Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   The International Automotive Scene (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/international-automotive-scene/)

-   -   Guide: First-time car ownership in the USA (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/international-automotive-scene/168455-guide-first-time-car-ownership-usa-8.html)

For newer used cars at a great price delivered to your door, checkout beepi.com Incredible service, car delivered to your doorstep on a flatbed, you dont like it, return it within one week. A friend of mine got it delivered, it was in pristine condition, easily $2k lesser than Carmax for a $30k car.

Vroom is also another service that offers pretty much the same features. They have their showroom in Texas. I have looked at their listings and they are very competitively priced. No questions asked 7 day return policy and they even buy your car for more than what Carmax offers, according some other forums.

This is an interesting article that compares them both: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2...ieds/32296841/

Btw, wanted to let you know that I ended up buying a Corolla from Hertz since I am expected to stay here only for an year or so. Have been renting this car for a few weeks after my arrival here before I checked with them if I can buy it. It went through some internal process which took about a month after which they agreed. Overall itss a bit of a lengthy procedure, mainly due to my limited credit history here, but I managed to complete the transaction in late January. I also did a complete check up of the car in a FNG. Experience has been wonderful so far. The car is a Feb 2015 model driven about 19k kms. Paid 13.1 k all inclusive. Will post detailed report later in another thread.

Settling on a Corolla soon for a few months, will transfer to my spouse and get something better.

LE Plus model comes with fabric seats and I hate them. Does the concept of Art leather exist in US? I am not able to locate anything cheaper than $500-600. Also need switched type steering covers.

Is this what you are looking for??
http://katzkin.com/
http://www.shopsar.com/toyota-coroll...kin-toycor.htm

Very reputed company.

Yes, but look at the cost. I thought $400 was a possibility. I don't see for that range.

Btw one the advantage of fabric seats that i realized recently is that they don't heat up as much as leather, same for cold weather as well.

I agree. People upgrade to high end fabric. Issue for me is dust and with kids maintainence is difficult. Fake leather goes by name of PU/vinyl here. Need to search. For me interiors matter most.

Finally got perforated leather from Clazzio. Good quality I must say and tight fit except for the portion that touches your back. $450 and free shipping, came in 3 days.
Also got wheelskins for the steering wheel, they are stitch on type and excellent quality for $49. Both were done DIY and took a lot of time to finish.

Have a quick question on license plates. How many days does it usually take for the DMV to send your plates? Also what is the process if you change your address?

Usually the dealer gets your plates by a week or so. You can ride in that temp plates for 15 days i guess.

Once you change address most DMV's have online option to update your address and there by generate a sticker that you can paste on the back of your license. You dont have to change the license at this point. Registration renewal and many such options are online.

In Kansas and Missouri you could just go to the DMV to register your car and you would walk out of their office with your plate(s). They even let me chose from several ones which one I wanted.
Jeroen

Classio is a good choice, lots of guys in our car club vouch for clazzio.
However, the 2nd part is very state specific. Look at the local DMV website I guess for details,

I meant if someones getting it from DMV. If you are taking the title with you you can get the plates with you.

Usually the dealers take care of the registration and that takes a weeks time.

Yes, if you buy from a dealer, typically the dealer will arrange the plates. But if you buy from a dealer outside the state you are living in, I'm not so sure.

If you buy yourself, e.g. second hand, or you move from state to state, you need to arrange it yourself. These dates I believe many states offer reasonable online service and you would get the plates send home. But you need to check. DMV's are essentially run locally, so what works in one state might not work or apply in the next state. When we lived in the USA, online services were hardly available yet.

Also, in some states there is a requirement for a car that is being registered to have some sort of inspection. In Kansas that was done by the Police Department. Essentially, not much more then a VIN check, again dealers normally would take care of it, on new and second hand cars if applicable, but you can do it yourself or have to do it yourself if you are buying from another individual.

Good luck. It's always a little bewildering but most DMV's have good information on their website and you can just call them too. In fact I would strongly advise to do so, irrespective what you read on forum such as these.
My experience is already 6-7 years old. Lots can change, so give the DMV a call and you (should get 100% accurate and reliable information


Jeroen

Received my plates today after about 3 weeks. In Texas, it\'s only one sticker for registration. This yearly registration thing is intriguing. Perhaps a way for the DMV to make money. But see tons of cars with outdated stickers.

Missed to mention, this was a certified 2014 end Corolla LE plus with less than 15k on the odo. My drive out cost was 16K.
Finance deal was not great, 8% APR for 24months, 8K down. Ok considering zero credit history.