Can I buy a car with a suspended license in Florida

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In Florida, as in any other state, a driver’s license is a vital document that grants you the authority to drive a vehicle. But there’s a little confusion when it comes to driver’s licenses and vehicle ownership.

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Do you need a driver’s license to a buy a car in Florida? Such question may appear to be a paradox similar to:

What comes first, the chicken or the egg?

Luckily, things aren’t as daunting as they seem to be. You certainly don’t need a driver’s license to buy a car. Yet you won’t be able to drive it out of the parking lot unless you are licensed.

When you visit a dealership, sales agents usually ask potential clients whether they are licensed. You’ll need to be frank and tell them about your intentions to carry on with the negotiation.

As opposed to dealers, private sellers don’t mind your driver’s license status. They would rather focus on your ability to pay the asking price.

The ordeal may start when attempting to register your vehicle at your local Tax Collector’s agency.

Below you’ll find other questions that better explain the relationship between holding a driver’s license and vehicle ownership.

Can you finance a car without a license in FL?

The answer is no. Dealerships require buyers to have a valid driver’s license to finance a new vehicle.

A driver’s license has a twofold purpose:

It serves as a proof of identity

  • Dealers need to ensure you are not requesting a car loan on behalf of a third party.
  • Dealers also use your details to pull out credit reports when it’s time to evaluate your risk and qualifications.

It indicates you can register your car with the DMV

  • Like in any state, vehicle registrations are mandatory in FL.
  • To process your registration, you’ll need a driver’s license among other requirements.

Can you get license plates without a valid driver’s license in FL?

When it comes to license plates, you’ll first need to register your vehicle with your local DMV agency.

The name on the title also needs to match the name that appears on the registration. By matching both names, they prevent people from registering a car in someone else’s name.

If you pay cash for a vehicle, you could put someone else’s name on the title. This could allow the new owner to register the car with the DMV.

This practice is quite risky. The third party ends up being the legal owner of the vehicle and could have enough power to act upon their own discretion.

A safer solution is to have a shared ownership of the vehicle with someone you firmly trust. That person could be a spouse, sibling, or any other relative who may work in your best interest.

Can you test-drive a vehicle without a driver’s license?

If you don’t have a driver’s license, you cannot operate, nor test-drive any motor vehicle.

It’s illegal to drive a car if you are not licensed. Hence, bring a licensed friend or relative with you to be allowed to test-drive your dream car.

3 reasons why you can buy a car without a driver’s license

There are always situations in which you could buy a car without holding a driver’s license. And these reasons are fairly acceptable.

  • You hired a caregiver: If you have a caregiver, you’ll need support from them to get you around. Some of them do not own a vehicle and may need to use yours.
  • You buy a car for a third party: You clearly don’t need to be licensed to buy a car for someone you love, such as a relative or any significant other.
  • You buy a car for an employee: You may own a business and need to buy a car for your staff. You will be required to finance the vehicle in your name.

All in all…

You can buy a car without holding a driver’s license. But you won’t be able to do much about it afterwards. Florida residents are required to register their vehicles at the nearest Tax Collector’s agency.

Before purchasing a new car, make sure you are fully-aware of your obligations.

If you already have a FL driver’s license, but haven’t registered your vehicle yet, visit our portal to process your registration online.

No longer will you need to arrange in-person visits when you can take care of things from the comfort of your home.

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If your driver's license is suspended, it may be difficult to get auto insurance because insurers generally won't offer coverage if you are not legally able to drive or if you drive illegally while your license is suspended. If you do get car insurance eventually, your rates may also increase significantly.

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However, drivers with suspended licenses can still find car insurance — depending on the terms of your license suspension — if they first obtain a restricted license or get SR-22 insurance. Furthermore, comparing rates across multiple insurers is often the best way to find savings on car insurance.

Getting auto insurance with a suspended license

Often, when you have a suspended license, the best course of action is to obtain a restricted license from your state's department of motor vehicles, which may conditionally reinstate your driving privileges. Additionally, in some cases, getting SR-22 insurance may be the only way to get car insurance coverage and regain your driving privileges after your license is suspended.

Apply for a restricted or conditional license

Certain insurers may offer you insurance coverage if you can successfully apply for a restricted license. To find a car insurance policy with a restricted license, you will likely be limited to non-standard insurance, an insurance tier that covers high-risk drivers. Non-standard insurers include:

A restricted license, also known as a hardship license, conditionally reinstates your driving privileges if your license was previously suspended for a traffic violation. Your eligibility and the specific terms for your restricted license vary by state. However, you may be ineligible to apply for a restricted license if you have had a previous suspension. Additionally, a restricted license may only allow you to drive during the day or only for designated purposes, such as getting to work or school.

