[cocteau3]

Hello,

As a skilled migrant on a two year visa for starters, what must I have (besides cash) to puchase, register, license, insure, etc. a car? Do I have to have a physical address, or can I purchase a car for my initial tour around of NZ? I already have a valid US driver's license.

thanks!

[Bean]

Hi

We bought a car for touring round NZ, this time last year, we only had a tourist visa, but we did have a friends address to use for purchase and our AA insurance. Not sure how to do it without an address, must be possible....sorry thats not much help.

Bean

[Marie P]

When we arrived ,we bought a car in the first week ,we just gave our friends address ,

Which reminds must get that changed to ours now .

Marie

[cocteau3]

Sounds like one must have the physical address first. Making friends will become a priority.

[Moorf]

Backpackers frequently buy and sell cars when they arrive/depart from New Zealand so there must be a way of getting around the address bit.... Veronica might know, she deals with alot of backpackers..... :)

[clg]

You can use a hotel address, that is what we did. We just changed it once we had a permanent address.

[CricketLover]

I'm arriving in less than 2 weeks :raebanana , and am planning to buy a car the first week. I will use my work address, if I find a car before I find a place to live.

There is staff housing where I work -so it's legit :nice1

[PaulandHelen]

I believe you can set up a post box account at a post office to receive mail there, i wonder if you could use that as an address?
p+h

[cocteau3]

I thought about that, but in the states at least, the insurance and registration requires a "physical address" and can't use post office boxes.

[sweetpea]

See if you can use the address of the hotel (or wherever) you're staying. I used my holiday park as the address on the bill of sale, and the dealership had the registration papers sent to them, and will forward it to me once I'm settled.

Insurance is harder without a real address, though. The only option I found was third party backpacker's insurance, and it cost me dearly. $180 for 3 months. (Not bad in US terms, but in NZ terms...)

Having no address sent my bank into paroxysms :uhoh , but they ultimately came through.