Buy a vehicle in the US,
Even if you're just visiting.

visitor.us helps non-US residents buy, register, and insure vehicles in the United States.

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OUR CUSTOMERS LOVE US
“visitor.us took care of everything. They helped us with all the paperwork and sent us the plate within a few days in a location of our choice. Fast and convenient!"

Benjamin, Switzerland

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BENEFITS

US Vehicle Ownership Made Easy

Visit the US on your own terms. Let visitor.us handle your vehicle admin.

Tax-free vehicle registration

Sales tax is due in the state where your vehicle is registered. visitor.us registers your vehicle in Montana, where sales tax is 0%.

Security through the process

It's your vehicle.
Our process ensures it stays this way throughout your visit.

Hit the road right away

visitor.us emails 40-day temp tags upon request, which you can use to drive while your registration is in process.

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HOW IT WORKS

Vehicle Purchase Timeline

Our process consistes of these five easy steps

1

Form your Montana LLC

~1 business day

2

Buy your vehicle

1 ~ 3 business days

3

Get temporary registration

1hr ~ 1 business day

4

Get insurance

1~3 business days

5

Get your license plates, registration document, and title

1~2 weeks

Let's get you on the road

Let us sort your vehicle admin so you can enjoy your visit.

PRICING

Compare and save with visitor.us

visitor.us is the easiest and most cost-effective way to own a vehicle in the US as an international visitor.

visitor.us
DIY in New York
DIY in California
$995
$2,030
$2,093
For any vehicle <$150,000
For a $20,000 vehicle
For a $20,000 vehicle
Get startedSee DIY detailsSee DIY details
Cost
Registration fees
visitor.us pays
$141-255
$243
Sales tax
(Payable where a vehicle is registered, not where it's purchased)
0%
8 - 8.875%
8 - 9.25%
Convenience
In-state address
visitor.us provides
Required
Required
Identity document requirements
visitor.us verifies online
Six points of ID required
Photo ID required
Experts complete your paperwork
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A logo that shows that if you don't use visitor.us, you have to do this yourself
Experts go to the DMV for you
A logo that shows that if you don't use visitor.us, you have to do this yourself
A logo that shows that if you don't use visitor.us, you have to do this yourself
Can be done before your arrival
A logo that shows that if you don't use visitor.us, you have to do this yourself
A logo that shows that if you don't use visitor.us, you have to do this yourself
REVIEWS

See what international travelers say about visitor.us

Rated

Excellent

on Trustpilot

"Absolutely excellent experience! If you need a car in the US, visitor.us is the place to go. Most solid recommendation I have given in years!"

Joakim

Sweden

"My partner and I encountered so many headaches trying to buy a private van and register it, and Matt totally saved the day, guiding us through each obstacle with professionalism and enthusiasm. We definitely couldn’t have done it without him!"

Nikki

New Zealand

"We were planning a road trip across the US and discovered it wasn’t easy to register and insure a vehicle as foreigners. We stumbled across visitor.us and we are so glad we did. I can’t recommend visitor.us highly enough - Matt is knowledgeable, super helpful and completely trustworthy. It was money well spent."

Debbie

New Zealand

"visitor.us took care of everything. They helped us with all the paperwork (title, insurance, how to pass borders, etc.) and sent us the plate within a few days in a location of our choice. Fast and convenient!"

Benjamin

Switzerland

"I am convinced visitor.us is the best option for a longer roadtrip. The cost savings of buying and then selling a car compared to renting are really significant. I researched buying a car as a foreigner, and going with visitor.us really is the best way to go."

Paul

Austria

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ADDITIONAL SERVICES

What else can we do for you?

We also provide the following services:

Vehicle brokerage

Don’t want to deal with an American car salesman? We don't blame you. We’ll purchase your desired vehicle on your behalf.

Ongoing registration

Want to keep your vehicle for multiple visits to the US? No problem - we can keep everything current as long as you own your vehicle.

Additional vehicles

Want to add a camping trailer, a fifth wheel, or a motorcycle? We'll register additional vehicles for you at a discounted rate.

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FAQs

Answers to common questions about visitor.us

What is visitor.us?

visitor.us is an auto dealer and vehicle registration services provider focused exclusively on international visitors to the United States.

