We also assist with Airport Transfers and Daily Chauffeur Service
Relocation support for all your mobility needs! As a foreign professional, you can arrange for your car before or after you move to the U.S. With our program, there are no restrictions on when to start the process. ExpatRide provides leasing for new cars and financing for used cars to individuals without a U.S. credit history.
The “Personal Car Shopper Service” gives you the benefit of a skilled and knowledgeable contact person who understands the auto market in the U.S.
Let your Personal Car Specialist assist you with locating the right car lease or finance for you. Ask us about our current best deals.
Get competitively priced insurance for new or used vehicles nationwide.
Click here to get insurance quote…
Rentals are from 1 day up to 24 months. The rental car program covers 175 countries globally.
We can arrange airport transfers, daily, weekly, and monthly chauffeur service. Click here for more information…
No, a U.S. credit score is not needed. At ExpatRide we work around the U.S credit system. To do so, we need some documents from the expatriate (passport, work visa, employment contract, etc.,) to build a credit profile for lease approval.
A local U.S. driver’s license or state ID is not needed to receive a quote. However, an SSN and local U.S driver’s license will be required in order to sign a lease agreement.
Yes, someone under 25 can lease a vehicle. Keep in mind, insurance might be higher.
No, we currently only offer new vehicles for lease.
Once a vehicle has been chosen and all required documents have been submitted, it takes approximately 2 weeks to receive the vehicle.
Yes. The lease approvals come directly from the manufacturers themselves, therefore monthly payments are reported to all U.S. credit bureaus. Leasing a vehicle and paying on time is one of the strongest ways to build good credit quickly.
The leasing agreement is set up under the person who holds the U.S. work visa. A spouse can be added as a driver as long as they are named on the auto insurance policy.
A lease contract in the U.S. is a closed-end contract. If the car is returned earlier, the remaining months on the agreed lease term must be paid.
These vary by state and vehicle chosen and are already included in the lease payments.
No. ExpatRide specializes in leasing in the name of the expatriate only.
No. Insurance is a separate product. It is also highly variable; even the expatriates’ zip code can change the quote. It also depends on such things as documentation, exact residential location, marital status, age, brand of vehicle, proof of previous insurance, such as a No Claim Bonus letter. Our Leasing Specialists can offer guidance if needed.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to get lease approval for U.S. citizens or Green Card holders under our Expat Lease Program.
Speed limits in the USA are set by the state rather than at national level and are posted in miles per hour (mph) and generally use increments of 5mph. The general rule of thumb is that states with vast open freeways will tend to have higher speed limits, whereas smaller states with higher populations and busier freeways are likely to have the slower maximum speed limits.
Children ages 8 until 17 are required to wear a seat belt in all seats. Children ages 4 until 8 must ride in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they are over 4 feet 9 inches or weigh more than 40 lbs. Children under age 4 must be restrained in a child passenger restraint system.
The minimum age to drive in the USA is 16 years of age.
You are required to provide specific documents for identification and residency that may include a valid U.S. driver’s license, international or home country driver’s license, and/or Social Security card. You will also be asked to show proof that your car is insured.
For drivers 21 years or older, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is illegal. For drivers under 21 years old, the legal limit is lower, with state limits ranging from 0.00 to 0.02.
Car insurance is required to drive or own a car in the United States, even if you are not a resident of the U.S. or have a foreign driver’s license. Short-term visitors to the United States who are renting a car can typically buy the necessary insurance coverage directly from the rental company. ExpatRide’s rental car program includes Damage Waiver and SLP in our rental car rates.
22 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cellphones while driving.
Seat belts are required for all occupants of the vehicle.
All U.S. states recognize foreign drivers’ licenses. In most cases, your license will be valid for up to 4 months after the date you enter the U.S. Consult the DMV in the state where you wish to drive to confirm the length of validity and the rules for driving with a foreign driver’s license.
The United States driving laws state that you’re required to have a valid driving license in possession to be able to drive in the US. This can be either issued by a US State or a foreign country. So, yes, you can drive with a foreign license in the US. But that doesn’t mean to say there aren’t any form of limitations. In most cases, you’ll need a U.S. driver’s license or State ID to be able to lease and register a car.
How to Exchange your foreign driver’s license to a US Drivers License
The majority of expats that wish to obtain a driving license in the US will have to go through the full application process. The details of the procedures, like the documents you need to present and fees you need to pay, will differ from state to state but the general steps are usually the same. Typically, at least some of the following documents are required for application:
• A form of ID that has your name, picture, and your date of birth on it (passport)
• Your Social Security Number or a proof that you cannot obtain one
• Proof of lawful presence in the US (visa, permanent resident card, citizenship certification, etc.)
• Proof of residence in that state (state ID, utility bill, bank statement, etc.)
• Your international driver’s license
• Passport photo (in some cases this will be taken during the application process)
In order to obtain your license, you will need to pass both a written and a practical test. Written tests include 20 to 50 questions about the traffic rules and regulations of the state. The tests might be timed or not and you might have an option to take the test in your native language as well. You can study your state’s DMV handbook and practice taking the test online.
DMV handbook.
Once you passed the written test, you will have to schedule your practice exam. Apart from driving, expect to be asked to show your parking and reversing skills and the knowledge of vehicles and its controls. The exam can take from 30 to 40 minutes.
Once all the documents are submitted and the exams are passed, you will get issued a temporary license that will be valid 30 to 90 days, depending on the state. You will get your permanent license mailed to your address.
Reciprocity Agreements
Some US states have so called reciprocity agreements with other countries. This means that if your driving permit has been issued in one of these countries, you will be able to simply exchange it for a US driving license of that state (and typically vice versa) without having to take any tests. Those countries include:
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Japan
Note: Information may not be up to date. Please check official government information for latest laws and regulations.
Some of the car brands available in the U.S.
Explore the meaning of common phrases used for car leasing by following the link to our Glossary for Expat Car Leasing
"So responsive and a pleasure to deal with."
– Neil from Britain, Ford Explorer
"I highly recommend ExpatRide for anybody looking for a car after making the big move!"
– Andreas from Denmark, 2018 Audi A4
”Thanks for all your help to make it (the delivery) happen. I'm really happy with the vehicle; it's perfect.”
- Roberto from Brazil, Ford Mustang
”The service we received was amazing! Out of everything we've had to do with our move overseas, getting our new car was the most comfortable and stress-free."