If you ever walked onto your local used-car lot and were disappointed that none of the offerings were literally bulletproof, here's some helpful information.

It turns out that (in some countries, at least) it is legal own a tank. Yup, a tracked military vehicle with armor plating and a big gun can be yours. However, like any vehicle purchase, there's a bit of research that needs to be done.

Wish.co.uk has compiled some tank ownership tips into one handy infographic.

This lays out the basics, including specs on desirable models like the Russian T-34 (considered by many to be the best tank of World War II) and the U.S. Army's high-tech M1A1 Abrams.

Once you've got a short list, it's time to start comparing specs. A T-34 gets an estimated 1.2 mpg, and a restored example recently sold for $125,000.

By comparison, an American M4A1 Sherman Duplex Drive amphibious tank that sank off Omaha Beach during the D-Day landings is currently being advertised for $595,000. It gets 0.8 mpg, and there may be some water damage.

A more modern British Chieftan recently sold for $69,000, and gets an estimated 3 to 8 mpg.

Now for the weird part: contacting a tank dealer and arranging a purchase. There are apparently a few in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and former Soviet Bloc countries. The U.S. Army will even occasionally auction off tanks as surplus.

Not surprisingly, the one universal rule of tank ownership is that the gun must be deactivated. The legal issues probably don't end there, though.

Once you've got your tank, be prepared to put every Hummer H2 owner to shame, and to have a lot of trouble finding parking spaces.


Owning a tank

Owning a tank [Infographic] by the team at Wish

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