Cars & Driving
3guides
New vs used, insurance that won't bankrupt you, and the DMV paperwork.
Buying a car: new vs used, dealer vs privateMost newcomers buy used — but with no US credit history, financing is expensive, so cash for a modest used car is often the smart first move. The vehicle-history report is your best friend.
Car insurance — mandatory, and priced against you at firstDriving without insurance is illegal in nearly every state, and insurers price newcomers as brand-new drivers because your foreign record usually doesn't count. Premiums fall as your US history builds.
Title, registration, plates and inspectionsBuying the car is step one; making it legal is step two. Every state runs its own DMV process for title transfer, registration and plates — with deadlines that arrive fast after purchase.