There are always questions when it comes time for a teen to drive.

What age can a teen own a car

Should your teen have their own car or bulldoze your car? Is it better to accept your teen on your car insurance policy or on their own? As the parent and motorcar insurance policyholder, how much will your insurance increase? Tin a 16-year-old or 17-twelvemonth-old register a car or own a automobile?

We have answers to the questions that have crossed your listen regarding your teen driver, including i of the most common: How old practice you take to exist to buy a machine?

In nearly states, you have to be eighteen years sometime in order to purchase a car and it is illegal for anyone younger than sixteen to register a vehicle in their proper name. However, state laws vary on how sometime someone must exist to buy a car in their own proper noun.

Key Highlights

  • Land laws vary regarding at what age someone can title a car in their ain name, but it's 18 in most cases.
  • A pocket-size cannot enter into a contract, making information technology very hard for someone 17 and younger to be a sole owner of a motor vehicle.
  • To legally sign an insurance policy or other contract, a person must exist of the Historic period of Majority in their state – which is the age when a child legally becomes an adult.
  • If your state allows teens to own and register cars in their proper name, the parents would demand to find out whether they tin put their teen's car on their insurance.
  • A car cannot have a license plate unless the owner has liability insurance, and insurance companies rarely write policies for minors.

Can a 16-year-sometime own a machine?

The short reply is "yes." But your teen may not be able to drive it without involving y'all, as the parent, in securing auto insurance coverage. Car ownership can exist hard when a minor is involved.

While many states take no issue with a 16-yr-old owning a car and titling it in their own name, insurance companies are often reluctant to enter into a contract (an insurance policy is a contract) with a minor, which means the teen cannot legally drive the car out on the street.

Check out our experts' recommendations on How much is motorcar insurance for a 16 year erstwhile?

At what age can a teen ain a car?

When information technology comes to the question "How old do you accept to be to accept a car in your name?" the answer will vary depending on the state you call home. But, in most cases, y'all need to exist xviii to legally hold a car in your own proper name.

While it'due south possible to title a car in a teen's name, or even a x-twelvemonth-old's name (in some states), to legally operate the vehicle on the street it must be registered likewise every bit insured. Most states require a person to be eighteen to legally enter into a contract such as an insurance policy.

A motor vehicle title, which is also referred to as a "pink slip," is a legal course that establishes the legal owner of a vehicle. Basically, a title simply shows who legally owns the vehicle. Many states allow teens – or even infants – to own the vehicle by having their proper name on the title.

Registration is a unlike matter altogether and is required past the land. Information technology validates that your vehicle has been entered into their registration system and has been deemed roadworthy and indicates that you have paid all taxes and passed any inspections required past the state.

Finally, the registration procedure verifies that the vehicle is carrying the required corporeality of insurance, which is the office that can brand registering a vehicle in a teen'south name problematic.

In society to legally sign an insurance policy or other contract, a person must exist at the "age of majority, which is the age when a child legally becomes an adult. One time a person reaches the age of bulk they can consent to medical treatment, sign a contract, vote and join the military.

The age of majority is at least 18 in all states. In a couple of states, it is higher – Alabama and Nebraska put their age of majority at 19, so drivers in those states cannot legally enter into a contract until 19.

So, while the respond to the question, "can a minor own a automobile" is "yep," when it comes fourth dimension to register and insure the vehicle, a parent or guardian will need to be involved.

Check out our detailed guide on What is the difference between title and registration?

How old do you lot have to be to have a auto championship in your name?

State laws vary regarding the age someone can title a machine in their ain name. The best way to make up one's mind what the requirements are is to contact your land's Department of Motor Vehicles (or the Department of Public Safety in Texas) for details.

Here are a few land examples to highlight the various differences in the law:

Texas

Curious about how former you have to be to buy a car in Texas? The land doesn't accept an age restriction in place for individuals wanting to be recorded on the title and registration every bit the possessor of a vehicle. However, insurance companies may impose age restrictions on persons they insure and dealers likely won't sell to a modest.

North Carolina

North Carolina is similar to Texas in the sense that the state does non set a minimum historic period limit when information technology comes to ownership of a vehicle. A car tin can exist titled in a small'due south name as long every bit the possessor can sign their name on the application of title.

However, a license plate cannot be issued without proof of liability insurance on the vehicle, and insurance companies rarely write policies for minors. This means that under most circumstances you volition be required to have a parent or guardian sign your insurance contract if you are younger than 18.

