美國Expats嘅汽車綜合指南

你有冇wonder過美國有幾多架車？或者美國人最popular嘅car brands同models係咩？或者點解car對呢個vast country嘅personal mobility咁重要？如果你係住喺美國嘅expat，你可能問過自己呢啲questions。你可能仲有其他關於美國汽車嘅questions，好似點買或rent車、點drive、同點maintain車。喺呢篇文章，我哋會answer呢啲questions同更多。我哋會提供useful information同tips幫你make informed decisions同enjoy你嘅expat生活。

（開始之前：美國大約有2.75億架personal同commercial vehicles。）

篇文章幾長所以feel free click去你interested嘅section，用下面嘅table of content。

1. 點買或rent車

如果你想喺美國買或rent車，有啲嘢你should know before你make decision。買或rent車各有advantages同disadvantages，depends on你嘅needs、budget同preferences。以下係tips：

買車

買車意味住你own佢同可以用as long as you want。不過，買車亦意味住要pay purchase price、taxes、insurance、registration fees、maintenance costs同depreciation。要喺美國買車，你需要enough money或good credit score如果你想finance。一般步驟：

• 搵車同由唔同dealerships或private sellers攞幾個offers。你可以用online platforms好似CarGurus.com或Edmunds.com，或Kelly Blue Book去compare唔同車嘅prices同features。
• Test drive你interested嘅車同carefully check condition。你亦可以hire independent mechanic去inspect hidden problems如果買second-hand車。
• 如果係舊車，ask for Carfax report（即vehicle history report）。
• 同seller negotiate price同try get best deal。車價（新舊都係）唔再像pandemic期間咁elevated，所以shop around。
• 以上online tools可以俾你good idea關於車嘅fair market value。
• 留意sales tax因為high-value item（好似車），sales tax可以easily幾千蚊。由lower-tax location買係option但需要更多research。
• Sign purchase contract同pay for the car。你可以用cash、check、credit card或loan。
  • 如果decide get loan，呢個係我嘅guide關於作為expat 點樣成功攞到loan with limited credit history。
• 確保你read同understand所有contract嘅terms同conditions before signing。
• 喺certain period of time（通常30日）內去你state嘅Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) register你架車。你需要provide proof of ownership (title)、proof of insurance (policy)、proof of identity (driver's license)、proof of address (utility bill)、同payment for registration fees。
  • 如果你由dealership買，佢哋likely可以幫你做晒呢啲。

如果你decide lease車vs.買，以上步驟generally都apply但有少少deviations。

Expats喺美國買定Lease車

• 買車意味住你outright own佢同通過monthly payments build equity（如果你finance purchase）。Lease車意味住你rent佢for specific同limited time period。Period由你決定，可以一年、兩年。
• 買嘅benefits通常包括冇mileage restrictions、更多customization options、lower long-term costs同更flexible去sell或trade in。
• Lease嘅benefits通常包括lower up-front cost、lower monthly payments compared to buying、冇resale hassle同更多options drive newer models。
• 買嘅drawbacks通常包括higher initial costs、higher monthly payments compared to leasing、depreciation risk同maintenance costs。
• Lease嘅drawbacks通常包括mileage limits、wear-and-tear charges、early termination fees同lease結束冇ownership。

買定lease嘅choice depends on你嘅personal preferences、budget、driving habits、credit score、tax situation同future plans。對最近relocate到美國嘅expats，lease可能更appealing如果佢哋想drive新車without committing to long-term ownership或paying high upfront fees。不過，lease亦可能更challenging如果佢哋冇credit history或need to drive long distances。

Rent車

Rent車意味住你pay fee去用佢for limited time（通常幾日或幾個禮拜）。不過，rent車亦意味住你唔own佢同要喺rental period結束時return。要喺美國rent車，你需要：

• 你home country嘅valid driver's license或international driving permit如果你嘅license唔係英文
• Valid credit card with enough funds cover rental fee同security deposit。盡量唔好用debit card因為好多car rental companies如果你用debit card，佢哋需要check你嘅credit score用hard pull。同埋debit card嘅security deposit可以比credit card高。
• 喺reputable rental company好似Enterprise.com或Avis、Hertz.com或National car rental嘅reservation。你亦要follow呢啲步驟：
  • 喺佢哋website揀pick-up同drop-off locations、dates、times同vehicle type
  • Compare唔同rental options嘅prices同features同select適合你needs嘅
  • Online或by phone confirm reservation
  • Show driver's license、credit card同reservation confirmation喺chosen location pick up rental car
  • 喺deadline之前去chosen location return rental car
• 如果你有Costco membership，你可以leverage Costco car rental portal攞到Enterprise或Avis rentals嘅much lower price等。
• Carefully consider insurance package。如果你唔介意讀fine print，同你有US-issued credit card，我recommend先check你credit card嘅insurance coverage。佢可能比car rental companies嘅car insurance平。
• 你亦可以check你嘅personal auto insurance policy了解佢哋對rental cars嘅coverage。

