Yes, you can legally buy a car in the United States without a valid driver's license. Ownership and the legal ability to operate a vehicle are separate matters. However, the process becomes significantly more complicated when you need to register, title, and insure the vehicle for road use. Most states require a valid driver's license to complete these steps. Therefore, while purchasing the car is possible, making it street-legal without a license presents major hurdles.
The primary challenge isn't the sale itself but the subsequent paperwork. To register a car and get license plates, the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) needs to identify a primary operator for the vehicle, which typically requires submitting a driver's license number. Similarly, auto insurance companies base their policies and premiums on the driving record of the licensed operator(s). Without a license to list, obtaining standard insurance is nearly impossible.
There are specific workarounds. You can purchase the car outright with cash and title it in your name. The vehicle would then be stored on private property. Some people in this situation buy a car as a project to restore or as an investment. If you need to insure it for reasons other than driving (like against theft or fire while in storage), you might be able to get a "storage" or "comprehensive-only" policy, which is different from liability coverage required for public roads.
If the car is intended for someone else to drive, such as a family member, the best approach is to have that licensed driver co-sign the purchase and be the primary registrant and insured driver on the policy from the start. Attempting to title and insure a car in your name and then adding a driver later can create unnecessary complexity. Ultimately, buying a car without a license is legally feasible but is often impractical unless you have a clear, legal plan for its storage or a licensed co-owner.
