LarryfromOZ
Australia
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Hi everyone I am new here on the forum. We are Aussies, and we are thinking about coming to the US and buying a used motorhome to travel around in, go home, come back and travel some more.
My wife has relatives in Oregon and we have been told this is a good place to buy as there is no "sales tax" on RV's there. Is this so???
We are only going to spend about $20,000.00 or so and wondering if anyone can advise on what we could expect to get for this.
The other question we have is regarding insurance and registration. We will be able to use the relatives address for registration purposes, etc. Can someone give me any idea on how much we should expect to pay for insurance. I know this is a very open ended question, but assuming a clean driving record and a m/h worth about $20K and approx 150 days usage per year, any ideas???
What does the insurance cover?? Damage to someone elses vehicle, my RV, other people or proberty, public liability????
Hope to get some ideas from you.
Larry from Oz
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RedRollingRoadblock
Oregon
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Joined: 11/26/2007
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There is no sales tax in Oregon on anything.
In Oregon your registration fees are based on length and are good for two years. Oregon Fees. This chart is for Motorhomes only.
OR Insurance Requirements. This is the MINIMUM requirements that you must have. If you own the MH with a clear title you do not have to have comprehensive coverage (coverage to repair your MH.) As for cost that is very open ended. Any company doing business or selling insurance for Oregon based vehicles will or should know the minimum requirements.
Using your relatives address might be a gray area. My guess is that if you bought it in Oregon and have the insurance taken care of the DMV won't bat an eye.
For $20k I would start looking on Craigslist and private party sales.
You might check regarding driving on a foreign driver license.
Good Luck.
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tatest
Oklahoma
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You may need to use the relatives names, in addition to their address, in which case insurance rates will depend on their address and driving record.
Measures put in place the past few years to deny potential terrorists means of identification and transportation have had an impact on the ability of non-resident visitors to buy and register motor vehicles. It is about trying to distinguish visitors from residents, and that we use a driving permit as an identification document, lacking a national ID lesser than a passport. E.G. need a state driver's license to register a car (if the law works right, to just purchase a vehicle), but can't get driver's license without resident ID.
There is generally no problem in the USA using your own country's driving permit to drive a vehicle owned and insured by someone else, if you are here on a tourist, student, or short term work visa. It doesn't matter whether that would be rented or "loaned" to you.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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Klueck
Georgia
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You may have trouble getting insurance without a US drivers license, and a valid US address.
You will need to register the motorhome in the state is is "based" in. You may have some trouble there using relatives address.
Each state determines the minimum coverage required.
Liability coverage will be required. That covers damage to other peoples property as well as any bodily injury you may cause. If you are at fault for any damage and the amount of damage (bodily injury or physical damage to property) is over your liability limits, the injured party can go after (sue) you and your assets. You should have high enough liability limits to cover your assets.
Comprehensive coverage covers damage to your mh from anything other than collision. Tree falls on it, theft, hail damage, flood, animal impact, etc.
Collision covers YOUR vehicle if you collide with something...another car, tree, pothole...you are subject to the deductible you choose.
If you have an accident that is someone else's fault, you can file under your own collision coverage or the other persons liability coverage.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage covers YOUR vehicle and YOU (for injury) if you are hit by an at fault driver who has no insurance or doesn't have high enough liability limits. It can pay for your MH damage as well as your medical bills, pain and suffering, work loss.
Those are the basic things on insurance. If you finance the MH, you will be required to carry liability as well as comprehensive and collision.
If you misrepresent any facts to your insurance company as to who owns the MH, where you live, or anything like that it could be grounds for denying any claim based on material misrepresentation, or just plain fraud. The last thing you need is to have a claim that is not covered. Think, major damage to a gas station overhang, fire to the building, injuries to innocent people....Not to scare you, just want you to understand why insurance is important and why you don't want to misrepresent the facts.
A previous post about using the relatives names would not be something I would be comfortable with.
I guess the first thing you should check is whether you would need a US drivers license and if so how to get it. You could use relatives address as a temporary address.
Good luck to you and I hope you will be able to make this work. I don't want to scare you into not making this trip, but just be aware of the issues. It would be a great trip!
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Kirk
Livingston, Texas.
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Let me invite you to read this pagewhich was written by one of your countrymen who owns an RV in the USA and who is currently here doing just as you wish to do. Bruce has owned a previous RV here and is a very experienced RV owner and international traveler.
And I'd like to give you an early welcome to the USA!
Good travelin! ........Kirk
Professional Volunteer
URL: www.adventure.1tree.net
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Little Kopit
TheMaritimes.ca
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Thanks, Kirk, I also found that useful, as one planning a trip to Oz.
& I, I took the road less travelled by.
My Photo Album, featuring Labrador 2006
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McGoo
Wherever we stop!
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You may want to talk to a pro:http://www.explorerrv.com/
Ahh ( - )~( - )
McGoo (,,)
you've done it again!
http://mcgoo.weebly.com/
"The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates." - Tacitus
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LarryfromOZ
Australia
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Thanks for that Kirk, coincidentally as it turns out, I know Bruce. He was a director of our motorhome club (CMCA) here in OZ. Some useful information there and definitely some more research to do.
Taking this in a slightly different direction.
If I were to borrow a motorhome that was owned, registered and insured by a friend or relative who is a US citizen and lives in the US. What additional steps would I or they need to take??
I assume they would need to notify their insurance company that I was to be included as a driver and this may then affect their insurance premiums.
Is there anything else that should be considered??
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Really, the only stipulation would probably be to let the insurance company know that it was being used by someone other than the registered owner. They would probably want to give you a letter stating that you have permission to use the motor home, and then you would want to carry proof of insurance showing the same thing. Should be fairly easy.
BTW Insurance for RV's in the USA is normally written and paid for for the full year. The cost of that insurance is generally based on part time usage. So it is covered even if parked. That is one reason insurance premiums are so low for an RV.
This idea might be the simplest solution. Have the relatives buy the MH and register it in their names. You of course would be the one paying the bills. And they could have your permission to use it when you are not in country.
In the Portland area there are several reputable dealers selling used RV's. Craigslist can be a good place to also search. Depending on the size of MH you want 20K US could get you a pretty nice medium sized motor home or a really junky large MH.
Donn
Finally able to camp again after a two year hiatus.
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LarryfromOZ
Australia
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Thanks Donn, looks like you read my mind with the buy, register and insure by the relatives with me payng the bills. Seems like this could be the way to go. I will be looking for a "nice" medium size unit that will be easier to get around in and park. In Australia I have a 23 foot converted Hino wide body bus at the moment but had a 36 footer before that.
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