Reader’s Question;

Can a 17 year old teen buy and insure a vehicle from a private seller in Mesa Arizona with cash without consent from parent?

Amy

Mesa, AZ

This will depend upon state laws if a seventeen year old teen (or any aged minor) can buy a vehicle from a private seller in Mesa Arizona with cash without getting their parent’s consent. The age at which an individual can legally have ownership of a car varies from state to state.

Generally, a teen or minor cannot enter into a contract therefore cannot be a sole owner of a car. Normally a minor cannot actually own a property. Technically, his or her parents own that property. If a parent or a guardian will co-sign on a loan for a vehicle, the minor can purchase a vehicle, but the parent will be the legal owner.

There can be exceptions to this generalization and this depend upon state laws. For instance in Arizona, they have an emancipation statute for teens or minors over 16 who can show they are sufficiently mature to handle their own financial and health-related responsibilities. If the order is granted, the minor may be able to enter into legally-binding contracts for the purchase of property, including vehicles and insurance.