The Basics:
- You can register a car in California without a license, but you may have to provide other documentation such as a smog inspection certificate
- You typically can’t acquire car insurance without a valid driver’s license
- Driving without a license leads to hefty fines, vehicle impoundment, and potential jail time
It may surprise you that you can buy and register a car without a license in California. While you will likely need a driver’s license to acquire auto insurance, you don’t need one to register your vehicle.
However, you still need other documentation to register a car, such as a smog report. The registration process is quick and inexpensive. Although some states allow you to handle initial registration and renewals online, you may have to make a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Once you purchase a vehicle, it may be tempting to drive it without a valid license. Unfortunately, doing so can result in hefty fines and other penalties.
Continue reading to learn more about registering a car without a license and to determine the documentation you will need in California.
Can you register a car without a license?
Do you need a driver’s license to register a vehicle? Can you buy a car without a license? And, is it possible to obtain auto insurance without a license?
Your state creates its own rules for having a vehicle without a license. While some states don’t require car insurance at all, other states have very specific laws for buying and registering a car without a license.
States want to know what cars are on the road, requiring drivers to register their vehicles. Although some states like Florida and Oregon have higher registration fees, they are typically less than $200 and last anywhere from one to three years before renewal is required.
For example, California requires a vehicle registration fee, California Highway Patrol (CHP) fee, county fee, vehicle license fee, and transportation improvement fee.
In addition to a registration card, the DMV will issue license plates and stickers when your car registration is complete.
If you purchase a new car, the dealership usually takes care of the initial registration. If you have to handle registering your vehicle, it’s a fast process and can happen within the duration of an hour.
Although most states will let you renew your registration online, you will probably have to visit the DMV for the initial car registration. You can also switch your DMV vehicle registration to another car if you trade yours in.
In some cases, registration can even be done through a third-party website, so you don’t have to go to the California DMV.
Do you need a driver’s license to buy a car? It may surprise you that you don’t need a driver’s license to register or purchase a vehicle, but you do need insurance — as well as a driver’s license — before you drive it off the lot.
What do you need to register a car?
Although DMV car registration is possible without a driver’s license, you will have to provide other documentation.
When you register a vehicle in California, you will need:
- A car title, a lease, or loan paperwork
- A vehicle registration form
- Payment for fees
- Certification of a passed smog inspection
- Odometer reading
In most states, you have to show proof of insurance to register a vehicle. However, some states allow you to confirm evidence of auto insurance at a later date. For example, if you live in Los Angeles, California, you have 30 days after registering a car to provide proof of Los Angeles car insurance.
Limited car insurance companies will offer coverage if you don’t have a valid driver’s license. However, coverage is difficult to find and can be expensive.
If you don’t have a driver’s license but need to register a car, consider putting the vehicle in your name and adding another owner. The additional owner can also list you as a nondriver on their auto insurance, fulfilling all requirements.
What happens if you drive without a license?
While most states require car insurance, all of them require a license to drive. Driving without a license is a huge risk and can prevent you from procuring a valid license in the future.
This table displays state-by-state penalties for driving without a license.
