Buying and insuring a car in Florida

[fescalised portion]

Well, it looks like I'm off to florida in September for 6 months, to get some training under my belt.

I'm thinking of buying a small, cheap run-around for the duration of my stay.

Does anyone know what difficulties I might encounter with regard to not having a US driving licence and trying to get insurance sorted out. Is insurance expensive over there? Are there any pitfalls that I should be aware of?

Would anyone advise me against doing it?

Your thoughts and comments are much appreciated.

[My names Turkish]

You will need to get yourself a US driving licence. First of all the Americans have no understanding of what a foreign licence. The insurance companies wont accept a Internationl driving licence, and the law says you have to have one if your resident there for more then 28 days. When I purchased and insured my car, I was allowed by the insurers to drive on my Irish licence but they would not cover me after 1 month unless I had a US one. Shop around, prices vary wildly I got mine for about $80 a month. You can usually pay monthly so need only pay for as much as you use.

The US test is very easy. You wont believe me until after the test. Go to the test centre and get a booklet. Memorize all the info and take the multi choice test. Again a piece of cake, wrong answers very wrong etc. Test itself usually just a spin around the block, three point turn, driving straight forward into a coned parking space, nothing difficult. Hope that helps.

[el dorado]

Here's how it was in 1997/1998.

I seem to remember that you could drive on your original licence for a month if you're merely renting cars. They usually recognize the "International licence".

If you want to own a car you must insure it and to do this you require a Florida driving licence and proof of residence. By this I mean just a local adress, not residence permit.

The driving test is (was) a joke, you drive round a one-way carpark, looking out for all the hidden stop signs and old people, park up outside the office again and receive your licence five minutes later. Before the driving test you must complete two sides of A-4 questions about the rules of the road etc.. When I went there I wasn't even aware of the fact that there was a book to read so when I was asked if I had read the book my inner voice said "What book?" while what came out of my mouth was "Yes, of course". Don't worry, it's all so simple you'll laugh when you see it. If you've done a european driving test you won't have any problems answering the questions, it's all common sense. This doesn't stop some local residents failing five times but that's another matter.

Costs approx. 25 USD and you can go back as many times as you like. You only pay once you pass the driving test i.e. for licence issue. In fact they failed me first time because I didn't indicate enough in the one-way carpark. The next time I put the emergency indicators on full-time and drove very slowly. I even suggested that we could go out on the road to prove that I knew how to drive. The response to that was "Goodness no, have you seen how THEY drive out there?" Who would THEY be, the people who get their licences from you in this car park? I wondered.....

Insurance is dead easy, everybody goes for "No fault" insurance. Ask about that, not sure what this really means but it didn't cost too much for the old wreck that I had ($300).
Florida insurance is relatively expensive compared to other states because there are so many elderly people people who really shouldn't be driving but do anyway because it's the land of the free. More accidents that elsewhere.

If you've been insured for a few years (I think 4 years was the number mentioned) you can get a piece of paper from your insurance company in UK stating that you've been insured with them for so long and haven't had any accidents/made any claims.
This usually gets you a discount from insurers over there. Try it.

Of course the other useful side-effect of having a US licence is that you can use it to buy liqour and guns and ****. You won't be able to use your passport most of the time because it's not a "recognized" form of picture ID. Go figure.

Not a big deal, have fun.

[alec]

I have insurance on a car here in Florida and I only have a Irish pink paper licence,

My flatmate is from the UK, and he bought the car when he got over here last year, and he has a UK licence. I then bought half a share in it and phoned up the insurance company and put myself on the insurance, they asked me to get an American licence within the next six months, but they never followed up on it.

And in fact that very car is up for sale now $1,200.00 , 1992 Ford Thunderbird. Perfect for a runabout... must be sold before 10th of July or going over a bridge

I know a few people who have got the American licence. VERY easy test, done in the carpark of the test center and a few questions done on a computer, i think it costs $20, but they make you wait for 5hrs in the Sun. Long day if your trying to study for ATPLs

You will find the Insurance around $100 -$200 cheaper per 6mths if you have an American licence.
Check the web, Florida state law or Progressive.com
Anyway hope this helps,

[fescalised portion]

Thanks guys! Just the information I was looking for.
Looks like the US licence is the way to go.