In some states, instead of a restricted license, you can apply for a conditional license if your driving privileges have been suspended. Getting a conditional license reinstates your ability to drive — usually under the condition that you complete a DMV-sponsored driving program.

In New York, for example, drivers whose licenses have been suspended for a drinking and driving violation could receive a conditional license if they attend a DMV-approved Impaired Driver Program.

Get SR-22 insurance

If your license was suspended because of a serious traffic violation, such as driving while intoxicated or without insurance, your state may require you to get an SR-22 insurance policy before your license can be reinstated. SR-22 insurance is a type of policy in which your insurer files a form with the DMV that attests you have the required auto insurance coverage in your state.

Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for SR-22

It's free, simple and secure.

Though most insurers can offer you SR-22 coverage, some standard insurers may not give you a quote because they consider you a high-risk driver. Instead, non-standard car insurance companies — such as The General, Acceptance and Titan — may be your best options to insure your vehicle.

How to get cheap car insurance with a suspended license

Though it might be tempting to stick with your current insurer, the best way to get cheap car insurance rates is to compare quotes from multiple companies. This is because insurers weigh traffic violations differently when setting rates, so you will have to shop around to find the cheapest car insurance company if your license is suspended.

Why you should maintain car insurance while your license is suspended

If you are in the middle of your insurance policy's term and your license is suspended, you should not cancel your coverage. A gap in coverage, which happens when you cancel a policy with no other coverage in place, can cause rates to skyrocket whenever you next shop for auto insurance.

You may be tempted to cancel your policy in order to save on insurance premiums; however, we have found that rates could increase by 29% for drivers with a lapse in coverage. So what you could potentially save on premiums will likely not be worth the hike in rates when you purchase your next car insurance policy.

Can you rent a car with a suspended license?

Car rental companies will not allow you to rent a car with a suspended license. Furthermore, many major rental car companies — including Avis, Budget and Dollar — reserve the right to perform an electronic DMV check of your driving record to confirm your license isn't suspended or revoked. Additionally, some rental car agencies may reject drivers if they have recent traffic violations such as DUIs.

Can you buy a car with a suspended license?

There is not a specific requirement that you must have a valid license when you buy a vehicle, although you'll have to provide proof of insurance when registering your car. So while it's technically possible to buy a car with a suspended license and get a title in your name, you'll have to get insurance before you can register the vehicle.

Additionally, if you are planning to finance your purchase, it may be quite difficult to buy a car with a suspended license. The company providing you an auto loan will likely reject you without a valid license.

Registering a car with a suspended license

In most states, it is not a requirement to have a valid license to register a vehicle. However, you will likely be required to provide proof of insurance as well as the proper identifying documents.

To first get insurance, you will have to utilize one of the methods detailed above, such as applying for a hardship license or getting SR-22 insurance. After obtaining coverage, you can apply for registration through your state's motor vehicle office.

Methodology

To find the typical cost of car insurance after an insurance lapse (which drivers may be tempted to allow after their license is suspended), we collected sample rates for drivers in New York and Pennsylvania from three major insurers at three intervals: no lapse in coverage, a short lapse (less than 30 days) and a long lapse (more than 30 days).

The conditions under which your license is suspended also impact your rates. If you have received a DUI, for example, that would also impact your rates once your license is reinstated.

Can you buy a car without a license in Florida?

You can buy a car without holding a driver's license. But you won't be able to do much about it afterwards. Florida residents are required to register their vehicles at the nearest Tax Collector's agency. Before purchasing a new car, make sure you are fully-aware of your obligations.

Do I need a Florida drivers license to register a car in Florida?

State Overview and Advice. In order to register a vehicle in Florida, you need a Florida driver's license and a Florida address. Getting a Florida driver's license is not an easy process. We recommend starting your visit in another state, or using visitor.us' services to register a vehicle that you buy in Florida.

Can I register a car with suspended license in Florida?

Section 320.02(12), Florida Statutes, requires registration or re-registration to be withheld on any motor vehicle whether the owner or co-owner of the vehicle has a suspension against the driver license. Florida law requires fines and violations to be paid regardless of which co-owner committed the violation.

Do you need a license to buy a car from a dealership?

Can You Legally Buy a Car Without a License? 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.