Cars
If you want to rent or drive a car in the U.S., you should bring a notarized driving record from your home country. Being able to confirm your driving history will allow you to get discounts on car insurance.
Your home country‘s driver‘s license might be recognized for up to one year when you enter the U.S. Read more about driver’s licenses.
Owning your own car in Boston can be very expensive with many hidden costs. For example, some areas of Boston do not have street parking, and parking lots or renting a parking spot for your car can easily cost $150-$300 per month.
Buying a Car
Often, car-related expenses are much higher than the price you actually pay for a car. When you buy a car, you will have to purchase car insurance, pay to register your car with the State of Massachusetts, and pay to have your car inspected.
Before buying a used car, you should have a mechanic examine the car. Massachusetts does have a “Buyer’s Right to Return Law” (Lemon Law), which allows the buyer of a used car to return it for a full refund under certain conditions.
When you find a car you want to buy, be sure the car has a “title” (certificate of ownership). When you purchase the car, the previous owner must sign the title and give it to you in order to legally transfer ownership of the car over to you. This usually requires a notary public to witness the signatures.
Car Insurance
Car insurance is required and usually costs $1,000 to $3,000 per year depending on where you live, the type of car you drive, and your driving record/history (car accidents and tickets will increase the cost of your car insurance).
You may look in the yellow pages of a local phone book or at www.anywho.com under “insurance” to find companies that sell car insurance. Lawsuits from car accidents are common, and you should purchase more than the minimum car insurance required.
Many expenses involved in purchasing a car are annual expenses. Each year you’ll have to insure your car and pay an “excise tax” (tax for owning a car) to the city. The excise tax fee is determined by the city in which you live and the value of your car.
Other Costs and Requirements
For an additional fee, some insurance companies or car dealerships will also register your car and get the license plates for you. If you register the car by yourself, you must do so by the end of the month in which you purchased the car. You must bring proof of car insurance, the bill of sale, proof of payment of sales tax, and the certification of ownership (the title) to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Check www.massrmv.com for fees for Registration and for Massachusetts license plates and Massachusetts Sales Tax.
You must have your car inspected within 7 days or registering it. Certain car service garages can inspect your car for the required safety features. The insurance agent can give you a list of mechanics garages that will inspect your car.
Parking on the streets of Boston at night is usually reserved for residents only, and some areas are very difficult for parking even if you have a resident parking sticker. Boston residents can apply for a resident parking sticker using this website: https://www.boston.gov/departments/parking-clerk/how-get-resident-parking-permit
Renting a Car
Instead of buying a car, you may prefer to rent a car for occasional weekend excursions and trips outside the Boston area. You can look in the Yellow Pages of the phone book for Automobile Renting and Leasing or go to websites such as www.anywho.com or www.switchboard.com to search for rental companies. Most cars are rented by the day or the week.
Some companies, such as Enterprise (www.enterprise.com), will deliver the car to you at home or work so that you do not have to pick it up. Enterprise offers a discount to all Partners hospital employees.
Zipcar (www.zipcar.com) allows people to rent cars by the hour or day. Parking, gas, and car insurance is included with your Zipcar. Be sure to look at the “Perks” website for your hospital (available only when you are logged onto a hospital computer) so that you can get any rental car discounts. Tell the car rental agency that you work for a Partners hospital, and always ask if they can give you a better price:
You will need a driver’s license and major credit card to rent a car. Prices vary between companies. Some will offer special discounts for daily, weekend, or weekly rentals. Always ask about any specials they may have. You should purchase the rental company’s car insurance, unless your credit card company offers car insurance on car rentals.