East-West or West-East?

[sanmarco]

I, (with wife and 2 boys 16 and 10) am planning on visiting this great country in May/June 2012 (4-5 weeks) for the first time and would welcome your thoughts on how to maximize on time available to us.

It is my intention to either fly in to Los Angeles or Miami, purchase a RV for the trip and when completed, load it on to a ship (Jacksonville or Los Angeles) for returning it to Australia. Which would be best direction for this trip? East or West?

The points of interest would so far include NASA, New York, Niagra Falls, Memphis, Grand Canyon, Route 66, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
This is where I am hoping that some of you may be able to provide advice on the practicality/timing/mapping of this trip. Of course there must be many other attractions that we should include and hoping that you may be able to fill in these voids.

I look forward to any advice. Thanks in advance.

[glc]

Welcome!

I have some bad news for you - visitors on the visa waiver program cannot title and register a motor vehicle here. You need a verifiable residence and a formal visa.

Also, why would you want a left hand drive RV in Australia?

You would be much better off renting a RV or a car for your trip.

[Lifemagician]

Hi, and Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum.

Glc asked the best question of all. Why would you want a left hand drive vehicle in Oz? Especially since these vehicles are becoming more and more available in Australia.

Contrary to popular believe, there is no restriction whatsoever on purchasing a vehicle in the USA. There is no shortage of folk out there who are only too eager to take your money. It is the registering and insuring which is almost impossible as a non-resident. Without these, there is no way you can drive it in the States.

There is no such restriction on purchasing the vehicle and shipping it home. But to be able to drive it in North America, may be more difficult than you think. And even if it were possible, you may find that you would spend your four or five weeks holiday, waiting for paper work to arrive, unless you arrange it all well beforehand.

Lifey

[chironbe]

Glc asked the best question of all. Why would you want a left hand drive vehicle in Oz? Especially since these vehicles are becoming more and more available in Australia.

I would imagine it would be because cars and such vehicles cost double in Australia what they do in the US. I imagine there would be import tax to be paid which would probably take some of the shine out of the deal.

[Lifemagician]

I would imagine it would be because cars and such vehicles cost double in Australia what they do in the US. I imagine there would be import tax to be paid which would probably take some of the shine out of the deal.

Add to that the cost of certain requirements which may be needed locally, and the ongoing extra cost of registration and insurance for a left hand drive vehicle, and all this on top of the cost of shipping it, the possibilities of not having ready access to necessary parts and the fact that it will have very little, if any resale value ...

... and there ain't much shine left.

Lifey