Buying a car UK - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Munkeyrach · 04-04-2006, 06:27 AM

HelllOOoooOO

I will be going with my bf over to the UK at the end of April. This will be my first time overseas and backpacking. My bf wants to buy a car over there to travel around in, and is deffinatly set on the idea.

ANy hints or Tips would be greatly Appreciated.

Luv Rach*

Chocolaty Claire · 04-04-2006, 09:05 AM

I'm guessing it may be quite hard, because its illegal to have a car on the road without tax & insurance... and both of which you would need a permanent address here in the UK.

England is small enough to rely on trains and planes to get you to the best of places, but apart from that it may be a good idea to rent to get to those out-of-reach places... try Easy Rent a Car

**beergal** · 04-04-2006, 09:15 AM

good advice claire! The same also goes for if you try to get breakdown insurance

**bluepea** · 04-04-2006, 12:02 PM

Don't forget to factor in the cost of fuel.

**bassgirl79** · 04-04-2006, 01:16 PM

yeh petrol is expensive here

Munkeyrach · 04-04-2006, 04:44 PM

coool. he is still set on it either way so will be getting one I have seen heaps for sale on the gumtree.com and we will also be using the car to travel over into Europe. Most of the places we want to go are out of rech coz we will be camping heaps. hope it works out I am not to fussed thoe coz its his call LOL i will let yas know how it goes!

**Somnambulation** · 04-04-2006, 09:49 PM

Get a van. You cant go wrong with a van.

**bellelass** · 04-04-2006, 10:22 PM

of all the places to buy a car to travel about in, the uk would have to be last on my list... Everything is so fucking expensive there. And in the bigger cities you're really better off using public transport. Everyone else does it, its cheap, and you dont have to find/pay for parking. The train, bus, and air options are really good... Buses go everywhere. Seriously..

You sound like you're from Oz so at least you won't have to deal with the weirdness of switching sides to drive.. Thats a plus.

Munkeyrach · 04-04-2006, 10:50 PM

yeha i knwo the public transport is good int he cities but he wants a car for the country side as we will only be in london for 3 days then getting thehella out there.!!!

like i said he is set on the idea since so many people he knows has done it b4. LOL its going to be very interesting.

Chocolaty Claire · 04-05-2006, 04:15 AM

hmmm like i say, i'm sure its illegal to own a car without tax & insurance.. anyway each to their own and all that !

mr-turisty · 04-05-2006, 09:50 AM

It sounds a great idea - buying an old car and taking off, but the UK is probably the worst place to do it.

Cant really see how its do-able either to be honest. For all the reasons people have mentioned. Tax, insurance, (its taken very seriously) break down cover (do you really want to be stuck somewhere remote), the crazy cost of petrol (which gets even higher when you go further north in Scotland or into other remote areas of the rest of the uk)

if you do go ahead with it - good luck and keep us posted.

**bluepea** · 04-05-2006, 09:57 AM

^^ Well, it sounds like their minds are made up, and they have experience with other people who have done it. And, I know no Travelpunk has done something illegal before. Hehe.

Yes, please keep us posted! I did consider this option when we went to Europe, but not for very long. But, I still think i'd be cool!

mr-turisty · 04-05-2006, 10:49 AM

Erven ignoring the legality of it - i wouldnt condone people driving with out insurance or a mot for the sake of other drivers. If you car doesnt have a mot it isnt safe to be on the road and a danger to other people and if u dont have an insurance and hit someones car or even completly write it off they are left to pay for the damage out of their own pocket as their insurance wouldnt cover it.

Munkeyrach · 04-05-2006, 05:20 PM

hahah my minds not made up its my bfs so he is paying for it all

Chocolaty Claire · 04-06-2006, 04:05 AM

I would defo recommend renting a car.. not only do you get near brand new cars you get all insurance in with the price

Munkeyrach · 04-06-2006, 04:45 AM

thanks. I dont quet understand what you are saying.

is what you are recommending a company named Defo?

**PlayPal** · 04-06-2006, 07:08 AM

Renting really isn't too bad. I never rented in the UK, but I ran all over Portugal with some friends in a little Citroen and we had a great time. It's definitely true that you get to see things that you really never would going by bus or train. Of course, if you really wanted to be cool, why not bike it...

I would think that there must be a way to buy a car in a foreign country and have it insured without having an address there. There are too many rich bastards that probably love to do just that for there to be no option. Maybe an expensive one, but there has got to be something.

Chocolaty Claire · 04-06-2006, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Munkeyrach@Apr 6 2006, 03:45 AM
thanks. I dont quet understand what you are saying.

is what you are recommending a company named Defo?

[snapback]110864[/snapback]

Sorry!! - its just the way I write "definately" - tut!

its texting thats done that

**PlayPal** · 04-06-2006, 08:33 AM

There actually is a rental car company named Defoe, after it's owner, Willem Defoe. He won the company in a card game from it's previous owner, charlie sheen and renamed it.

Munkeyrach · 04-06-2006, 06:01 PM

heh sweet! thanks

Ride a bike around europe!!!! I shouda started training for that 5 years ago LOL hehehe good idea thoe