Summer in Los Angeles - what to do for a car?
Hi everyone, I will be doing a Summer Associate internship in Los Angeles this summer in Century City. I will likely try to find a sublet from a UCLA student, but wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on what to do for a car. Are there any car rental agencies that offer long term (i.e. 10-12 weeks) rentals? I realize I could buy a car and then sell it, but I'd rather not deal with potential repairs etc. in the middle of a hectic internship.
Honestly try and find a place near work.
Los Angeles Transportation, Carpooling Advice (Originally Posted: 01/26/2012)
Hi,
I landed my top choice internship and it is in the Los Angeles area, but I am on the east coast. My housing will be partially provided by the company, but I am really unsure of what to do for transportation. Public transportation won't work, because it will take well over an hour to get to my job, which would only take a half hour by car. So, I have the following options:
1)Ship my car across my country. My parents bought my car for me about 4 years ago. I'd pay the cost of shipping each way, but it is relatively hassle free. Shipping is about $1100 for the 3000 miles.
2)Drive across the country. I'd spread this out over 5 days and 4 nights. My company would reimburse some of the cost of this.
3)Carpool and hitch a ride everyday to and from work with other interns. A lot of interns at the company will be living at this apartment. However, I want to do whatever it takes to get a full-time offer, and I am afraid I'd be limited if I rely on other people's schedules. Also, it would limit my ability to explore California and visit friends.
4)Buy a car in LA and sell it when I am done. I really don't have a good feel for what the cost would be, but it would definitely be the most time consuming option.
I already ruled out renting a car for six months because round trip shipping is cheaper.
I'd appreciate any advice.
If you ride a motorcycle, I'd go that route. Weather is nice most of the time and you won't sit in traffic as long. Otherwise carpool would be my choice.
I would drive. How many chances are you going to have to do that in your life? If you only want to do it one way just ship it back.
It will probably take you longer to drive to work in the morning here than it will to drive across the country though...
Just make it a road trip to LA . Take your car with you. You don't want to depend on people for your ride to work.
Be independent because if you go to a party, people want to leave, you have to leave.
If you go out with them and you want to leave but you are still having fun, then you will have to leave.
If you supervisor calls you in early in the morning, you can't wake up your pals to ask for a ride.
dont carpool - just drive there or if you dont mind using the money, ship it and fly.
Thanks for the responses so far. It looks like it comes down to driving there or shipping my car.
I was in the same spot back in the day. I bought a 10 year old car for $3K. 3 months later I sold it for $3K.
The biggest headache in CA is the DMV and its rules- Registering a car, etc. I believe you could get a temporary registeration for the 2 or 3 months you are there. I would look into that.
This could be an option, even if you lose some money on it ... you will prob make out better then shipping or driving.
I am definitely considering this, and I have enough money where it won't be a problem, but I am just concerned about the headaches, between buying, selling, registration, insurance, maintenance, etc. Good to hear from someone where that choice worked out though
Did you buy/sell privately or use a dealer?
I bought and sold the car through craigslist. I had 30 days to register the car, paid like $100 bucks to register it, and didnt have any property tax on it because I didnt have it at the end of the year. Just put the car on my insurance, not a big deal. When I sold it, I just told the DMV and sent in part of the title. All Cash.
It was pretty easy for me. But this was not in CA. I would check the crap you gotta do for CA, I could only imagine.
No way I'd go through the all that hassle of buying, registering, paying insurance, and finding someone to sell it to all within 3 months when i have a perfectly good car myself. Just my .02 though
You know it is possible to lease cars right?
Registering a car in CA is not that bad. I moved here from out of state, drove to the DMV, registered, paid the tax (less than 200 if I remember) and got new plates in the mail a couple of weeks later. You will have to get a CA driver's license I think -- I did this a few years ago and forgot the specifics -- which would mean passing the driving test again (I had to do it but I just winged it and passed).
Personally, if I had a decent car, I wouldn't want to drive it across the country twice for a 3 month gig -- the depreciation on the car is going to be pretty expensive unless the relocation comp is material (~5K miles or more -- IRS deduction rate is around 50 cents a mile as a benchmark, which is probably lower than the real depreciation cost). Driving across the country is pretty cool I guess (I've done it) but you end up with crappy views from the highway most of the time anyway.
And who wants to drive in LA anyway? The traffic is horrible. Just pick up a cheap motorcycle, it's better in every way (cost, parking, fun). If not, you should lease as someone else said -- way easier and cheaper.
Where are you going to find a 3 month lease? And no lease fees or down payment. I want in...
yea not sure where these 3 mo leases are
and id never ride a motorcycle here. i dont want to die
Really? One of our interns did some kind of two month long-term rental (at much lower daily rates) or lease last year in the Bay Area. I assume they have similar opportunities in LA.
I'll be there for 6 months though, so at that point shipping would probably be cheaper.
I looked into a long term rental ..... you were looking at $800-$1400 a month for the rental.
samesies
LA Banking Logistics (Originally Posted: 12/07/2014)
OKay so random question I have been thinking about lately and figured I would ask. So being in NY it is very easy to walk outside your office at 2 am and find a taxi or worst-case subway to get home (assuming you don't walk)..
How does it work in LA? I am from the LA area, so I know most people drive to work as the public transit system is not what it is on the east coast. So when you guys get a car home, how do you get to work the next morning? Assuming your car is still at the office? Also, we are in the uber/lyft generation so getting a car is easier, but pre-uber did people call actual black cars? Or a taxi number? Cuz again, even taxis aren't as common in LA as they are in NY.
I think you just drive your car home
dawei is correct. you just drive home.
well thats shitty...
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