Do you have to have a drivers license to buy a car from a dealership

We find out if an unlicensed individual can purchase a vehicle and if you are able to purchase a vehicle that is not licensed for the road.

Published: 15 June 2022, 13:37

Maybe you are an individual under the age of 18 or maybe you have relied on public transport so long that you never obtained a driver's licence. Now a vehicle has come along and you don't want to give up the opportunity of owning that specific model. Are wondering if you can legally own a vehicle even though you are not a licensed driver? 

Unlicensed driver

In short, yes, you don’t need a valid driver’s licence to buy a new or used car from AutoTrader. It is not like buying a television set, where you must produce a licence to buy one. Not having a driver’s licence means you can own a car but not drive it on public roads yourself. You will need a licensed individual to drive the vehicle back to your home or arrange transport for the vehicle.

However, if you are planning on financing the vehicle, you will require a valid driver's licence. This is because lending institutions will require the vehicle to be insured for the entire financing period to ensure that they will be able to get their money back if anything happened to the vehicle. But if you are purchasing the vehicle with your personal savings, you will have no problem at the dealership. 

Do you have to have a drivers license to buy a car from a dealership

Unlicensed vehicle

Now let’s look at buying a car without a valid vehicle licence because the rules are quite different for these cases. Firstly, if the vehicle is not licensed you will need the seller to provide a very good reason for it not being licensed. You will also have to get as much ownership information from the seller as possible as sometimes a vehicle that is not licensed could be a stolen car or even built up from a severely crash-damaged car. There is also the likelihood that the vehicle comes from a neighbouring country and hasn't been registered locally.

Buying a car without a current licence can be problematic as it may have been deregistered, and it can be a lengthy and unpleasant process to get it back on the NATIS registry. For this, you will have to obtain a roadworthy certificate, a new MicroDot application and possibly a police clearance certificate before you can register it in your name.

You might be in for even more surprises as if the vehicle does not have a current licence disc, it could also mean you have to pay outstanding licence fees, and possibly you will have to pay a penalty for late licence payments as well. Sure you can try and request that the seller take responsibility, however, it could just end up stretching out the buying process even more. However, you could negotiate for a lower price to cover any of the outstanding licence fees and fines.

Your next question might be, can you drive your newly purchased vehicle home if it is unlicensed? The answer to that question is no. You cannot drive an unlicensed car on public roads. Just like if your tyre tread did not meet the minimum requirements or the vehicle might have a broken or faulty light, not having a valid licence disc on the vehicle deems it to be not roadworthy in the eyes of the law and as such could result in a hefty fine. Unless you are able to obtain the use of trade plates, you must move the car on a trailer.

For some people, buying cars is like a second-nature process. If you’ve purchased a few vehicles in your life, you might even feel like you know the ropes. But for others who may have never been through the traditional car-buying process, it can be challenging.

You might have questions about all the new digital ways of buying. Or should you venture into a dealership to get help? What about financing? And for many first-time car buyers who may not have a driver’s license, is purchasing a car even possible? States will vary with their requirements. But here’s what everyone should know about trying to buy a vehicle without a license. 

What today’s car-buying process entails

Do you have to have a drivers license to buy a car from a dealership
Driver’s license being scanned | Getty Images

There are plenty of car-buying tools and resources to help you explore financing options without hurting your credit score and browsing for cars in your area that fit your budget. But there are other things to consider, too. You’ll likely need to budget for car insurance, taxes on the purchase, titling, license fees, and possibly extended warranty products.

So, do you need a driver’s license to buy a car? Buying a car or truck from a dealer or private party is entirely doable without a license, as KRQE News shares. But you can’t register the vehicle with your Department of Motor Vehicles without proof of insurance and a driver’s license.

If you don’t have a valid license now but plan to get one in the future, you won’t have trouble going through the car-buying process. You just won’t be able to register or drive it until you have a license in hand.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that dealerships won’t allow you to test drive their vehicles without a current license. So, it’s best to take someone with you to do the driving before you decide to buy. And even some classic or antique models that don’t require registration in certain states may still require a license to secure insurance. 

Instances in which you might try to buy without a license

It may not make very much sense to try and buy a car without a license. According to iSeeCars, there are plenty of realistic reasons someone might face a car-buying decision without a license in hand. Some soon-to-be-16-year-olds who’ve saved up their cash want to go buy their first set of wheels before they’re officially legal. Business owners buy cars for company use and aren’t required to have licenses to register business vehicles. 

In other instances, people may want to buy cars to collect them, not drive them. And if you’re buying a vehicle as a gift for someone else, it’s their information required to go on the title and registration. Additionally, elderly individuals who may no longer have their licenses may still need to buy a car for their caregivers to use.

What about insurance requirements for buying a car?

If you have the cash but no license, you are still more than welcome to purchase a car. But not only will it stay parked until you have properly secured registration, but you’ll also need insurance, which also requires a license. There are some circumstances in which an unlicensed driver can get insurance, but it’s challenging.

The bottom line is while it’s entirely possible to buy a car without a license, but it’s probably best to wait until you have one. If you have hopes of legally driving whatever car you buy, the registration and the insurance will all require a valid license. 

RELATED: 84-Year-Old Man Busted for Driving Without a License – for the Past 72 Years

What do you need to take with you to a dealership?

New Car Purchase Checklist.
Your driver's license. The dealership needs to see that you're a legally licensed driver before you drive off in your new car. ... .
Proof of insurance. ... .
Form of payment. ... .
Recent pay stubs. ... .
Recent utility bills. ... .
Credit score and history. ... .
Discount information. ... .
A list of references..

Can you buy a car without a license in Iowa?

In the U.S., there is no law that requires you to have a driver's license to buy a car. However, there are aspects of the process before and after the purchase that could prove challenging to someone without a license.

Can you buy a car without a license in Colorado?

You will just need another form of photo ID like a state-issued photo identification card. However, some banks and dealerships won't provide you with a car loan if you don't have a license.

Can you buy a car without a license in Oregon?

You can legally buy a car without a driver's license. There are no laws in the United States that prohibit buying a car without a license. However, there is no one-size-fits-all set of requirements when it comes to car-buying.