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_MD_ · 05-10-2008, 11:38 PM

Hey guys,
I know this thread is not directly related to PhD in Econ, but for those of international students, could you give some advice about car prices, usage, regulations (insurance/ tax, etc...). Do you guys intend to buy one, or is it luxurious to have a car for graduate students in US? If you do, could you propose a brand, type, price range, or so on...
Thanks for all comments,

pevdoki1 · 05-10-2008, 11:47 PM

You can get a decent used car for $4000-$5000, but insurance might cost you up to $200/month, depending on your driving experience. I'm not sure how the motor vehicle department looks at driving experience from abroad. Gas prices are unfriendly ($3.50/gallon in the U.S.), but they are much worse in Europe.

I contemplated buying one, but it's probably an unnecessary expense. If you live close to campus or in a big city with a good public transportation system, there is really no reason to own a car.

Luckykid · 05-11-2008, 01:39 AM

Scooters are your best bet, I bought two for grad school(one for me and one for the Mrs.) because parking is a problem at most campus's. If you have never been to the US something to keep in mind is that it is HUGE! you will be amazed at how much more distance is between everything. 4-5K will get you a decent car but you could get away with $1500-$2000. You should only need liability insurance on a car that cheap so it would be about $100 per month. Your best bet would be to call the state DMV and see if your license will transfer then go online to get an insurance quote, esurance, state farm, geico, american family etc. most schools you could get by without a car but it is really nice to have one.

Roy

macroeconomicus · 05-11-2008, 02:34 AM

The car insurance figure sounds excessive. I think someone in mid 20s who's never driven in the united states before can get a minimal insurance contract for under $700 for six months when living in an expensive coastal state or a large city. This figure will go down considerably after two years of driving experience or if living elsewhere. If you attend a university in a large, densely populated urban area you might not need to have a car, but if you live in some small isolated college town, having a car could be handy to feel less isolated. And then there are a few, recently grown, sprawling large cities where you basically have to have a car, like it not (like say some large cities in Texas or Arizona, fortunately, most of good schools are not in such cities)

commodore · 05-11-2008, 03:10 AM

It certainly isn't necessary to have a car, but it sure is a nice luxury. It does depend where you live, but things like grocery shopping and just getting out of town are made much easier with a car. Here in New Haven, most students don't have cars. I'm sure they do fine without one, but I wouldn't want to live without mine. I drive to Wal-Mart to shop, to the next town up to go to church, and to go to the department on weekends (it's a 15-minute walk, and I'm lazy). It really depends on personal preferences. I'm from Texas and I have always gone everywhere in a car, so to me trains and buses seem inferior forms of transportation. Other students disagree, though.

GymShorts · 05-11-2008, 03:57 AM

What top-50 schools are best for not having a car?

macroeconomicus · 05-11-2008, 04:24 AM

I think any large, densely populated city with lots of walkable communities and functional public transport system should be a good place to live without a car. I suspect the usual suspects are Berkeley, Boston, Boulder, Chicago, NYC, Seattle, etc. I think having a car in some of such place could actually be a significant liability (need to look for housing with parking, pay high parking and insurance fees, etc).

_MD_ · 05-11-2008, 05:01 AM

Insurance sounds very costly indeed. So does one need a car in college park, maryland?

GymShorts · 05-11-2008, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _MD_

Insurance sounds very costly indeed. So does one need a car in college park, maryland?

I grew up a few miles from UMD, and the public transit system is great. The only down side is that I think you need to take a short shuttle to get to the Metro.

