Learner Driver

[hannah40]

A young man I support is learning to drive he would like to buy a car to practice more but has been told by garages he is not allowed to buy a car with a learners licence.
Does any one who sells cars know if that is correct?

[rccatnap]

If he wants to just buy a car outright, then he does not need a licence. If finance is involved then yes he does need a licence.
See extract from the AutoTrader's Site.

"Maybe you are an individual under the age of 18 or maybe you have relied on public transport so long that you never obtained a driver's licence. Now a vehicle has come along and you don't want to give up the opportunity of owning that specific model. Are wondering if you can legally own a vehicle even though you are not a licensed driver?

Unlicensed driver
In short, yes, you don’t need a valid driver’s licence to buy a new or used car from AutoTrader. It is not like buying a television set, where you must produce a licence to buy one. Not having a driver’s licence means you can own a car but not drive it on public roads yourself. You will need a licensed individual to drive the vehicle back to your home or arrange transport for the vehicle.

However, if you are planning on financing the vehicle, you will require a valid driver's licence. This is because lending institutions will require the vehicle to be insured for the entire financing period to ensure that they will be able to get their money back if anything happened to the vehicle. But if you are purchasing the vehicle with your personal savings, you will have no problem at the dealership."

[rccatnap]

Having said the above, it should be pointed out that the article is specific for AutoTrader; a dealership may have their own trading rules, but there's nothing in law that prevents a non-licenced driver actually owning a vehicle. It's the driving on public roads without a licence that's the problem.

[barry1010]

No, it's not correct, even if he wants finance https://www.mycarcredit.co.uk/can-i-get-car-finance-with-a-provisional-licence/

[Hopkirk]

The Auto trader article is wrong, you don't need a TV licence to buy a TV any more.

[1ozzy]

Did you need to pass a test to get a tv licence?

[barry1010]

I'm confused at this - I thought AutoTrader was an advertising board - they don't sell cars, so surely it is down to each seller what terms and conditions to fix, or the finance companies they deal with.
Anyway, anyone can buy a car with a credit card if the limit is high enough

[FatticusInch]

Hopkirk
//The Auto trader article is wrong, you don't need a TV licence to buy a TV any more//

Is that why my Grandad was never given the remote, he didn’t know how to drive the TV?

[rockyracoon]

I've never been asked for a driving licence when I've bought a car. Are you in the UK?

[Redhelen72]

I have never been asked either.

[barry1010]

I've always been asked if I have a full licence when buying from a dealer, usually before the test drive

[hannah40]

We’re in Uk. Maybe they didn’t understand what he was looking for.
Just looking for a cheap car so he can practise in with his friend instructing him .
No finance involved.
Just wants to pay cash for a car and registrar it in his name and insure it for himself and another named person.

[barry1010]

You don’t need any form of driving licence to buy a car.

[Fitzer]

Don't forget that the accompanying friend must be at least 21 and have held a full licence for the type of vehicle being driven for at least 3 years.

[hannah40]

Thank you for replying.