2. 喺美國揸車

如果你有home country嘅valid license，你可以用佢喺美國短期visit期間rent車。不過，如果你plan stay超過三個月，你需要apply你residence state嘅driver's license。Check你state DMV嘅exact requirement。例如，所有California residents需要有valid California driving license去operate motor vehicle。呢個係California DMV對resident嘅定義。

• Depending on你嘅state，你可能需要International Driving Permit (IDP)。你should contact你state嘅motor vehicle department了解ID requirements。
• 呢度有tips關於作為expat攞美國driving license。

喺美國揸車可以同你home country唔同。你需要揸喺右邊，用miles而唔係kilometers，follow唔同嘅speed limits同traffic signs等。

你should study同pass written knowledge同road skills tests before攞到license。

你亦should留意其他drivers on the road同practice defensive driving。 喺大部分states，car insurance係mandatory因為佢可以protect你免受accident嘅financial losses。你should compare唔同insurance companies同policies搵到best deal。即使你喺home country揸咗好耐車，對美國insurance companies嚟講你係new driver，所以prepare pay higher monthly insurance premium。如果你share你home country driving license demonstrate你係experienced driver，佢哋可能apply certain discounts。 你亦should aware其他美國driving aspects，好似parking rules、toll roads、gas stations等。Parking喺某啲cities可以expensive同scarce，所以你可能想用public transport或ride-sharing services。Toll roads喺某啲states好common同require fee。喺California例如，你可以electronically pay toll roads。

Gas stations widely available但prices depend on location同demand。你should online check gas prices before入油。Costco Gas通常比其他stations平。或者用Gas Buddy App check prices。

Electric charging stations越嚟越popular，喺Google Map search就得如果你用EV。

3. 點maintain車

Proper car maintenance可以幫你avoid costly repairs同keep架車running smoothly for years to come。

Follow manufacturer嘅guidelines

Keep架車good shape最重要嘅事之一係follow manufacturer嘅maintenance guidelines。例如，大部分car manufacturers recommend每7,500 miles或6個月換一次oil（whichever comes first）。Regular oil changes幫lubricate engine同prevent wear and tear。你亦should每6,000到8,000 miles rotate tires確保四個tires均勻wear。

Check tire pressure同其他basics

Car maintenance另一個key aspect係regularly check tire pressure。Underinflated或overinflated tires會affect fuel economy、handling、braking同safety。你可以用tire pressure gauge或去local gas station check。如果你架車有built-in tire pressure gauge，更加好。

你亦should regularly check同replace air filter keep engine running efficiently。

清潔同maintain engine

Keep engine clean對確保架車running smoothly同prevent damage好critical。一個方法係regularly換oil。你亦should periodically check spark plugs同replace如果worn out或damaged。最後，清潔engine by removing accumulate嘅dirt、debris或grease。你可以用degreaser或engine cleaner。

Maintain車嘅interior

Maintain車嘅interior對keep佢good shape亦好重要。你should regularly vacuum車interior remove dust、dirt同debris。用damp cloth wipe down surfaces可以remove grime或stains。你亦可以用seat covers同floor mats protect upholstery同floors免受wear and tear。

Battery同tire maintenance

Keep battery同tires good shape對確保架車safe同reliable好critical。你should regularly check battery terminals for corrosion或loose connections同用wire brush或baking soda solution clean。你亦should每6,000到8,000 miles rotate同balance tires確保均勻wear。最後，periodically check tire tread depth確保tires未worn down。

當然，你always可以去maintenance shop regularly做晒以上所有嘢。

總結

總結嚟講，喺美國own車可以係great way去experience呢個國家offer嘅freedom同mobility。無論你decide買、rent定lease車，drive on the open roads，或properly maintain架車，作為expat有幾件事要keep in mind。Follow呢篇文章discuss嘅tips同guidelines，你可以ensure架車good condition，同你safe同legally咁driving。So，get behind the wheel，hit the road，enjoy the journey ahead！