| State | Fees | First Offense | Subsequent Offences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Misdemeanor: $100-$500 | Possible imprisonment for no more than 180 days and immediate vehicle impoundment. Possible license suspension increase by 6 months. | |
| Alaska | First Offense - Class A Misdemeanor: 10 days suspended imprisonment provided at least 80 hours of community service are completed; possible forfeiture of the vehicle; license suspension increased by at least 90 days. | Subsequent Offense -Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for at least 10 days; possible forfeiture of the vehicle; license suspension increased by at least 90 days. | |
| Arizona | Class 1 Misdemeanor - Imprisonment for up to 6 months; possible vehicle impoundment for up to 30 days | Driving on a suspended or revoked license - Class 2 misdemeanor This charge carries a potential sentence of 4 months in jail and fines of up to $750. | |
| Arkansas | Misdemeanor: Fine no more than $500 | Imprisonment for between 2 days and 6 months | Shall extend the period of the suspension for an additional like period and, if the conviction was upon a charge of driving while a license was revoked, the office shall not issue a new license for an additional period of one (1) year from and after the date such person would otherwise have been entitled to apply for a new license. |
| California | $300-$1,000 Fine | Imprisonment for between 5 days and 6 months | Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for between 10 days and 1 year; $500-$2000 fine. |
| Colorado | Misdemeanor - No more than $500 | Imprisonment for no more than 6 months, license suspension increased by 1 year. If the license restraint is due to an alcohol-related offense, there is a mandatory 30 days to 1 year in jail for a first offense. Minimum fine of $500 to $1,000. | Subsequent Offense - Driver ineligible to be issued a driver’s license for a period of three years. A second alcohol-based driving under restraint will result in a mandatory 90-day to a 2-year jail sentence. Minimum fine of $500 to $3,000. |
| Connecticut | $150 - $200 | Imprisonment for no more than 3 months | Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, $200-$600 fine, or both. |
| Delaware | $500-$1,000 | Imprisonment for between 30 days and 6 months. Possible vehicle impoundment of at least 90 days | Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for between 60 days and 1 year; $1,000-$4,000 fine; possible vehicle impoundment of at least 1 year. |
| District of Columbia | $2,500 | Imprisonment for no more than 1 year | |
| Florida | Misdemeanor $500 - $5,000 | First Offense -2nd Degree Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 60 days or $500 fine | Second Offense -1st Degree Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 year or $1,000 fine. Subsequent Offense - 3rd Degree Felony: Imprisonment for no more than 5 years or $5,000 fine. Immediate vehicle impoundment. |
| Georgia | Misdemeanor - $500 -$5,000 | First Offense - Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for between 2 days and 1 year; possible additional fine of no more than $1,000. | Second or Third Offenses - High and Aggravated Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for between 10 days and 1 year; possible additional fine of $1,000-$2,500. Fourth or Subsequent Offenses - Felony: Imprisonment for 1-5 years; possible addition fine of $2,500-$5,000. |
| Hawaii | $250-$2,000 | First Offense - Imprisonment for 3-30 days; $250-$1,000 fine; license suspension increased by 1 year; additional, inapplicable penalties. | Second Offense - Imprisonment for 30 days; $1,000 fine; license suspension increased by 2 years; additional. Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for 1 year, $2,000 fine. permanent license revocation; Additional, inapplicable penalties. |
| Idaho | Misdemeanor - $1,000 -$3,000 | First Offense - Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for between 2 days and 6 months; fine of no more than $1,000; license suspension increased by 180 days. | Second Offense - Imprisonment for between 20 days and 1 year; fine of no more than $1,000; license suspension increased by 1 year. Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for between 30 days and 1 year; fine of no more than $3,000; license suspension increased by 2 years. |
| Illinois | Misdemeanor - $2,500 -$25,000 | First Offense - Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 year; fine of no more than $2,500. | Subsequent Offense - Class 4 Felony: Imprisonment for 1-3 years; fine of up to $25,000. Possible vehicle impoundment. Fourth or Subsequent Offenses - Possible seizure of license plate; possible vehicle immobilization. |
| Indiana | Felony - No more than $10,000 fine | Class 6 Felony - Imprisonment for between 6 months and 2 years, 6 months; fine of no more than $10,000. | |
| Iowa | Misdemeanor - $250 -$1,500 | License suspension increased for an additional like period or for one year, whichever is shorter. | |
| Kansas | Misdemeanor: $100 | First Offense - Class B Nonperson Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for at least 5 days; fine of at least $100. | Subsequent Offense - Class A Nonperson Misdemeanor: Imprisonment without eligibility for parole until completion of 5 days; fine of at least $100. License suspension increased by 90 days. |