[Squak2002]

Hi All,

Just to clear up one or two issues. When I arrive in Florida, can the test and licence issue be done within a few days or is there any sort of waiting list?

Just wondering as I want to get it sorted out as soon as possible.

Many thanks guys!

John

[Keygrip]

System, at the moment, varies slightly with different localities but some offices are open six days a week, some of them five days.

My local is closed Sunday and Monday.

You can normally book an appointment for a specific time - but will probably still have to queue. Waiting time at my local office is now some three to four hours (if no appointment made) - and this was just for a licence re-issue, no test.

The day will likely involve a bunch of crazy questions from somebody sat at a computer terminal (this is not part of the test - just the information gathering).

Then the written examination - most places are doing this as a multi-guess format on a computer with a touch screen (for those who cannot write [no - I'm not joking]).

The answers to all the questions (20 road signs and 20 'Rules of the road') can be found in the Florida Drivers Handbook (http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/handbooks/English/) - rules rarely change, so this outdated version will be sufficient.

Then the drive around the car park.

Another wait in the office - another question and answer session by the information gatherers - then a photograph by electronic camera. Sign your name on an electronic pad and you will eventually be given a temporary driving permit - valid for 30 days.

If all goes well, the poeple in Tallahassee (Florida capitol city) will eventually send you a credit card sized driving licence with your photo and signature on it. Total cost $20.

This full licence will be valid until your visa expiry date.

Where are you going in Florida to do all this? Ormond Beach, Orlando, Ft. Pierce, Stuart or Naples?

[Squak2002]

Key,

Many thanks for the information, very helpful indeed.
The idea of such a short waiting list is quite a new concept to me. Over here, I would have to send off the application for the driving test and then wait 12-18 Months for a slot. YES, i said MONTHS.

I am heading over the Naples for a year in September.


Cheers,
John

<<edit: Have you considered asking NAC for their advice and input???>>

[George Semel]

Well, my insurance runs just 300 dollars for 6mo on my 1991 VW. Its from GIECO. As for getting a Drivers lic. Things may have changed a bit on that since 9/11. The test is simple, the road test if they make you take one, is simple as well. You will kill a half a day at the DMV, but you only have to do it once. As for cars, gee's just about everybody and there mother too sells them. Your best deal will be on a 10 year old full size car, the ones like mine, its a Diesel is going for premium prices. You sould be able to find good cars for what you need and not have to spend much. What ever you buy, make sure, that its in good condition. What you want is somthing that will run, and not cost to much if somethings need repairs.

[El Desperado]

Buy an American car under 10 years old with an appropriate mileage. A Chevvy with 90,000 on it will last you forever and should, sadly, anything go wrong with it, American cars can be fixed for the price of a beer (ish... by that I mean every roadside garage has the parts and, technically, they are dinosaurs. No computer analysis or fault diagnosis at £30/hour... Volvo dealers take note... grrrr !)

If you can stretch to $2000, buy a more upmarket car - Cadillac or Oldsmobile. They tend to have been looked after, built like brick ****-houses and just don't go wrong in the important areas. When you leave you won't lose more than a couple of hundred dollars on it.

European cars.... status symbols, parts imported, costly to fix, more expensive to insure. I would avoid VW, BMW, anything like that.

The Chevvy Caprice or something like a 1990 Cadillac Sedan are your friends :) Ignore the wails about fuel prices in the USA currently - you still won't believe your wallet, even though fuel has doubled in Florida over the last year or so !

If you must be more fuel efficient, Japanese cars are very popular, but (in my experience) very shagged when used. They just don't seem to stand up to the climate as well as US cars.

[cjd_a320]

Haven't things got a little more difficult since 9/11??

http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/faqkeys.html#NonCitOff