December 2024
Purchase phase
Remember when we were moving to the United States, we promised ourselves that:
"When the contract ends, we won’t fly back. We will return overland, traveling in a motorhome."
And if you are dreaming of something similar, here's how our process went, from the very beginning. At the previous post we told you about the preliminary phase, now it is time to buy. As we mentioned earlier, we wrote this in July 2025, so if you are reading it later, check the current regulations because in Argentina everything changes frequently.
WE HAVE MADE OUR DECISION... NOW WHAT?
👉 After months of searching and years of dreaming, doubting, getting excited, getting frustrated, and getting excited again... we finally did it: we decided to look for what would become our home and office on wheels!
🚐 As we showed in the previous post, we had already decided on the model, the budget, and, above all, the lifestyle. It was no longer a “maybe someday”, now it was real. And with the excitement of taking that big step came the inevitable question: what now?
From DC to FL: a different Christmas
The answer came quickly: now we had to go get it. I (Emi) had the week off between Christmas and New Year's, and Fer took vacation time. Our future motorhome was waiting for us in Ormond Beach, Florida, more than 1,300 kilometers away from where we were: Washington, DC.
On December 24, 2024, Christmas Eve, we rented a car and set out with a single mission: to arrive in one day. Yes, 14 hours of driving, crossing states, highways, gas stations, matecitos, good music, and lots of excitement. We took turns at the wheel, and every hour that passed was a mixture of anxiety, fatigue, and adrenaline. We could have made the trip more relaxed and touristy, but there was something urgent, to go find what we would later call Etalis.
Arrival in Ormond Beach and an unusual Christmas dinner
We arrived at night, exhausted but wide awake. Batman was a genius, he took the whole trip in stride, always riding shotgun with whoever was driving. The city was beautiful, decorated for Christmas, very quiet. You could tell that families were together and almost all the businesses were closed. To celebrate, we only had a typical “Mantecol” (for those who don't know, it's a bar of peanut butter with lots of sugar, delicious, which is usually eaten at this time of year in our country). Even so, we were happy.
We stayed at a hotel by the sea (yes, the sea in winter...). Spending Christmas in winter in the northern hemisphere is quite an experience for Argentinians, who at that time of year eat nuts and chocolate at “50 degrees (Celsius) in the shade.” We entered the room, everything was excellent, the bed, the armchair, the bathroom, everything was clean, but we had nothing more than that long-awaited dessert. We settled Batman's things, waited for him to get to know the place and feel comfortable, left him to rest, and set off.
We went out to buy our Christmas dinner in the US, an authentic hamburger with fries from the legendary “big M”... Why? Well, it was 10 p.m. and this was the only place serving food that was still open. Luckily for us, there was also a liquor store open, and instead of a sugary drink, we livened up the night with a malted drink. And so, between our Christmas dinner, video calls with the family, and toasting by the fire, next to the sea, the three of us together, midnight approached. At 12 a.m., like good Argentinians, we kissed, hugged, and said “Merry Christmas” before chatting again with our family far away. It seems we had been very good that year, because Santa Claus would bring us an incredible gift...
The big day: getting to know and purchasing our motorhome
The next day, Christmas Day, we contacted the seller of our prized possession again and arranged to visit his home. We had previously been in contact to ask the usual questions prior to a purchase, including the famous #VIN to obtain the CARFAX.
👇 If you want to know more about this, click 👇
The hours passed, and we took the opportunity to go bird watching on the beach and calm our nerves, always with our minds on the big step we were about to take. We saw ospreys feeding, beautiful flocks of pelicans, many sandpipers, terns, and other water birds that were amazing to behold.
The time came and we went, just a few blocks away to meet it. There it was, cream-colored, sturdy (bigger than expected), incredible. It was our future home and office on wheels: Etalis. We had seen photos, videos, and a thousand technical specifications. But seeing it in person was different. We immediately felt a strange mixture of nervousness, fear, and joy. It wasn't just a van. It was everything it represented: change, movement, choice.
The owners were a very genuine couple, easygoing and commanding, but also very attentive and friendly. It was clear that they loved the vehicle, and they showed it to us patiently. They informed us that they were going to change the oil to leave it in optimal condition. We looked at every corner, every detail, and asked everything.
Keep in mind that all of this happened in a country that is not ours, in a language that is not ours, and with a culture that we are still learning about. That added challenges, but also learning opportunities. Everything was wonderful, and I was already dreaming about how to paint it, decorate it, and make it our space. We started it up and it emitted white smoke, which obviously worried us... even so, Fer handled it and her face, full of happiness but also concern, said it all. He looked at me through the mirror and I heard his say, “It's big, huh?” We left with all kinds of emotions swirling inside us.
Processes, paperwork, and important decisions
We spent the afternoon thinking and thinking, but also enjoying ourselves and relaxing, before making our final decision. We visited the famous Daytona racetrack and went to a beautiful state park, very green and full of birds, the “Bulow Creek State Park”.
Between mate drinks and mood swings, we called mechanics in the area who could check out that white smoke on Christmas Day, and as luck would have it, one of them (who was a little further away from where we were) came to our aid. To our relief, he said, “I just changed the oil in that motorhome and it's perfect, I don't need to check it, the white smoke is condensation from moisture” (it stopped after a few minutes of running). This was the same thing that both the owner and Kiko, Fer's real dad, who knows a lot about mechanics and whom we call whenever we have a question, had told us.
