Young Minor As Owner of a New Car

[Awful]

My question involves vehicle registration or title in the state of: California

Can a minor (8 years old) be listed as the owner of a car ? Parents of said child need a safe car to transport him, but lack the funds to purchase one. Eccentric old grandmother is offering to pay for a new car provided that title is in the child's name. Is it possible to buy a car in such a young child's name ? Furthermore, will the parents - who will obviously be the ones using it - be able to get auto insurance on a car that is in their minor child's name ?

Please help.

[flyingron]

While it might be technically possible for a minor to own a car, it will be entirely unworkable. The child can not act to register, renew registration, sell, or even grant permission for people to drive the car on his own. Insurance will be harder as you well. A guardian (almost never the parent) would have to be appointed to do these things. I would recommend it being titled to an adult either one of the child's parents or the grandmother if she is concerned.

[PTPD22]

Agreed. Titling the car in the child's name is going to be, at best, impractical...and likely to cost as much in legal hoopla as just buying another car. If "eccentric old grandmother" is adamant about not titling the car in the parent's name, perhaps she could be convinced to title it in her own name and leave it to the child in her will.

[flyingron]

Or she can create a trust and title the car to it. She can then put whatever goofball conditions she wants on the trustees which can be the parents.