Car Leasing
 

Hi all,

It's looking promising that my company are going to transfer me from the UK to our office in California, and I know if it gets a approved everything is going to move fast as they are desperate to bring me over! I'm just doing all my research into everything now!

I currently have a car financed through Ford UK which I've had for 2 years... I'm in talks with them at the minute to see if I can come to an agreement about how I'm going to settle my finance/hand the car back - even discussing whether something could be arranged between them and Ford USA.

In the US, will I struggle leasing a car? Can they base my credit on anything I had in the UK? If I went directly with Ford USA do you think I would have an easier time leasing a car since I've used Ford UK for 2 years?

Also, what's car insurance like in CA? Is it generally cheap or will I struggle getting decent quotes - hopefully they won't be as extortionate as UK prices!!

Appreciate your help,

Ash

Re: Car Leasing
 

Nobody takes into account anything from the UK so you just have to live with the fact that you'll be starting from zero.

Having said that, I didn't have any trouble getting car finance. I rented a car for 4 weeks before buying a car from Ford. You have to settle for a higher than usual interest rate until you build up your credit. Fully comp insurance for me on a new fiesta is $110 per month.

Re: Car Leasing
 

I thought that might be the case, hopefully I'll be ok buying from Ford.

I was surprised at the cost of Fords on their US website compared to the same car over here!

What are generally the cheapest insurance companies over there just so I can keep for reference?

Re: Car Leasing
 

I found Progressive to be the cheapest for me.

Re: Car Leasing
 

There is no such company that is "cheapest", it depends too much on your location (state and town), what sort of coverage you want, if you're willing to plug big brother into the car or not and a whole host of other factors.

Some will take UK NCB into account, others won't. In some states, they'll check your credit, in others they can't. Some will take education into account, a lot of them take your job into account etc etc. It's a bit of a minefield.

Expect it to be expensive at the beginning, especially if you don't get a US license before you buy a car. Also, keep in mind that the policy limits over here are much lower than in the UK and that state minimum insurance is usually a joke.

Re: Car Leasing
 

Absolutely, I agree. It's best to weigh it all up for yourself based on your circumstances. It is a good idea to get your social security number and drivers license as soon as possible as then all the paperwork will be a lot smoother.

Re: Car Leasing
 

Ford here are not the same quality as in Europe, even the head of design in Detroit imported a Mondeo because in her own words 'They are the best car Ford make' they have no started making them here using the 'Fusion' name. The choices are limited also.
Car loans or leases are the best way to kick start your credit rating here. I got a car loan for a new car two days after starting my first job here. They are also the easiest credit to get.

Re: Car Leasing
 

Before moving to CA, I started the car leasing process with international autosource. Their customer service was A+, answered all my queries and provided unmatched quotes for the ford vehicles. After arriving here, went to many car dealers for almost all American and non-American brands, and as mentioned above, the quote for ford vehicles through IA was better than the dealers on the ground - if helps, you can find the quotes if you search for one of my threads on this matter.

Likewise the search for the "cheap" insurance was extensive, spoke with all mainstream insurers including the ones offering employee discounts through my firm, the cheapest quote for wife and I holding UK DL was around $250 per month for two new ford vehicles. Before concluding the deal with IA for ford vehicles, I went into a VW dealership in the South Bay and ended up leasing two new VW Passats on 0% down payment for $560 PCM (including all taxes etc). The process took 4hrs including the insurance piece. The agent at the dealer was English, he knew a broker, he came to the dealership completed the paperwork and I got the minimum CA coverage for wife and I for $157 per month. VW offers an expat package and don't need credit history. The post sales service was brilliant and I'm a happy chap.

Hope this helps.

P.S: for leasing, you need social security number and a letter confirming salary and employment from the employer if you don't have a pay stub (SSC can take upto 6 weeks to arrive from the day of application). For insurance, UK DL and scanned copy of your degree (they give you discount if you are a graduate - I would have received a further 10% discount if I had the CA DL). Some insurers don't even give an insurance quote until you have the California DL.

Re: Car Leasing
 

Thanks all for your responses!

I have been looking at IA but am I right In saying that it has to be arranged in the UK before entering the US?

Is the expat package with VW standard in all dealers in the US and are there restrictions to it? Do you also know whether there are any other car dealerships that do expat packages?

Driving is going to be a must for me but I'm under the impression that you can only drive on a UK license for 10 days if you become a CA resident - if this is the case then I will probably go down the route of getting my CA licence ASAP and then start looking at leasing.

In CA is it similar to the UK where there is a huge waiting list for driving tests? If so, how long does it usually take to be able to take a test?

Another question (maybe a stupid question) but will having points on my UK license affect me in any way having a CA license?

Re: Car Leasing
 

You are 'supposed' to get it sorted in 10 days but in actuality, there are a few things that slow this down. Your SSN will probably take around that long, then another couple of weeks to get a test sorted.

Your closest DMV will be in Newhall and it doesn't seem too busy as long as you book an appointment for things. I had points on my UK license and it made no difference.