We enjoyed a splendid sunset, and then we knew. We sent that important little message on our cell phones: “OK, let's do business.”
Transaction procedure: signing of the title, payment, and delivery of the vehicle
We agreed to meet at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) the next day. We left the hotel and headed there. After some back and forth, we even went with the owner to verify that the papers were correct and original at the DMV office. Everything is different in a new country, with rules you don't fully understand.
📌 Basically, in the US, the process of buying and selling vehicles between individuals is simple and straightforward:
📋 The owner gives you the vehicle title (which would be the green card and form 08 together, for those of us who come from Argentina).
✍️ Fill in your details as the buyer and sign it.
💰 The sale price is also included, which will be the amount on which taxes will be calculated when you register the vehicle.
Of course, in the middle of it all, doubts crept back in: Is that title okay? Should we do something else? Is a signature really enough? It wasn't because we didn't trust the couple selling us the van, but because we came from a much more controlled system, where you are required to do a police check, submit documentation to a vehicle registry, and where there is less room for formal errors.
Here, with a signature and the correct information, we were ready to move forward. So Fer signed, we handed over the cash, and they gave us the keys and the title. We thanked the couple, who finally seemed a little excited about our future project too... and the three of us—Fer, Batman, and I—stayed in what was now our home and office on wheels.
Welcome, Etalis!
With the title in hand, we immediately took out vehicle insurance over the phone (another basic requirement in the US). Then we hugged each other, explored every nook and cranny again, talked to our families via video call, and let the adrenaline subside. And just like that, it was real—we already had Etalis.
That same afternoon, we found a place to park motorhomes online, the famous RV Parks in this country, and off we went. Just before parking, something unexpected happened: the brakes failed. It was only for a moment, but it was enough to alarm us. The first questions began: Had we done the right thing? What was that about the brakes? What if something is wrong?
The first night in the van was exciting, everything was strange, uncertain, but lovely. We struggled to get into bed, we discussed where to sleep, we thought and hugged a lot. We had Batman, we had each other, and now we had Etalis. After so much dreaming, it was our new beginning, kicking the board again, like that arrival to the US in 2022.
Temporary vehicle registration and legal requirements
The day after closing the purchase, we went to another DMV office, this time with a different goal: to get a temporary license plate so we could legally drive all the way to our home in Washington, DC. The office the day before wasn't issuing them, so we had to change locations, wait in line, and continue learning how things work in this country.
And why do we ask for a temporary license plate instead of making the permanent registration directly?
Well, in the US, the license plate doesn't belong to the vehicle, but to the person. If you change your car, you simply go to the DMV and notify them that your license plate will be associated with a new vehicle. In our case, since the legal address listed on our documents is in DC, we couldn't complete the final application in Florida. Even so, many people choose to register their vehicle in another state—where they may have a family member or friend who can provide an address—because requirements, taxes, and insurance rates vary by state law.
📌 If you're thinking about buying a vehicle in the U.S., here are some important points to consider:
🛠️ Technical inspection: In some states, it's mandatory before registration, in others it isn't. And in those that do, the specific requirements can vary significantly.
🧾 Mandatory insurance: This also depends on the state. In some states, it's not required for vehicle registration, but it is for driving. Even the type and amount of minimum coverage required varies: it can include liability, third-party coverage, theft, etc.
💸 Purchase taxes: These are calculated based on the state where you register the vehicle and the declared value on the title. There may be significant differences in the percentage paid.
🏠 Legal address: You must have a home address within the state where you're registering the vehicle. Some people use the address of someone they know.
📬 License plate: It is issued in the name of the owner, not the vehicle, and it is sent to the stated address.
In our case, we could have borrowed a Florida address and done the final registration there. A vehicle inspection isn't required in that state, and insurance coverage may be minimal. But we chose not to. We live in DC and wanted everything to be in order based on our actual residence.
Final adjustments before embarking on the return
After a long wait at the Daytona DMV, we got our brand new temporary license plate—a vinyl wrap of dubious durability that looked like it might blow away in the wind—but which legally authorized us to drive home. Just as we were ready to leave, our cell phone rang: “Sir, you forgot your ID.” Fer’s driver’s license (which in the US also serves as official identification) had been left at the office. A small indication of the level of stress and mental exhaustion we were under.
Ahhh... but it didn't end there... because, although we talked to Kiko, that minor brake failure the day before made us uneasy. We ended up calling a mechanic who checked everything right there in the parking lot and gave the OK that it was a sporadic incident due to the van's low usage. He charged us a fortune, yes, but he left us feeling reassured. And then I treated myself to the pleasure: I drove it for the first time, albeit only in that parking lot: it was a spectacle!
Conclusion: A new beginning on wheels
This was the beginning. We closed the deal, signed papers, overcame doubts and emotions, and acquired Etalis. We began planning and working toward a new life, the three of us always together, this time on wheels. 👱 😻 👱 🚐
👉 In the next post we tell you about the great return home, full of little anecdotes, in the style of et al blog.
Thinking about buying a vehicle in the US❓
Questions about the process❓
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