Can I buy a car without drive licence? (car insurance, home)

[Paul_2540]

Hello everybody,

I'm a international student who is studying in SanDiego.

I passed paper test in LA, and I live in SD right now. I'm looking for someone can teach me how to drive, but the price is a little higher than I expect. Can someone tell me some driving school is cheapper?

My friend in Michigan can buy a car when he didn't have drive license, so I wonder if it's availabel in CA? If I can, I prefer to pay the money for a car rather than for driving tuition.

Thank you.

[earlyretirement]

No, I don't think so. I recently bought a new car and I couldn't add my wife on to the insurance. She had an international driver's license but they wouldn't allow me to add her on until she got a USA driver's license.

Also, she recently ordered a new BMW a few weeks ago and it's coming in a few weeks. They said she couldn't pick it up until she had a Driver's license. There may be ways around this but it didn't sound like it.

The dealerships both said we had to show proof of insurance and both insurance companies we talked to said they wouldn't add her on until she got a USA driver's license so I don't think you can do it.

But she went in and took the driver's license test and easily passed. Then they gave her a temporary license for 2 months but she still has to take the driving test. If you have a driver's license from your home country, go and take the written test and as long as the license is still valid they will give you a temporary one for 2 months. The test is VERY easy and it's the exact same questions as the practice tests online so you can memorize them.

[esmith143]

Yes, I think you can buy a car without a driver's license. You just can't drive it away by yourself, the dealer won't let you. (You need to bring a friend with a valid DL and insurance who would drive it home for you) And you would probably have to pay cash. But how does that help you? You can't teach yourself to drive in your own car, that's illegal. And if you have a friend who's willing to teach you, he can do it in his car.

[earlyretirement]

Oops. I misread your post. I didn't see where you mentioned you took the written test and passed it. Sorry about missing that.

So I assume they gave you a permit to drive along with someone else that is licensed in the car. And then you can take the driving test within 2 months?

I will ask the guy that I bought a car from if it's possible and then post. But I still think it would be next to impossible even if you pay cash. Because as the owner, you'd still have financial responsibility of the car and not sure if an insurance company will allow it. These days they are tough. And definitely I'd never drive a car in California that isn't insured.... if you get caught you will have big problems and also if there is an accident it can totally bankrupt you.

I'll ask my friend and then post back.

[hitman619]

Sure you can!
Illegals do it all the time!
Heck! you can even finance in some places as long as you have a passport.

You can even purchase insurance with a learners permit.
Google or call up some local insurance company's and tell them your situation they may be able to help.
check out Buy Car Insurance Without A Driver's License - Online Auto Insurance

[earlyretirement]

Originally Posted by hitman619

Sure you can!
Illegals do it all the time!
Heck! you can even finance in some places as long as you have a passport.

You can even purchase insurance with a learners permit.
Google or call up some local insurance company's and tell them your situation they may be able to help.
check out Buy Car Insurance Without A Driver's License - Online Auto Insurance

Yeah, hitman is right! I just talked to my buddy at the Audi dealership and he said that they CAN sell someone a car without a driver's license and they've sold them to people outside of the US. He said what they can NOT do however is allow someone to drive the car off the lot unless they provide them with a valid license. So the customers can have someone that has a valid driver's license drive the car for them. They just need to sign an authorization that allows the other person to take possession of the car.

So, yeah looks like you can do it...