I’m heading over to the US next year to start out at a CCC and then transfer to a university to save a lot of money. As I will spend 2 years at a cc i feel like i’m in need of a car because there’s no dorms and i would have to live some miles away.
But just how expensive is the the insurance for a regular car, nothing crazy for internationals? I was thinking about getting a used Volvo as they are very popular in my home country but it turns out that in America they are apparently seen as a “luxury” car. In my home country they are the most popular car and not seen as particularly luxurious. Are all European cars seen as luxury cars in USA? Maybe it’s better to get something American then? I have a budget for around $4500 for a car purchase.
In the state of California.
Oh, and can i drive on my international drivers license or would i have to get a state one?
$4500 won’t get you much. You will need a reliable car, one that will not cost you very much in fuel, maintenance, and insurance. I would suggest you look at Japanese cars, specifically Toyotas and Hondas. They are widely available, most mechanics can work on them, and their prices are reasonable in the used car market. I assume you are in your teens or early 20s and the insurance rates for that age group are the highest. I would think your insurance rates can be as high as $150-200 a month. You will probably also have to pay for parking at your CC campus.
In California you will find a high percentage of the cars are Asian. I would stick with something practical and in particular abundance on the used car market, which means the Toyota Corolla (highly reliable and gets good gas mileage) and the Honda Civic (also very reliable). California insurance is also very high, so there is that. You can probably get away with using your international drivers license, but others with more experience may correct me.