Canadian tourist purchasing a car in Los Angeles

[canuckabroad]

Originally Posted by smokingGun

I've heard that the finance arms of many automakers have stopped leasing to foreigners because of fraud & theft issues. This is especially true with luxury brands. It's too hard for the credit agencies to verify foreign credit & ID since any white collar thief can easily procure fake passports and pose as someone else. Once you leave the lot you could have that Mercedes on a boat to Macao the very same day!

that is very discouraging for us trying to actually live there.

[jaypee]

Originally Posted by canuckabroad

I just saw that link again and I'm exempt from an SSN because of my Canadian passport which is a goo thing. However, it says...

"If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents."

you're right, my bad. It also says "If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver license as long as your home state license remains valid." so I'm not sure why dealers are telling you you can't drive it off the lot w/o a CA DL. I'm sure they'd sell it to someone from another state just fine.

Your other option is to purchase a used car from a private party.

[drshang]

What visa do you have?

If you are coming here on a tourist visa, you are a "visitor." And you aren't able to live in the US for a year straight on a Canadian tourist visa.

If you are coming here on a visa that allows you to live here for a year or longer, you should be able to get all the documentation to purchase a car and do the registration stuff.

There is almost no way the CA residency requirement applies to tourists, even if they are here longer than a couple weeks.

My guess is if you are here on a tourist visa as a visitor, it will be difficult to get financing to purchase a car, in addition to the issues being a Canadian. I know people who have been in the US temporarily will just purchase a relatively cheap used car with cash, then sell it when they leave. I think this should be doable on a tourist visa, if that is what you are on.

[canuckabroad]

Originally Posted by drshang

What visa do you have?

If you are coming here on a tourist visa, you are a "visitor." And you aren't able to live in the US for a year straight on a Canadian tourist visa.

If you are coming here on a visa that allows you to live here for a year or longer, you should be able to get all the documentation to purchase a car and do the registration stuff.

There is almost no way the CA residency requirement applies to tourists, even if they are here longer than a couple weeks.

My guess is if you are here on a tourist visa as a visitor, it will be difficult to get financing to purchase a car, in addition to the issues being a Canadian. I know people who have been in the US temporarily will just purchase a relatively cheap used car with cash, then sell it when they leave. I think this should be doable on a tourist visa, if that is what you are on.

that's exactly what i'm on. Just got a message from a dealer saying that if i purchased the car (fully paid for it upfront) i should not have a problem.

so, to sum up, it becomes very tricky, almost impossible to finance in LA as a tourist on a extended vacay, but a lot of people seem to buy a used car and then sell it.

[marumut]

Originally Posted by canuckabroad

that's exactly what i'm on. Just got a message from a dealer saying that if i purchased the car (fully paid for it upfront) i should not have a problem.

so, to sum up, it becomes very tricky, almost impossible to finance in LA as a tourist on a extended vacay, but a lot of people seem to buy a used car and then sell it.

that's right. if i were you, just go and buy a cheap used car and then you can resell it for profit. and it all makes sense now. my uncle, who never supposedly gave up his canadian citizenship, always buys used cars. remember that there are many used cars that are better than most new cars. and if you make sure that the car has less than 100000 miles, you should be fine.

[C2ShiningC]

Originally Posted by canuckabroad

I do not want to stay in LA for a year or possibly longer without a car. Especially since I can afford it.

Originally Posted by canuckabroad

that is very discouraging for us trying to actually live there.

Originally Posted by drshang

My guess is if you are here on a tourist visa as a visitor, it will be difficult to get financing to purchase a car, in addition to the issues being a Canadian. I know people who have been in the US temporarily will just purchase a relatively cheap used car with cash, then sell it when they leave. I think this should be doable on a tourist visa, if that is what you are on.

Originally Posted by canuckabroad

that's exactly what i'm on.

You should probably read this: Entering the U.S. | Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada

"Note: Canadian citizens do not require a visa to enter the United States directly from Canada for the purposes of visiting or studying."

"Canadian visitors are generally granted a stay in the U.S. for up to six months at the time of entry. Requests to extend or adjust a stay must be made prior to expiry to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. All Canadians are reminded that U.S. law requires all foreigners to qualify for the desired stay and purpose at the time of their intial entry. A visitor who intends to live, work or study in the U.S. may be permanently barred from the U.S."