Foreign nationals who do not have credit records in the United States can buy cars and other passenger vehicles here if arrangements are made through attorneys and consulates prior to moving to Atlanta, said Robert “Bob” Harms, key accounts manager for International AutoSource Inc.
The New York-based service helps executives or diplomats and their families who are relocating to the U.S. to finance cars and get auto insurance and driver’s licenses, even without prior U.S. credit history or driving experience.
“International transferees are usually very financeable clientele, having a 15-20 percent lower default ratio than other car buyers, but they often have to pay high financing rates because they don’t have credit history in the U.S.,” Mr. Harms told GlobalAtlanta.
International AutoSource works directly with auto dealers to evaluate expatriates’ finance rates using criteria outside of the regular parameters, such as income, visa status and number of years with a company or government agency, Mr. Harms said.
“We can help expats get the same rates as regular U.S. citizens, as low as zero percent financing, but they have to start the process before they get here,” he added.
The company is reaching out to consulates, immigration attorneys and human resources personnel in Atlanta to identify future expatriates, Mr. Harms said.
If foreign consulates, corporations or state agencies in Georgia refer transferees to International AutoSource ahead of time, the company can pre-approve the transferees so they can pick up their cars, SUVs or Jeeps as soon as they arrive in the U.S., he noted. International AutoSource can also help with financing for transferees’ family members, who may not have assistance from the employing company, he added.
An added benefit is that the service allows expatriates to develop their own credit history in the U.S., Mr. Harms asserted.
Transferees can currently choose from vehicles made by Audi of America Inc., Chrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Volkswagen AG.
International AutoSource is one of very few providers of automobile location, financing, delivery and long-term leasing services in the U.S. that specializes in expatriate services, Mr. Harms said. The company has additional offices in the United Kingdom, Latin America and Singapore.
For more information, contact Jim Munson, senior vice president of Unigroup Worldwide UTS, a global relocation services company, at (404) 403-5837. Contact Mr. Harms at (516) 496-1864 or rharms@intlauto.com or visit www.intlauto.com