Buying a RV as a non USA resedent?

[bobodowd]

I am planning to retire in the not to distant future and spend my remaining years living in a campervan and traveling between the USA, Mexico and Canada.   Can anyone help with info about how I would go about buying a van when I have no fixed abode?

 

[wagoneer]

Get something sturdy/reliable. Get a common model year more cheap parts, more mechanics available, keep it simple.

 

[bobodowd]

Thanks for the reply but I'm thinking more about the legality and weather not having a address to register the van would be problematic.

 

[wagoneer]

Nevada comes to mind, you can get a mailing address in Pahrump.Nv. if you keep it clean and look the part should be an easy ride. Do you have an international DL?

 

[bobodowd]

Not got a international DL yet but getting one soon.

 

[highdesertranger]

buying the vehicle is no problem anybody will sell you the vehicle. the problem start when you go to register and insure it. you will need some type of address. many questions here,

do you want to become a citizen?
or travel on a visa?
what country are you from?
do you need to be back in your home country a certain amount of time every year to keep your health insurance and other benefits valid?

highdesertranger

 

[LERCA]

Im guessing you’re European and I hope you understand the seriousness of the cost of health care if anything happens. I believe you can get a visa to stay three months at a time. Getting and traveling here is not a big problem but having lived in several countries in Europe I know Europeans don’t believe how expensive healthcare is. You will have to purchase insurance. I don’t know if you can use your country’s insurance if you are gone out of the country long periods of time but the cost of healthcare is going to be your biggest issue and concern especially if you are older. Our prescription drugs are much more expensive also and you will need prescriptions from local doctors to buy them.
I can’t stress this enough.

 

[LERCA]

Edit: why don’t you come and try it out for a few months first and see if this is for you. Then if you like it you can travel for short periods of time. Being on the road as one gets older is hard, will you have friends to depend on if anything happens? If you retire and live in one place you build a community and as wonderful as American nomads are you’ll really be on your own. It’s a fantastic way of life but not easy and most of us have some sort of small support system in place and have worked long enough to either be retired or get health insurance from disability or a job.