

The OP could probably buy a car with a salvaged title for the money. Not something that I would do.

I was shocked when I moved here looking for a car for $10,000. Used cars are expensive on the whole in the US compared to the UK. I also got stung with "use tax" when I went to register the car.

michaeldc

Thanks everyone for all your replies. Still unsure what I will do but I'll figure it out when I arrive on Monday!

Uber: This would rack up pretty quick, I might have to during the first month if I can't find a car but I'm still hopeful I can figure something out.

Public Transport: I would gladly use public transport if I could but where I need to go each day, the transport links are poor and I will be meeting people all over LA. It's just not an option (much like cycling).

Financing from a dealer: As Pulaski said, I have no credit.

Buy here, pay here: Thanks Pulaski, I will definitely look into this.

Salvage title: Might not be as bad an idea as it sounds. Definitely cheap, maybe repaired well, would need a thorough check but I read there are bargains to be had.

Renting: For long periods this costs so much money, well over $1000 a month when I looked. Where did you see an LA rental for $570?

Private: This is my first port of call, someone selling a decent car for less than $2,600 privately. It could happen...

Bob: I'll check CA DMV for that information, hopefully it won't be too much of an expense to register the car.

Insurance: I reckon this will be upwards of a bag of sand for 6 months so $2,600 for the car (ish) and then money for all the fees (up to 10% for use tax alone) sounds about my max.

Upon buying a car I need to pay for the following:
Transfer
Use Tax - Based on new registered owner's city and county of residence
Registration Renewal
Planned Non-Operation
Duplicate Title

When a gas-powered vehicle is more than four model years old, or a diesel-powered vehicle 1998 year-model or newer and has a GVWR of 14, 000 pounds or less, the seller is required to obtain smog certification when transferring ownership of a vehicle UNLESS certification was obtained within the last 90 days.

Rete

Just a thought but try local garages. Mine in NYS sold cars that his customers were getting rid of when they were buying new ones. My daughter purchased a older Lexus for under $5,000 and he gave it a six month guarantee. This was three years ago and the car had over 100,000 miles at the time of purchase and is still running well (please don't let this jinx her).

michaeldc

Thanks Rete, I'll be having a good look around for sure

Pulaski

Try Kia and Hyundai dealers. Those cars are among the cheaper brands but still depreciate like a rock, so if they are traded in but too ratty to put on the forecourt and resell they are going to be pretty low value, and especially in the case of a Kia, not fit for much more than scrap.

By all accounts these brands are reasonably reliable, so should still be serviceable even if they are eight-ten years old and pretty tatty. So if one of those dealers has any trade-ins that they have stored around the back, waiting to be hauled off to auction, they may be the sort of car that you're looking for.

Rete

IMO Hyundai vehicles are great cars for a great price. I never found that depreciation was all that much particularly in comparison to other manufacturers.

I have owned only new Hyundai vehicles since 2001. They are not luxury priced autos but they are dependable, smart looking and well appointed. I purchased my last one off the showroom floor for $17,250 with sirrus radio, blue tooth, abs brakes, cruise control, etc., etc. My trade-in value on the Hyundai prior to that one (Sonata) with under 32,000 miles on it was just over 1/2 of the original retail price and the auto was 5 years old. Probably could have sold it for more privately.

PS My daughter drove my 2001 Elantra up to when you purchased the used Lexus 3 years ago. So that means the Elantra was nearly 13 years old and with over 100,000 miles on her.