_MD_ · 05-11-2008, 02:40 PM

Thanks GymShorts

05-10-2008, 11:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
_MD_ FattiMaschii,ParoleFemine Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 17	Car in US Hey guys, I know this thread is not directly related to PhD in Econ, but for those of international students, could you give some advice about car prices, usage, regulations (insurance/ tax, etc...). Do you guys intend to buy one, or is it luxurious to have a car for graduate students in US? If you do, could you propose a brand, type, price range, or so on... Thanks for all comments,

05-10-2008, 11:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
pevdoki1 Preparing for MN winters Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 617	You can get a decent used car for $4000-$5000, but insurance might cost you up to $200/month, depending on your driving experience. I'm not sure how the motor vehicle department looks at driving experience from abroad. Gas prices are unfriendly ($3.50/gallon in the U.S.), but they are much worse in Europe. I contemplated buying one, but it's probably an unnecessary expense. If you live close to campus or in a big city with a good public transportation system, there is really no reason to own a car. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "Since it befalls, that in most instances Current opinion leans to false: and then Affection bends the judgment to her ply." Dante Alighieri Last edited by pevdoki1 : 05-11-2008 at 02:19 AM.

05-11-2008, 01:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Luckykid Within my grasp! Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 283	Scooters are your best bet, I bought two for grad school(one for me and one for the Mrs.) because parking is a problem at most campus's. If you have never been to the US something to keep in mind is that it is HUGE! you will be amazed at how much more distance is between everything. 4-5K will get you a decent car but you could get away with $1500-$2000. You should only need liability insurance on a car that cheap so it would be about $100 per month. Your best bet would be to call the state DMV and see if your license will transfer then go online to get an insurance quote, esurance, state farm, geico, american family etc. most schools you could get by without a car but it is really nice to have one. Roy _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ 9 for 25 out of 25 Attending: FSU Accepted, Declined offer: UAZ, MSU, UTenn($), UGA($), University on Houston ($), UKY($) Admit to MA, Declined offer : UW-Milwaukee, Connecticut Reject : Purdue, OSU, Texas A&M, NCSU, Rice, Penn State, Mich-Ann Arbor, ASU, UI-Bloomington, Iowa State, UVA, Vanderbilt, U of Iowa, UMass, U of OR(Ouch!), VTech

05-11-2008, 03:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
commodore Within my grasp! Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 378	It certainly isn't necessary to have a car, but it sure is a nice luxury. It does depend where you live, but things like grocery shopping and just getting out of town are made much easier with a car. Here in New Haven, most students don't have cars. I'm sure they do fine without one, but I wouldn't want to live without mine. I drive to Wal-Mart to shop, to the next town up to go to church, and to go to the department on weekends (it's a 15-minute walk, and I'm lazy). It really depends on personal preferences. I'm from Texas and I have always gone everywhere in a car, so to me trains and buses seem inferior forms of transportation. Other students disagree, though. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Yale Class of...2037?

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05-11-2008, 02:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
macroeconomicus Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 328	The car insurance figure sounds excessive. I think someone in mid 20s who's never driven in the united states before can get a minimal insurance contract for under $700 for six months when living in an expensive coastal state or a large city. This figure will go down considerably after two years of driving experience or if living elsewhere. If you attend a university in a large, densely populated urban area you might not need to have a car, but if you live in some small isolated college town, having a car could be handy to feel less isolated. And then there are a few, recently grown, sprawling large cities where you basically have to have a car, like it not (like say some large cities in Texas or Arizona, fortunately, most of good schools are not in such cities)

05-11-2008, 03:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
GymShorts Within my grasp! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 165	What top-50 schools are best for not having a car?

05-11-2008, 04:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
macroeconomicus Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 328	I think any large, densely populated city with lots of walkable communities and functional public transport system should be a good place to live without a car. I suspect the usual suspects are Berkeley, Boston, Boulder, Chicago, NYC, Seattle, etc. I think having a car in some of such place could actually be a significant liability (need to look for housing with parking, pay high parking and insurance fees, etc).

05-11-2008, 05:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
_MD_ FattiMaschii,ParoleFemine Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 17	Insurance sounds very costly indeed. So does one need a car in college park, maryland?

05-11-2008, 02:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
_MD_ FattiMaschii,ParoleFemine Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 17	Thanks GymShorts

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