Hi guys,
It's Bryan here.
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tired and hungry. I got into my car and ordered dominos pizza to treat myself. As soon as I started driving, I heard some weird noise from my front right tire and the car was really slow. I had to stop the car and jump out to inspect what's wrong, and that's when I realized the tire was punctured and flat.
I can drive a car, but I had 0 experience with fixing one. I panicked for a hot second, and then I managed to change my tire into a spare one with the help from YOUTUBE.
As interesting as that experience was, I know many of my international friends needing information about owning a car in US, and here I will go over what I know about it.
Getting your license
1. Completing a knowledge test: You don't need any prior training or classes to take the knowledge test. You do need to know the rules and knowledge though. The test is not hard. I downloaded a DMV Permit Practice App on my phone, did the practice quiz for two days, and I passed the test. I also know people who read the Driver's manual for two times before taking the test. You get to choose your strategies. (BTW, if you decide to enroll in a driving class, you may get to skip this step based on your program.) Once you are ready, you can find a driver's training school and do the test. Link for finding a school here. I did it in the ACME Driving School LCC in Parkland that's right next to QFC.
2. Learn how to drive: You will have two options. One, you can learn from a driving school. Two, you can apply for a instruction permit and learn from your friend that has a driver license for 5+ years. Instruction permit allows you to drive on the roads while having a 5+ year experienced driver right next to you. I used this method because I had some prior experience with driving a car. But if you are completely unfamiliar with driving, I recommend going to a training program.
3. Take the driving test at the driving school (appointment needed). I personally took mine at 911 driving school Lakewood. I recommend using their car to do the driving test, as it is smaller than the usual car and easier to park. ACME Driving School near QFC also offer driving tests. A list of skills that will be tested can be found on this website. Also please check to see what documents they require for driving test. When I took the test, I had a learning permit already; for those that didn't apply for a permit, please check to make sure they don't need some sorts of license from you to do the testing.
4. Visit a Driver Licensing Office to get your license! A temporary license will be given to you right away and be good for a month or so. An official license will be sent to your address. Location of Driver Licensing Office can be found here.
Hold up before you rush to the licensing office! Obtaining a driver's license require an valid US address, and a PLU dorm address may not be accepted. Please obtain a support document from ISS in this website to prove your residency at the US. If you live off-campus, it can't hurt to bring some extra supporting documents with you, so consider submitting the form.
Buying a Car
1. Know your budget. If you walk into a store, this is typically what they ask about first. You can browse online to get a rough idea of what kind of car you can get with your budget.
2. Know what your car will be used for. When I was buying my car, I knew I would be driving it to my clinical sites every week, so I went for a newer model with less mileage to ensure my safety. Maybe you like a sporty car that looks cool? Maybe higher chassis can provide better safety? Maybe you will be driving on the snow very often? Think about relevant questions.
3. Get a certified pre-owned vehicle. A certified pre-owned vehicle means that the car is inspected and damages are repaired before you buy them. So you get extra safety when buying these cars (though they do mean a bit more expensive). Also try not to go to the small dealerships, even if they have cheaper cars. I would recommend going to the dealership of the brand that you want, like Ford, Nissan, Toyota, etc..
4. Check the car thoroughly before buying it. There are a number of things you should be checking for when getting a used car, such as any previous incidents, current damages, tire damages, electronic systems malfunctions, and more. I recommend you to look at websites like this to know points to check for.
Cost of having a Car
1. Insurance: around $130 per month. Insurance is required before you take your car to the streets. New license, international student, not under an adult's plan, or no credits can all make your insurance more expensive. You may need to find an insurance before you take your car out, or some dealership can help you find a insurance. Some insurance companies have discount for students with good grades, be sure to check about that. I personally use State Farm for my car insurance.
2. Gas. around $100 - $200 per month, based on how often you drive and your car's fuel efficiency.
3. Tax/registration...: $40 - $100 per year. On the license plate, there is a sticker indicating that you have paid this year's vehicle tab fee. It is a yearly renewal thing, and try not to forget about it.
4. Yearly check-up, maintenance, tier change fee: around $150 - $200 per year. You should bring your car to an auto-care shop for safety checks at least once a year or preferably every 6 month. And if any problem occurred, fixing the car can cost quite a bit of money. So drive safe!
Changing a tire
Unless you are experienced with fixing your car, the first thing you should consider is calling insurance company and asking if they have road side service to help you. If you are stubborn like me, you can try to change the tire by yourself, but it's really time consuming and tiring, and I don't recommend doing that. Road side services may cost you some money, but it's safer and probably faster.
If you don't have road side service available, you will need to change the damaged tire into a spare one. There is usually one spare tire available in your truck along with the tools you will need to change the tire. I recommend reading your vehicle owner's Manuel and watch some videos from "YOUTUBE University" before you start. This is the video I used. The basic steps are:
1. Park your car in a safe place and prevent it from sliding.
2. Remove hubcap, and loosen the wheel nuts before lifting car off ground. (You may need to step on the wheel brace to turn it)
3. Place the jack at the correct spot based on the manual, and use your wheel brace to turn it.
4. Remove the wheel nuts and change into the spare tire.
5. Put on the wheel nuts then lower the car
6. Tightens the wheel nuts completely (Step on the wheel brace and make it as tight as possible!)
7. Drive to a tire shop slowly
After you change into a spare tire, your car's balance will be pretty bad (it will drift to one side slowly), and spare tires are not designed to last for long distances. If possible, you should avoid going onto the highways and consider going to tire shop as early as you can.
That's about the basics of owning a car! It's quite a investment for your wallet and there's a lot to think about when buying a car. However, when you have your car, you will realize there is so many fun stuffs waiting for you to explore around the area, and you just drive there.
Wish you guys all healthy and happy!
Best,
Bryan Yuan
3/31/2021
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