Moving several states, considering buying new car?

[shojimoji]

Hey guys,
My husband and I are planning on moving from New York to Louisiana and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on bringing our own car with us or selling it and leasing one down there for the duration of my residency? I want something reliable so i'd like a new car. I also don't want to deal with paying for registration again and doing the whole drive from NY to Louisiana as well as the wear on the car from that.

Thanks

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[link2swim06]

I don't think driving on the highway half way across the country one-way is really much wear and tear in the grand scheme of things (probably less than a 1,000 miles). You are going to pay registration for a new car too (probably a lot more, depending on how Louisiana does taxes).

If you want a new car because you want a new car then ok.

Or if your car is horribly unreliable then ok.

But I don't think the move or new location should have anything to do with it (from a logical/financial aspect). If you were going to buy a new car if you stayed in NY anyhow, then go for it!

And you could just use this, to avoid all wear and tear:

 

[RangerBob]

I agree--unless you just really want a new car (and residency really isn't the time to buy one unless your spouse makes a good salary) or your car is really unreliable, you're probably best off keeping your car. I've driven from SF to Chicago back to SF back to Chicago and then to Seattle, back to SF and then back to Chicago and then back to La only to come back to the Midwest.... Point is, cars these days are meant to be reliable and "high mileage" is a relative term these days if you take care of your car. My car has about 180,000 and is worth about $2000 according to KBB--it's worth far, far more than that to me because it's reliable and it gets me where I need to go. Add in heated seats and an automatic car starter and it'd be 100% perfect.

If your car is reliable and paid off, you will be immensely grateful during residency. Plus, older and ugly cars are cheaper to insure. And the registration isn't too bad--you're talking about $100-$250 usually. Which as mentioned, you have to pay anyway if you get a new car...

I'd recommend avoiding the U-Haul and car carrier setup if possible--it's kind of miserable to drive a rig that big unless you're used to it, but my wife and I managed on our last trip by using walkie-talkies. That way we were able to take all our stuff in the U-Haul, tow my car, and drive her car all in one trip.

I'll end by saying I'm also immensely biased--I love road trips. It's 95% of the fun of moving (the other 5% is finding a new place. Unpacking is about %0 fun...)

 

[shojimoji]

I agree--unless you just really want a new car (and residency really isn't the time to buy one unless your spouse makes a good salary) or your car is really unreliable, you're probably best off keeping your car. I've driven from SF to Chicago back to SF back to Chicago and then to Seattle, back to SF and then back to Chicago and then back to La only to come back to the Midwest.... Point is, cars these days are meant to be reliable and "high mileage" is a relative term these days if you take care of your car. My car has about 180,000 and is worth about $2000 according to KBB--it's worth far, far more than that to me because it's reliable and it gets me where I need to go. Add in heated seats and an automatic car starter and it'd be 100% perfect.

If your car is reliable and paid off, you will be immensely grateful during residency. Plus, older and ugly cars are cheaper to insure. And the registration isn't too bad--you're talking about $100-$250 usually. Which as mentioned, you have to pay anyway if you get a new car...

I'd recommend avoiding the U-Haul and car carrier setup if possible--it's kind of miserable to drive a rig that big unless you're used to it, but my wife and I managed on our last trip by using walkie-talkies. That way we were able to take all our stuff in the U-Haul, tow my car, and drive her car all in one trip.

I'll end by saying I'm also immensely biased--I love road trips. It's 95% of the fun of moving (the other 5% is finding a new place. Unpacking is about %0 fun...)

What car u driving? did you buy it new?

 

[GoWiththeFlo]

If you want a new car, then get one. Buying a new car vs. repairing the older one is an emotional decision. It is cheaper to fix the clunker, but you want a new car so I say get one. If you buy the car in NY, and don't want to drive it, you can ship it. Car carriers come to your home, pick it up, and deliver to you. It will cost more than driving but then you do not put mileage on a leased vehicle. When you move to the state of La you will have to register the car there and also get an La license, that is the law. In all states, if you are residing there more than 30 days, you must register in their state, the state wants the revenue. Do you need the car now? If so buy in NY and re-register it. Leasing companies can charge up to $500 for their side of the paperwork to re-register. Good luck.

 

[RangerBob]

What car u driving? did you buy it new?

I have a Ford pick-up. My dad bought it new and passed it down to me. It had a lot of miles on it by that time but it's been nice and reliable. I'd love to have a more fun vehicle (I always thought a Wrangler would be cool) but it's so reliable and practical it doesn't make sense now.

I plan to keep driving this car even after I'm an attending. But my wife and I also have more student debt than most so we also have to be more practical than most people. If you have the money, there's nothing wrong with buying a new car--you're getting a nice warranty, the latest in safety developments, etc.

 

[Krahis]

But I don't think the move or new location should have anything to do with it (from a logical/financial aspect). If you were going to buy a new car if you stayed in NY anyhow, then go for it!

And you could just use this, to avoid all wear and tear:

This is exactly how I moved from PA to FL for school.. And back again.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

And you could just use this, to avoid all wear and tear:

A few thousand miles on a car is better option than going the u-haul route, where you get screwed on gas, and those things aren't necessarily reliable. I'd rather take the odds on driving my way old honda than that.

Instead, do this -- http://www.upack.com

 

[shojimoji]

A few thousand miles on a car is better option than going the u-haul route, where you get screwed on gas, and those things aren't necessarily reliable. I'd rather take the odds on driving my way old honda than that.

Instead, do this -- http://www.upack.com

I think that's what i'm going to end up doing that how convenient

 

[ThoracicGuy]

I think that's what i'm going to end up doing that how convenient

I've done that on every move I've done in the last 10 years. It's so much easier to do. Hire some people to load the truck, then they pick it up and drop it off at the new place. You just drive there in your own car. Hire someone to unload and you're good to go.

 

[gutonc]

The last time we moved across country we did the Truck+Trailer thing but mostly because we were stopping halfway to pick up a bunch of furniture from the in-laws. If we hadn't done that we would definitely have done a PODS/UPack type thing and driven our car.

 

[link2swim06]

A few thousand miles on a car is better option than going the u-haul route, where you get screwed on gas, and those things aren't necessarily reliable. I'd rather take the odds on driving my way old honda than that.

Instead, do this -- http://www.upack.com

I think that ends up being a good bit more expensive for most moves, although it is certainly more convenient.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

I think that ends up being a good bit more expensive for most moves, although it is certainly more convenient.

Depends on how much stuff you're moving. I found it to be one of the cheapest ways...