| Kentucky | Misdemeanor: Up to $250 | First Offense - Class B Misdemeanor: Imprisonment up to 90 days; license suspension increased by 6 months. Fine up to $250 | Second Offense - Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for between 90 days and 1 year; license suspension increased by 1 year. Third or Subsequent Offense - Class D Felony: Imprisonment for 1-5 years; license suspension revoked for additional 2 years. |
| Louisiana | $500-$2,500 | Person with a Class D or E driver’s license: Imprisonment for no more than 6 months, fine of no more than $500, or both. Driver may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,250. A person with a Class A, B, or C driver’s license: Imprisonment for no more than 6 months, fine of no more than $5,000, or both. Driver may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $2,500. | Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for between 7 days and 6 months; fine of $300-$500; potential civil fine of no more than $1,150. Subsequent Offense - Class A, B, or C driver’s license: Imprisonment for between 7 days and 6 months; fine of $300-$500; potential civil fine of no more than $2,500. License suspension increased by 1 year |
| Maine | Class E Crime: Up to $1,000 | First Offense – Class E: Crimes punishable by up to six months incarceration and a $1,000 fine | |
| Maryland | Misdemeanor - $1,000 | First Offense - Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, fine of no more than $1,000, or both; possible license suspension increased by no more than 1 year. | Subsequent Offense - Misdemeanor Imprisonment for no more than 2 years, fine of no more than $1,000, or both; possible license suspension increased by no more than 18 months if the second offense, and no more than 2 years for subsequent offenses. Possible vehicle impoundment. |
| Massachusetts | Misdemeanor - $500 -$1,000 | First Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 10 days, $500-$1,000 fine, or both | Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for between 60 days and 1 year. License suspension increased by 60 days. |
| Michigan | Misdemeanor - $500 -$1,000 | First Offense - Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 93 days, a fine of no more than $500, or both. | Second Offense - Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, a fine of no more than $1,000, or both. Cancellation of vehicle registration plates. License suspension increased by like period. |
| Minnesota | Misdemeanor - No more than $1,000 | Misdemeanor - Imprisonment for no more than 90 days, fine of no more than $1,000, or both. | |
| Mississippi | Misdemeanor - $200 -$500 | Misdemeanor - Imprisonment for between 48 hours and 6 months; $200-$500 fine; license suspension increased by 6 months. | |
| Missouri | First Offense - Class D Misdemeanor: Up to $500 fine. No set term of imprisonment, not to exceed one year. | Second Offense - Class A Misdemeanor: Fine not to exceed $2,000. Imprisonment for between 6 months and 1 year. Subsequent Offense - Class E Felony: Imprisonment for no more than 4 years. | |
| Montana | Misdemeanor - No more than $500 | First Offense – Fine not to exceed $500 and term of imprisonment not to exceed 6 months. | Imprisonment for no less than 2 days and not to exceed 6 months, license suspension increased by 1 year, a vehicle used is seized and rendered inoperable for 30 days. |
| Nebraska | First Offense - Class II Misdemeanor: Unable to operate any motor vehicle for 1 year; license revocation for a like period. | Second or Third Offense - Class II Misdemeanor: Unable to operate any motor vehicle for 2 years; license revocation for a like period. Fourth or Subsequent Offense - Class I Misdemeanor: Unable to operate any motor vehicle for 2 years; license revocation for like period. | |
| Nevada | Misdemeanor - No more than $1,000 | Imprisonment for no more than 6 months, a fine of no more than $1,000, or both. If the license is suspended, an extension of suspension by like period. If license (revoked), an extension of the period of ineligibility for license by 1 year. | |
| New Hampshire | Misdemeanor - No more than $1,000 | Misdemeanor - Imprisonment for a period not less than 7 consecutive 24-hour periods to be served within 6 months of the conviction, fine of no more than $1,000; license suspension increased by 1 year. | |
| New Jersey | $500-$1,000 | First Offense - $500 fine. | Second Offense - Imprisonment for 1-5 days; $750 fine. Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for 10 days; $1,000 fine. License suspension increased by no more than 6 months. |
| New Mexico | Misdemeanor - No more than $1,000 | Imprisonment for 4-364 days; possible fine of no more than $1,000. Possible vehicle immobilization. | |
| New York | Misdemeanor - $250 -$500 | First Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 30 days, $200-$500 fine, or both. | Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 180 days; fine of no less than $500. |
| North Carolina | Misdemeanor - No more than $300 | First Offense - Class 3 Misdemeanor - Imprisonment for 1-10 days; fine of no more than $200; license suspension increased by 1 year. | Second Offense - License suspension increased by 2 years. Third Offense - Permanent license suspension. |