We help international vehicles to the United States own vehicles as an alternative to renting.

What issues do international visitors face when trying to buy a vehicle in the US?

Buying a vehicle is easy - owning it in your name is the hard part.

Owning a vehicle in the US isn't managed by our national government - it's managed by the US states.

So there's not just one formula for owning a vehicle in the US, there are many - one for each US state.

And some US states are harder than others.

Take Illinois.  If you flew into Chicago and wanted to own a vehicle there, you'd have to get an Illinois driver's license.  Or Tennessee - if you flew into Nashville, you'd have to provide a utility bill or a bank statement proving that you live in Tennessee in order to own a vehicle there.

All in all, 21 US states require a US driver's license or social security number to own a vehicle, and 14 US states require proof of residency (in that state) to own a vehicle.

Each US state has its own vehicle inspection requirements, its own taxes, and its own fees.

Is there a "best" US state in which to own a vehicle as an international visitor?

Montana is the best state for non-US residents to own a vehicle.  Why?

- Montana doesn't require a US driver's license or social security number to own a vehicle,

- Montana doesn't have any vehicle inspection requirements, so you can buy your vehicle anywhere in the US, and it never has to come to Montana to be registered here, and

- Sales tax on vehicles in Montana is 0%.  And since sales tax is due where a vehicle is registered, not where it's purchased, owning a vehicle in Montana can be hundreds (or thousands) of dollars cheaper than owning a vehicle in another US state.

How does visitor.us help international visitors own vehicles in the best US state?

Montana requires a presence in Montana to register a vehicle.

Proof of residence (such as a utility bill or bank statement) is required for individuals.

But like every other US state, considers legal entities (such companies) formed within the state as residents.  

So visitor.us forms the simplest type of company, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), for each customer.

Your Montana LLC acts as your presence in Montana, and can therefore own a vehicle here.

Your Limited Liability Company is owned 100% by you; visitor.us just acts as your company's administrator (its Registered Agent).

How does visitor.us register my vehicle to my company?

Once we have your Montana Limited Liability Company set up, the process is pretty simple:

- You purchase the best vehicle for your roadtrip,

- You or the seller sends visitor.us the vehicle's prior title (its official ownership document) with a Fedex shipping label that visitor.us generates and emails to you,

- One of the visitor.us team walks into the Montana DMV and registers your vehicle to your Montana LLC, and walks out with Montana license plates, registration document, and title for the vehicle.

How long until I can drive my vehicle?

When you use visitor.us, 40-day Montana temp tags are available upon request.

Temp tags are paper license plates that give a vehicle buyer a grace period between vehicle purchase and vehicle registration.

Montana's temp tags are PDF files. We email them to you, and you print them out, fix them to the rear of your vehicle, and hit the road.

How and when do I receive my license plates, registration, and title?

visitor.us will register your vehicle within 7-10 days of receiving your vehicle's title (properly signed by the previous owner) and we receive your Montana license plates, registration document, and title upon registration.

We will courier (via Fedex) your items to a location convenient to you. That could be to the vehicle's seller or to a friend or family member's house. Or, if you're on the road, we can send your items to a Fedex Office location convenient to your travels, to be held for pickup for up to five business days

What happens at the end of my visit?

Your vehicle is yours to dispose of how you wish - you can sell it, put it into storage for your next visit, or export it for use somewhere else in the world.

If you sell or export your vehicle, and wish to close your Limited Liability Company, simply notify visitor.us, and we'll send an LLC Termination Request for your electronic signature.

visitor.us will terminate your LLC upon your written, signed request at no additional cost, and provide evidence of its completion (Articles of Termination and Certification Letter, provided by the Montana Secretary of State) for your records.

Can I take my vehicle into Canada? Mexico? Central and South America?

Yes!

Vehicles with a current, valid US registration can travel freely in any country with relations with the United States.

Vehicles crossing into Mexico and other countries in Central and South America require a permission letter if the vehicle is driven by a person other than the registered owner. Template permission letters are available to visitor.us customers upon request.

Still have a question?

Get answers to common questions not listed here.

Let's Get You on the Road

Let us sort your vehicle admin so you can enjoy your visit.