Ohio

The Ohio Agency of Motor Vehicles, or BMV, allows teens to title a car but their parents must sign a form before that happens. If a driver younger than eighteen wants to title a vehicle, their parent or legal guardian must complete a minor consent grade and accompany the small-scale when they appear in front of the Clerk of Courts title office to accept a vehicle titled in a minor'southward name.

Can a 16-year-old or 17-twelvemonth-onetime buy a car?

While each country is different, in general, a minor cannot enter into a contract, making it very difficult to exist a sole possessor of a motor vehicle. A minor typically cannot own property – their parents technically ain that belongings until the child becomes an developed. In many states, a parent will have to authenticate on a loan for a car, and a pocket-sized can buy a motorcar but their parent will be the legal owner.

Most motorcar dealers adopt not to sell a car to minors because there are legal ramifications, which besides is true for insurance companies. Minors lack the capacity to enter into a contract, and so while a small can sign a contract, legally, they have the right to honor the bargain or void the contract before they achieve the historic period of 18. This means that a minor can void a contract, which makes car dealers and insurance companies wary of doing business with someone younger than 18.

Because of contract constabulary, typically a automobile dealer selling to a 17-twelvemonth-old volition request that a parent or guardian sign the beak of auction and other contractual paperwork, which binds the adult who signed the contract to the contract's terms.

The same holds true for machine insurance companies. They don't want to take the risk that a teen could decide to void their insurance contract (policy) with them, so they will commonly request that a teen have a parent or guardian sign on the policy.

Check out our detailed guide to insure all-time and cheap cars for new drivers

Can a 17-year-erstwhile purchase a automobile from a private seller?

Purchasing a vehicle from a individual party is basically the same as buying it from a dealer, so all of the same rules apply. If your state allows a vehicle to be titled in a minor'due south name, they can certainly buy a vehicle from a private party.

The problem will arise when it is time to become out on the road. In order to register the vehicle, you must provide proof of insurance and the bulk of insurance companies volition not write an insurance policy for a minor unless a parent or guardian is on the policy likewise.

Check out our experts' recommendations on How much is car insurance for a 17 year former?

Can a teenager get their own automobile insurance policy?

When a teen drives a car owned by the parent, adding a teen driver to the parent's policy is easy, if non expensive. It'due south more complicated if the teen owns the vehicle.

If your state allows a teenager to ain and annals a car in their name, the parent will demand to check with their insurance carrier to see if they could place the teen's vehicle on their policy. Technically, the parents would not accept an insurable interest in the vehicle, so the insurance company may turn down to add together the teen'due south car to their policy.

This means the vehicle's insurance would demand to be in the teen'south name, which would pose a problem since minors cannot enter into contracts. Your best bet is to contact insurance companies regarding their guidelines regarding a small obtaining their own auto insurance policy.

The all-time way to decide if your item land has whatsoever regulations regarding the minimum age to purchase an automobile insurance policy is to contact your country's insurance regulator.

Regardless of whether the vehicle ends upwardly being registered in the teen'due south name or the parent's name, it will be important to look for discounts for teenagers for machine insurance. Teen automobile insurance is very expensive, mainly due to the fact that teens are inexperienced drivers who pose a major risk to auto insurance companies.

But discounts are available for teen drivers who earn proficient grades, students who live abroad from dwelling, drivers who consummate defensive driving and low mileage.

Emancipated minors are an exception

As with almost things in life, there is an exception to this rule. Emancipated minors are costless to purchase, register and insure a vehicle in their own proper noun. Emancipation merely means that legally a minor is freed from the command of their parents or guardian and the parents are freed from the responsibleness of the child.

In that location are a number of ways that a minor can be emancipated, just the nigh common methods are:

  • Minor enlisted in the war machine : Enlisting as a minor requires parental consent.
  • Getting married: In most states, this requires parental consent.
  • Courtroom club from a judge: This doesn't require parental consent.

One time emancipated, a pocket-sized is legally able to enter into a contract, so the question of age is no longer relevant. An emancipated minor can legally sign a purchase agreement for a car and an insurance policy. Emancipation laws vary by state.

Frequently asked questions

If your country permits minors to title vehicles, you can purchase the auto yourself, only in near states, you lot will still need a parent or guardian to secure vehicle registration and auto insurance for the vehicle.

This depends on the lender, just more often than not, you will not exist able to go a loan as a minor. Fifty-fifty if you lot find a lender that will extend loans to minors, they will require an adult co-signer. Whether you buy from a dealership or a private party, the aforementioned laws will use.

In almost states, no. Title and registration must be done under the name of someone who is considered a legal adult. It is best to leave the vehicle in your name until your child reaches your country's age of majority.

– Mark Vallet contributed to this story.