| North Dakota | Misdemeanor - $1,500 -$3,000 | First, Second or Third Offense - Class B Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 30 days, $1,500 fine, or both. | Fourth or Subsequent Offense - Class A Misdemeanor - Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, $3,000 fine, or both.Possible destruction of license plate. |
| Ohio | Misdemeanor - $1,000 | First Offense - Unclassified Misdemeanor: Fine of no more than $1,000; 500 hours community service. | Subsequent Offense - 1st Degree Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 180 days; $1,000 fine. Possible license plate impoundment. |
| Oklahoma | Misdemeanor - $50-$1,000 | First Offense - $100-$500 fine. | Second Offense): $200-$750 fine. Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, $300-$1,000 fine, or both. |
| Oregon | $220-$2,000 | Class A Traffic Infraction: $220-$2,000 fine. Possible vehicle impoundment. | |
| Pennsylvania | $200 | Summary Offense: $200 fine; license suspension increased by 1 year if originally suspended, 2 years if it was originally revoked. | |
| Rhode Island | Misdemeanor - $250-$1,000 | First Offense - Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 30 days; $250-$500 fine; license suspension increased by 3 months. | Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 1 year; $350-$1,000 fine; 2nd Offense - license suspension increased by 6 months, license revoked. |
| South Carolina | $300-$1,000 | First Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 30 days, $300 fine, or both. | Second Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 60 days, $600 fine, or both. Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 90 days; $1,000 fine. |
| South Dakota | Misdemeanor - No more than $2,000 | Revoked - Class 1 Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 year; fine of no more than $2,000. Suspended or Cancelled - Class 2 Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 30 days; fine of no more than $500. | |
| Tennessee | Misdemeanor - $500 -$2,500 | First Offense - Class B Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for not more than 6 months, fine of no more than $500, or both; license suspension increased by the like period of time. | Subsequent Offense - Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for not more than 11 months, 29 days, fine of no more than $2,500, or both; license suspension increased by the like period of time. |
| Texas | Misdemeanor - $500 -$2,000 | First Offense - Class C Misdemeanor: Fine of no more than $500. | Subsequent Offense - Class B Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 180 days, fine of no more than $2,000, or both. |
| Utah | Misdemeanor - $1,000 | Class C Misdemeanor: Imprisonment of no more than 90 days; up to $750 fine. | |
| Vermont | No more than $5,000 | First Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 2 years, fine of no more than $5,000, or both. | Sixth or Subsequent Offense - Imprisonment for no more than 2 years, fine of $5,000, or both. Possible seizure of license plates. |
| Virginia | Misdemeanor - No more than $2,500 | Class 1 Misdemeanor - Imprisonment for no more than 12 months, fine of no more than $2,500, or both. | |
| Washington | Misdemeanor - No more than $5,000 | Gross Misdemeanor - Imprisonment for no more than 364 days, fine of no more than $5,000, or both. | |
| West Virginia | Misdemeanor - $100 -$500 | First Offense Misdemeanor - $100-$500 fine. | Second Offense - Misdemeanor: $100-$500 fine. Third or Subsequent Offense - Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for 30-90 days; $150-$500 fine. |
| Wisconsin | $50-$2,500 | Suspended - $50-$200 fine. Revoked - Fine of no more than $2,500.Vehicle may be impounded | |
| Wyoming | Misdemeanor - $750 | Misdemeanor - Imprisonment for no more than 6 months, fine of no more than $750, or both. | |
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While some states only charge a $200 fine, other states like Vermont can charge up to $5,000. In addition, you can end up with a criminal record and jail time.
California charges up to $1,000 for a first offense and up to $2,00o for additional offenses.
If you drive a car, ensure that you have a valid license and the proper car insurance in place. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), approximately 13% of drivers are uninsured. These drivers face high fines, possible car impoundment, and potential jail time.
Registering A Car Without A License: The Bottom Line
It’s possible to register a car without a license. However, you must have auto insurance to register a vehicle in most states. Although, California gives you 30 days to provide proof of insurance. In addition, you need a driver’s license to acquire car insurance.
To register a vehicle in California, you will need the completed documents, the registration fee and other fees, and either the title or loan paperwork. Additionally, you may have to have your vehicle inspected before registering it and provide an odometer reading.
Driving without a valid license or car insurance leads to heavy fines, vehicle impoundment, and potential jail time.
Find affordable car insurance, regardless of your license status, by shopping around for coverage. While not all auto insurance companies will offer you coverage, you can compare companies that will offer coverage to find your best deal.
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