I took my test in a rental, then got my car after passing. About 3-4 weeks after arriving if I remember correctly.

Re: Car Leasing
 

Thinking about it, I'm not going to be able to do my test in a rental car as I'm under 25 and don't want to pay the extortionate extra daily fees for under 25s.

What do I do in this situation? Sort my car out, insure it under my UK driving licence, take test, change insurance to CA DL??? But by the time I'm ready to take my test my 10 days will be up on my UK licence so would that make my insurance invalid to take a drivers test?

Re: Car Leasing
 

The ten day limit is unachievable in almost all cases, and rarely enforced. Be sure to be able to show that you were working towards getting your DL as quickly as possible, but scheduling and taking a road test within ten days just isn't possible, and everyone knows that, including the police.

Re: Car Leasing
 

Thanks, that's good to know. Hopefully I'll get away with it as I will be doing everything I can to get my CA DL as soon as possible. I probably won't drive much on my UK license anyway but will need to insure my car using it as soon as I get it just so that I can take my test. I'm assuming I can take my test in a car insured under my UK license? Or is there some kind of provisional lisence that's needed first like there is in the UK?

Also, I know my insurance will probably be more expensive under my UK DL but when I pass, will my insurance be reduced when I phone them to tell them I now have my CA license?

Re: Car Leasing
 

No, your UK license will be fine, and many of us here, including me, showed up to the road test driving on our UK license, and nobody has ever reported that it phased the examiner.

Re: Car Leasing
 

We moved to California (SF Bay Area ) 2 weeks ago.

Re leasing, we have leased a vw Jetta SE from vw directly (their foreign professional programme). It's cost us $298 a month over 25 months for 15k miles a year including some damage waiver, so any dings etc upto $5000 are no longer our problem! We needed a SSN for this, but hubby came here 3 weeks before we moved so got one then.

Insurance cost us $170 a month for the Jetta with Geico. We pay $290 a month for the Jetta and a 2000 Mazda MPV. Expensive, but ok for an expa with no history.

Tried to book my written test today...earliest appointment is 14 oct for me and 31 oct for my husband....so not 10 days then! Still, at least we can say we tried and. Can't sit in the DMV for 4 hours...child 2 gets out of school at 12.30 and with the 101 traffic there is no way I can be there before 9!!

Re: Car Leasing
 

Ps, my insurance won't get the "good driver" discount and be cheaper u til I have had a us licence for 18 months....and that's taking into account t my uk history and reduces the time by half

Re: Car Leasing
 

Oh that doesn't sound too bad. To be honest I'm used to high monthly payments for my finance over here and having to pay ridiculously high monthly insurance costs due to my age so it won't be that much of a shock to me!

So, are you still driving your cars on your UK lisences even though your CA tests aren't booked in until October? Do you know roughly how long it took for your husbands SSN to come through? I will more than likely be going out on a pre-visit but not sure if I can apply for a SSN until I've officially moved out there.

Are there any other requirements that VW need you to meet to be able tot take advantage of there offers for expats?

Re: Car Leasing
 

Ssn took 10 days I think. I'm going to try and go to a walk in appointment at the dmv, but can't wait too long cos I have no one to pick up my daughter from school. Have a print out of the appointment in my car to show I'm trying to take the test! vw ended copied of visa etc, plus references but all pretty standard

Re: Car Leasing
 

Insurance, be prepared for $1000 per six months, be happy if it's less.

It's all about level of cover though and you don't want state minimums, usually. There have been discussions, recently, about what kind of levels of cover you should be happy with.

Re: Car Leasing
 

VW seem to want the following...
- Proof of Income/Employment.
- Proof of Residence.
- 5 References.
- Copy of Social Security Card.
- Copy of Visa.
- Copy of Passport.

5 references is a bit vague, I think it is a simpler requirement than it sounds - anyone had experience and know if this is just names or is letters of affidavit etc?

Btw, did my written test last week in Los Gatos, went at 7.45 without appt, out by 10.30, but was pretty exasperating. Booking a behind the wheel was hard with the automated call line and multiple 25 minute waits. Eventually on one call offered a call back, which happened after 35 mins. Next available appt was early November, 6 week wait, and just before provisional licence expires...

Re: Car Leasing
 

Try test centers further out in the sticks, they usually have times available sooner. Admittedly I was in New York, but I kept on looking at test centers further and further away from NYC until I had reduced the local 3-4 months wait for a test, to a test the very next week! :)

Re: Car Leasing
 

Well I passed the written! 3 weeks to practice til my behind the wheel!

Re: Car Leasing
 

It's two references. It's dead easy, just write something along these lines:

To whom it many concern,

My name is Mr <insert name>. I am <insert your name> direct line manager at <company name>, located at <address>.

I write regarding a personal reference for <insert your name and address>.

I have known <your name> in a work capacity for a period of <number of> years. Throughout this time, <your name> has shown himself to be trustworthy and of excellent moral character.

My cell number is <cell number> should you wish to speak to me in person concerning this reference.

[..]

Done.