kins

I bought a car in the US when I was 21, had no problems taxing, registering and insuring it. I was living here though, on a J-1 visa, and I had a social security number but no US licence.

If you had someone's address to use that might work when it comes to registering and taxing and insuring the car.

You need to decide which state you'll buy the car in, then check all the rules and registration procedures in that state.

Phone some insurance companies and see if they would even insure you.

Once it's registered in one state you should be able drive around the whole country.

In some states your car has to pass an emissions test - mine did in Washington State but not in Maine...

Big D

Yeah - we used Driveaway a few years ago - great way of doing it and you only pay the gas -plus you can go where the cars take you!

Ray

It has a minimum age of 23...

Big D

D'oh - I older than i thoughyt

mayhemuk

Look at this site http://www.roadtripamerica.com/
With respect to my fellow BEs advice you might get some more recent experience on there and they also have a forum.
Maybe consider doing this after Uni if you're planning to go??? You'll be over 21 and might open more avenues and reduce costs. The USA will still be here though what condition it'll be in is anyones guess! ;-)
Maybe by then they'll have adopted smaller engines so the gas bill for your trip will no longer be the biggest expense.

chicagojlo

I don't know which way round you are planning to go but a friend of mine bought a cheap motorbike in Mexico and drove it around California. Then sold it at the end of his trip! Maybe you can do the same with a car.

mayhemuk

Wife also said to point out that this won't be much of a party since you'll get carded for your age so no hanging out in bars etc etc or take outs for back at your room.
I even got carded the other day an I'm 38!
Clearly not an issue if you are a teetotal gap year person!!!

Thydney

Carded?

DollyLlama

photo ID to prove your age.
Surely you get carded all the time Thyd?

chicagojlo

I always forget about that, when I was planning a trip to Vegas on another board I couldn't help but feel sorry for all the 19 year old Brits having their Vegas trip hopes dashed!

Patrick Hasler

I have a badge that say's 'WORLDS BEST DAD' if thats any good

danfan

I always get carded and I'm 35. I look 35 too. I was flattered at first til the woman at the till said they card everyone who looks under 45 LOL

Thydney

Actually they card everyone here just never heard it called being carded. The local offy has a sign saying only people over 90 with both parents won't be id checked

Mallory

There's not much call for carding in Florida.

scrubbedexpat099

I was Carded at Washingto Airport once, apparently the card everybody, there was certainly a lady in her 60's who was carded.

I have rasied the issue about not being carded, the best response I had was thit was OK as you Mum was in yesterday and told me that you had just turned 21.