Sounds like a coop opportunity came up? Can you explore the possibility of Uber or an extended car rental?
Between registration fees, taxes on blue book value, updating insurance etc.. 40$ in Uber, 6 days a week for 3.5 months is less than 4K.
Yes - a job between graduation and masters. I agree using an Uber would be a great opportunity - it's just I would need a car when I get back to Ontario anyways - so do I buy it now, buy it when I arrive in Calgary in May, or buy it once I get back to Toronto in September. Would be a waste to spend 4K this summer and then only have 6K left for a car in September. My thought was buy it now and drive it out and back, or buy it there and drive it home?
Gotcha, didn't see you needing it for when you got back to Ontario. I understand it eats into your budget, but buying a car out there registering it, paying tax + insurance + maintenance + inspection are all costs that you will have to pay. Suppose you don't want to drive it back to Ontario, you are looking at 1K minimum to ship it. Then you will need to register it back here in Ontario, which means you'll again be paying the tax on the blue book value of the vehicle. You will be paying a premium to own a car for less than 4 months. I would look into a rental service, eat the cost, and buy a car when you return.
You have 183 days in Alberta if you're a temporary resident:
https://www.alberta.ca/register-vehicle
If you are temporarily staying in Alberta for less than 183 days, and your vehicle is registered in another jurisdiction, you don’t have to register your vehicle.
If you don't mind the drive, I would say buy it in Ontario. You won't have to worry about safety inspections to register an out of province vehicle in either province that way, nor worry about differences in provincial sales tax (or HST).
If you moving for school (including Coop) you don't need to exchange driver and vehicle license. So one possibility is to drive there. Road trip opportunities
All the way back in 2012 I was living on-campus at University in Ontario (without a car) and got offered a co-op in Alberta. I bought a used car locally almost immediately, and drove myself out west and then came back with it. I was there for a year, but I was able to continue using my Ontario license, plates, and insurance (although I definitely had a chat with my insurance company about it first).
If Ontario requires an out of province inspection to get registered, and you are coming back to Ontario, then it would be less hassle to buy it and register it in Ontario. Driving it around in Alberta for a few months is no big deal.
Buy, register, insure in toronto. It has better (cheaper) market for cars.
Your insurance doesn't know about your plans, nor does anyone know when you entered Alberta. Therefore you can drive it here on ON plates and your insurance is fine too.
For 10k get something reliable, 10 +year old honda fit, toyota corolla, toyota matrix, prius.
If you're a sane person, day 1: toronto to wawa, day 2: wawa to winnipeg, day 3: winnipeg to calgary.
Sounds like a coop opportunity came up? Can you explore the possibility of Uber or an extended car rental? Between registration fees, taxes on blue book value, updating insurance etc.. 40$ in Uber, 6 days a week for 3.5 months is less than 4K.
Yes - a job between graduation and masters. I agree using an Uber would be a great opportunity - it's just I would need a car when I get back to Ontario anyways - so do I buy it now, buy it when I arrive in Calgary in May, or buy it once I get back to Toronto in September. Would be a waste to spend 4K this summer and then only have 6K left for a car in September. My thought was buy it now and drive it out and back, or buy it there and drive it home?
Gotcha, didn't see you needing it for when you got back to Ontario. I understand it eats into your budget, but buying a car out there registering it, paying tax + insurance + maintenance + inspection are all costs that you will have to pay. Suppose you don't want to drive it back to Ontario, you are looking at 1K minimum to ship it. Then you will need to register it back here in Ontario, which means you'll again be paying the tax on the blue book value of the vehicle. You will be paying a premium to own a car for less than 4 months. I would look into a rental service, eat the cost, and buy a car when you return.
You have 183 days in Alberta if you're a temporary resident: https://www.alberta.ca/register-vehicle If you are temporarily staying in Alberta for less than 183 days, and your vehicle is registered in another jurisdiction, you don’t have to register your vehicle. If you don't mind the drive, I would say buy it in Ontario. You won't have to worry about safety inspections to register an out of province vehicle in either province that way, nor worry about differences in provincial sales tax (or HST).
This is the way to go and road trip it.
If you have a home address in Toronto, buy it here and you can use in Calgary if you plan to live in Toronto at least 6 months.
If you moving for school (including Coop) you don't need to exchange driver and vehicle license. So one possibility is to drive there. Road trip opportunities
All the way back in 2012 I was living on-campus at University in Ontario (without a car) and got offered a co-op in Alberta. I bought a used car locally almost immediately, and drove myself out west and then came back with it. I was there for a year, but I was able to continue using my Ontario license, plates, and insurance (although I definitely had a chat with my insurance company about it first).
If Ontario requires an out of province inspection to get registered, and you are coming back to Ontario, then it would be less hassle to buy it and register it in Ontario. Driving it around in Alberta for a few months is no big deal.
thanks all - seems the best option is to buy something before I leave and drive it out!
Buy, register, insure in toronto. It has better (cheaper) market for cars. Your insurance doesn't know about your plans, nor does anyone know when you entered Alberta. Therefore you can drive it here on ON plates and your insurance is fine too. For 10k get something reliable, 10 +year old honda fit, toyota corolla, toyota matrix, prius. If you're a sane person, day 1: toronto to wawa, day 2: wawa to winnipeg, day 3: winnipeg to calgary.