Once you actually start living in the US, there's one thing you end up thinking about faster than expected: a car.
In a city like New York with solid public transit, you might be fine without one, but in places like Atlanta, Dallas, or Austin, life without a car can genuinely be inconvenient.
If you're an exchange student or international student staying for a year or more, at some point you start wondering whether buying a used car makes more sense than taking Uber everywhere.
Should you buy from CarMax? Is Facebook Marketplace okay? What's a Clean Title? Do you really need to check Carfax?
Today, for anyone buying their first used car in the US, let's go through it step by step.
Where do you even look for a used car in the US?
Broadly, there are two ways to find a used car in the US: through a dealer, or directly from an individual seller.
If you're new to the US, it's common to look at platforms like CarMax or Carvana, or a local dealer. Prices tend to run a bit higher than buying from an individual, but vehicle condition and paperwork are handled more systematically.
If you'd rather save some money, you can also look for private listings on Facebook Marketplace or in local Korean community groups. International students who are graduating or heading back home often need to sell their car quickly, so decent deals do come up. That said, with a private sale, it matters much more to check the vehicle's actual history and condition yourself rather than simply taking the seller's word for it.
Found a car you like? Start with the VIN
Once you've found a car, one of the first things to check is the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
With the VIN, a service like Carfax can show you the car's accident history, past ownership changes, and maintenance records.
A car can look perfectly fine in photos while having a serious accident in its past, so it's worth checking the vehicle history before you buy whenever you can.
You'll also run into terms like Clean Title, Salvage Title, and Rebuilt Title while shopping.
For a first-time used car buyer, it's generally safer to prioritize a Clean Title vehicle.
A Salvage or Rebuilt title car might look like a great deal price-wise, but it may have significant past damage, and it can cause problems later with insurance or resale.
Get it checked at a shop before you buy, if you can
In the US, this is usually called a PPI (Pre-Purchase Inspection) — taking the car to a mechanic to have it checked out before you buy.
This lets you check things an average person can't easily assess themselves: engine and transmission condition, brakes, tires, leaks, and more.
Especially with a private sale on something like Facebook Marketplace, trying to save the $50–200 or so an inspection costs can end up costing you a lot more in repairs later.
Don't budget based on the car's price alone
If a used car is listed at $10,000, that doesn't mean $10,000 is all you need to set aside.
On top of the car's price, you may owe sales tax, registration fees, and title fees depending on the state.
And the most important one: car insurance.
If you're an international student or a young driver with little to no US driving history, your insurance premium can end up surprisingly high.
So rather than signing on the spot once you find a car you like, it's worth getting an insurance quote for that specific vehicle first and calculating the full cost before committing.
Buying privately? Make sure the title actually transfers
Sending money on Facebook Marketplace and getting the keys isn't where the deal ends. Confirm that the name on the Title actually matches the seller, and after the purchase, complete the ownership transfer and registration through your state's DMV process.
Required documents and deadlines vary by state, so checking your state's official DMV website is the most reliable way to get it right.
Living in the US means constantly learning something new
Once you actually start living in the US, even buying a car turns out to work quite differently from Korea in a lot of ways.
Finding housing, you first run into the word "sublease." Buying a car, you learn about VIN and Title. Opening a bank account or getting a credit card, you pick up a whole system unique to the US, one piece at a time.
"So where do you actually meet new people in the US?"
With your life mostly confined to school or work, the chances to naturally meet new Korean people can end up being fewer than you'd expect. Neorang is a matchmaking service that connects Koreans in the US looking for something serious.
Just as you pick up practical know-how one piece at a time in an unfamiliar country like the US, finding a good relationship doesn't have to be something you figure out entirely on your own either. From practical life info to stories about new connections, we'll keep putting these together one at a time.