UHF radios intended for the commercial market are the best choice at present. Sharing a repeater. Repeater owners in your area have NO obligation to share their repeater with you. Because they own the repeater they can also control how and when you use it. They can also ask you to pay a fee to help defer maintenance costs and site rental.
Fees are much lower on systems with more people.
If you pay any more than that you should get a cellular phone. If you are not a joiner and consider following rules annoying don't bother asking. The best ways to locate repeaters near you is to listen on the channels you are licensing on and record the call signs you hear. Consult the FCC on-line data base for the address of the licensee and write for permission. The new FCC rules do not require you have written permission any longer.