How does an ex-pat buy a car in the UK?

For my new job, I must have a car.  So, DH and I were looking at a few models, etc., etc, but something just hit me.

How will I get financing for a used or new car if I don't have credit in the UK?  How do other ex-pats do it?  We don't have enough money to buy it outright.  It will mostly be my car as my husband has his own (that he owns outright) and we both need them for work at the moment.  Eventually, he will not need his anymore and we will get rid of it (it is nearing its last legs we think).

So, can I do this in my own right?

I doubt you'll be able to get financing in your own name.  You're a high risk - you've just moved here and you haven't actually received a paycheck in the UK yet.

If DH purchases it, can I drive it?

I think he's going to have to get the financing in his name. Yes, you can drive it.

That stinks because I am the one with the good salary.  Damn it.  Doesn't look so promising.  How do people who don't marry a British spouse manage to do this?

Hi Dar!

Nip into WHSmith's and pickup a copy of What Car?! magazine - in there you'll find allsorts of reviews and more importantly, overviews of all the different ways to buy a car in the UK. I have a feeling most of those ways won't actually suit you - but at least you'll know a little more and might be able to wangle finaances in order to meet criteria.

Of course, the usual 'if you've got the money you can buy' adage rings true. You could of course, do a little research, find yourself a 'cheapy' car say for around £500-1000 and tax, insure and MOT it, for comparitively little outlay - this will give you the advantage of building up your own no claims bonus too.

Cars nowadays are 'proportionally' cheap in terms of buying - get a 3-4 year old Fiesta or Corsa for little money and chances are if it was some woman's shopping & kids trolley it'll have low miles as well - low miles isn't a guarantee it'll be a 'good' car - but it helps.

Buying the car like that means you may not have to jump through hoops as a new arrival into the UK.

If yer better half buys, that'll be a route to take, remember to get an appropriate insurance quote to cover you.

whilst you look at cars, even though it'll be on the expensive side - you 'could' hire cars out on your USA license for longer periods of time to at least help you be mobile and possibly go look at cars that come up that are some distance away (that always happens!)

What kind of car do you have in mind?!

Hope this helps - Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

You could of course, do a little research, find yourself a 'cheapy' car say for around £500-1000 and tax, insure and MOT it, for comparitively little outlay - this will give you the advantage of building up your own no claims bonus too.

That's what I did. My first car here was a cheapy second-hand thing that I paid cash for.

How do people who don't marry a British spouse manage to do this?

some pay cash.

I bought my first car on a credit card!

Sorry, we paid cash.  Our company would have helped us with a loan, if we'd needed it.  Maybe yours will, too?

(I think that's the only time I was happy that Mr Madeira keeps way too much cash in the bank.. at 0% interest.)

My first car after i arrived I had a freind help choose. He knew all about cars. Bought a inexpensive reliable car for cash.. think my first one was about £500..
It ran okay till i could some credit and more £ behind me ..
Don'tknow how others do it ..

  How do people who don't marry a British spouse manage to do this?

I am really worried about this as well, because I am not marrying and moving over on a work permit, so I have no UK credit history!  I will need a car though!  Uggh... guess I will just have to find something cheap that I can pay cash for until I build up a credit history.  Only problem is all my savings are in US dollars which translates to squat in pounds. Oh well.  I guess I'll figure it out.   

Hi Dar!

Nip into WHSmith's and pickup a copy of What Car?! magazine - in there you'll find allsorts of reviews and more importantly, overviews of all the different ways to buy a car in the UK. I have a feeling most of those ways won't actually suit you - but at least you'll know a little more and might be able to wangle finaances in order to meet criteria.

Of course, the usual 'if you've got the money you can buy' adage rings true. You could of course, do a little research, find yourself a 'cheapy' car say for around £500-1000 and tax, insure and MOT it, for comparitively little outlay - this will give you the advantage of building up your own no claims bonus too.

Cars nowadays are 'proportionally' cheap in terms of buying - get a 3-4 year old Fiesta or Corsa for little money and chances are if it was some woman's shopping & kids trolley it'll have low miles as well - low miles isn't a guarantee it'll be a 'good' car - but it helps.

Buying the car like that means you may not have to jump through hoops as a new arrival into the UK.

If yer better half buys, that'll be a route to take, remember to get an appropriate insurance quote to cover you.

whilst you look at cars, even though it'll be on the expensive side - you 'could' hire cars out on your USA license for longer periods of time to at least help you be mobile and possibly go look at cars that come up that are some distance away (that always happens!)

What kind of car do you have in mind?!

Hope this helps - Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

We are looking at small Toyotas, Hyundais, and the like.  We were thinking about paying cash, but, we just don't have it at this point (since we are about to move out of MIL's house to a place outside of Luton---well, once we secure a place that is).

In addition to getting a car, how in the world can I build my credit history here anyway?

In addition to getting a car, how in the world can I build my credit history here anyway?

get a catalogue account, such as Freeman's.
http://www.freemans.com/web/main/home.asp?N=0

Once you've started working, request a catalogue (or browse their website), place a small order with them... they will ask you for your payment method, and tell them you want to open a Freemans account.   If they approve it, they will give you a very small (~ £300) credit limit, but it's a start!

Freemans was my first credit account in the UK, and i got approved no problem, after i'd been working about 6 months.

If DH purchases it, can I drive it?

So long as you are insured for third-party liability risks, yes.   You can have the vehicle in his name and the insurance in yours as well if you wish, although insurance companies will probably ask if you actually own the vehicle.

I don't know about everyone else but I wouldn't plan on moving to the UK if i didn't have the funds to buy a used car.  Even a 2k pound car will do nicely.  Hell I don't plan on buying new anyways, not even a light used one.  I'd rather have repair bills than a car payment any day.  Although it helps since I work on my own car...