Navy buying car after first sea tour. (underway) ? going into bootcamp E1?

A. Stay away from the buy here pay here places right outside the main gate. They prey on young Sailors and make a living ripping them off. Only go to a "real car dealership". (you'll know the difference and if not ask somebody in your Chain of Command where they bought their car, not another E-1 or 2 or even 3)

B. Establish an account with Navy Federal Credit Union and use them to finance it. (Even if you have the cash money) Use the cash in the bank to make payments and pay it off early. This is a good way to establish a good credit rating. (don't get sucked into some variable rate car loan with a balloon payment through the dealership)

C. Make sure you get some accurate guesstimates on how much insurance is going to run you for the vehicle you intend to buy BEFORE you buy. More than one young Sailor has bought a new hot rod only to find that they can't afford the payments, gas and insurance combined.

D. Good Luck and have a ball (I did) and Thanx for your Service.

Sea Tour is going to be 3 to 4 years so are you going to save your money during that time enough to pay cash for the car then sure.

If you mean deployed while on the ship it will depend on where you are stationed and how long you are gone. Not all the time will you be gone 6 months, you can be gone for a few days, a week, a few weeks, a month, a few months, then over 6 months. You first need to check for insurance rates on a vehicle for that because single males under 25 pay the most in insurance each month. It will also depend on your credit and what your loan is, a down payment is good, going through a credit union like Navy Federal for a pre-approved loan even better, especially if you go to a reputable dealer, with a friend, stick to your guns and say the price at least $500 under what they say including tax, title and tags. Also do a check on the vehicle to make sure it hasn't been in any accidents or had major recalls.

Navy Fleet & Family Service Center offers a class on buying cars, TAKE IT, its free.

Well- your going to sea. You can't take your car with you. I would suggest waiting until you know where you will get orders to. You may want to change your mind about the car in the future :) plus your not even in the military yet, so go through bootcamp and then A-school. You won't be allowed to use your car in A-school anyways. You'll find out more about your rate as you go through A-school. My suggestion to you is to find out how well the advancement rate is in your job. That way you'll get an idea of how fast you can pick up rank- and therefor make more money. Do yourself a favor- ask questions, but be sure you ask the right people. The military is a whole new world.

After boot camp you will head to your A school..Are you going surface or submarines? If your heading submarines then you will do your A school tour...then go to your first boat...I would recommend you buy a vehicle after A school. You will be the hit of all your buddies and it won't hurt with the ladies either.

Things you have to think about...how much time after your A school before you go to your boat and when the next deployment of your ship/ sub will be. Obviously, if you go to your boat right after A school and then are about to do a "Med Run" then I would wait. If your only going to be doing weekly ops then buy the car.

Marty

USN Retired.

Yes, is it a good idea. Make E-3/4 because some bases are very strict about driving privileges on base.Most base have secure lots to park vehicles in while deployed.........

it may be extra suitable in case you wait until you get to "A' college, or your first duty station. in case you do get one in the previous boot camp, it is merely not that large of a deal, you would be going back to MEPS the day in the previous you flow to great Lakes, i think of they are in a position to alter it then to. i've got not got any tats, yet i'm specific you may communicate on your recruiter and he will merely have some extra paper artwork to fill out. as long as regardless of you do would not violate the departmentstandards, you're able to do regardless of you like. good luck!