How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy a Car?

Even if you can buy a car, you will need to be 18 to own it legally in most states.

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Updated · 3 min read
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Written by 
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Most states have no age requirement for buying a vehicle, but you will need to be at least 18 to register, title and insure it in most states. Also, you cannot get an auto loan if you are under 18.

If you aren’t 18 yet, you will most likely need the help of an adult to buy and insure a car. That’s because many transactions related to buying and driving a car require signing a contract. Businesses — such as car dealers, banks and insurance companies — are reluctant to enter into a contract with someone under 18, because minors can’t be held to the terms of the contract.

Here are some of the difficulties you will face if trying to buy a car before you turn 18.

4 auto loans found

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4 auto loans found


LightStream

New car purchase loan

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

LightStream

New car purchase loan

Est. APR
6.99% - 15.79%
Amount
$5,000 - $100,000
Term
24 - 84 months
Min. amount
$5,000
Max. amount
$100,000
Min. score
660

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Explore the offer
You will be redirected to the partner's website.
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you in finding a great lender. The terms may vary based on the partner's terms and conditions.
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Best for borrowers with good or excellent credit who want fast approval and funding to buy a new car.

Min. score:
660
Amount:
$5,000 - $100,000
Est. APR:
6.99% - 15.79%
Term:
24 - 84 months
Explore the offer
You will be redirected to the partner's website.
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you in finding a great lender. The terms may vary based on the partner's terms and conditions.

MyAutoloan

New car purchase loan

4.0

NerdWallet rating 

MyAutoloan

New car purchase loan

Est. APR
6.49% - 34.79%
Amount
$8,000 - $100,000
Term
24 - 84 months
Min. amount
$8,000
Max. amount
$100,000
Min. score
600

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Explore the offer
You will be redirected to the partner's website.
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you in finding a great lender. The terms may vary based on the partner's terms and conditions.
You will be redirected to the partner's website

Best for applicants who want to compare multiple new car purchase loan offers.

Min. score:
600
Amount:
$8,000 - $100,000
Est. APR:
6.49% - 34.79%
Term:
24 - 84 months
Explore the offer
You will be redirected to the partner's website.
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you in finding a great lender. The terms may vary based on the partner's terms and conditions.

Auto Credit Express

New car purchase loan

Not yet rated

Auto Credit Express

New car purchase loan

Est. APR
N/A - N/A
Amount
$5,000 - $50,000
Term
24 - 84 months
Min. amount
$5,000
Max. amount
$50,000
Min. score
525

Not yet rated

Explore the offer
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The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you in finding a great lender. The terms may vary based on the partner's terms and conditions.
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Best for new-car buyers who can’t qualify for a lower-rate loan through a traditional lender and need help finding a dealer with subprime lending.

Min. score:
525
Amount:
$5,000 - $50,000
Est. APR:
N/A - N/A
Term:
24 - 84 months
Explore the offer
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The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you in finding a great lender. The terms may vary based on the partner's terms and conditions.

Buying a car when you’re under 18

Buying a car from a dealership requires signing a sales contract, which isn’t legally binding in most states if you’re a minor. For that reason, you will most likely need an adult to sign a contract to buy from a dealership.

You may be able to purchase a car from a private seller, but even then, you will need an adult's help to register, title and insure the car.

Getting an auto loan

Auto loans from our partners

Gravity Lending - Refinance loan logo
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on Gravity Lending

Gravity Lending

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Gravity Lending - Refinance loan logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Est. APR 

4.24 - 17.98%

Min. credit score 

600

Check Rate

on Gravity Lending

RefiJet - Refinance loan logo
Check Rate

on RefiJet

RefiJet

4.5

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RefiJet - Refinance loan logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Est. APR 

4.49 - 21.99%

Min. credit score 

540

Check Rate

on RefiJet

RateGenius - Refinance loan logo
Check Rate

on RateGenius

RateGenius

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
RateGenius - Refinance loan logo

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Est. APR 

4.67 - 21.0%

Min. credit score 

580

Check Rate

on RateGenius

Auto Approve - Auto Refinance Loan logo
Check Rate

on Auto Approve

Auto Approve

4.0

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Auto Approve - Auto Refinance Loan logo

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Est. APR 

5.24 - 24.99%

Min. credit score 

480

Check Rate

on Auto Approve

Since an auto loan is a legal contract between a borrower and lender, the majority of lenders will not make an auto loan to anyone under 18. The few that will require an adult to co-sign. Co-signers are responsible for paying a loan if the borrower fails to pay it back.

If you’re under 18, you can pay cash to buy a vehicle, but you will usually face additional roadblocks with registering, titling and insuring the car.

Registering and titling a car before you turn 18

All states require that vehicle owners register and title the vehicle before driving it. In most states, you need to be 18 to register a car.

To be listed as the car’s owner on the title, you must also be 18 in most states. Your only option may be to put the car’s title in an adult’s name and have that person transfer the title to your name when you reach your state’s legal age.

The age for registering and titling a vehicle is 18 in nearly all states, but there are some exceptions — like Texas — so check with the department of motor vehicles in your state.

Getting car insurance when you’re a minor

Car insurance coverage is mandatory for you to get behind the wheel legally in nearly every state. And since an insurance policy is considered a legal contract, you will most likely need to be a certain age to purchase insurance. The required minimum age varies by state and insurance company.

Again, a solution is to have your parents or legal guardians add you to their car insurance policy until you reach the minimum age to get your own insurance. As a plus, remaining on a parent’s or guardian’s insurance policy as long as possible can be cheaper than paying for insurance premiums on your own policy.

Emancipated minors are an exception

Emancipated minors are individuals who are legally responsible for themselves prior to reaching what is called the age of majority (typically 18). The most common ways a minor becomes emancipated include:

  • Enlisting in the military (which requires a parent’s consent).

  • Getting married (which requires a parent’s consent in most states).

  • Receiving a court order to be emancipated.

Emancipated minors can be legally held to a contract, so they can buy a car, get a loan and buy insurance in their own name. They can also register and title a vehicle in their name.