Can I pay for a brand new motorcycle monthly without a license in California?

: Can I pay for a brand new motorcycle by monthly payments without a motorcycle license in California?
Hi I’m 18 years old and living in California, and I’m planning to purchase a motorcycle soon. I’m going to be taking the basic riders course (for my certificate) next month, and planning to get my permit immediately after. At the moment there is a deal for motorcycles, and I was wondering if I can pay for a brand new motorcycle month by month without having my license or insurance yet?

Answers and Views:

Answer by WRG
That will be up to the lender. You can’t drive it without a license and you can’t finance it without insurance.

Answer by Nancy Kay
No, because you will need insurance even if it is not being ridden, in order to protect the note-holder. And you can’t get insurance without a license.

Answer by James
You can buy it, but you can’t register it in your name without insurance. And you will need a motorcycle license in order to get insurance. The bank doesn’t care if you have a license or not, but they will require insurance to protect their investment (they own the bike, you don’t). So the bottom line is, indirectly, no.

Another point: Most new riders drop their first bike once or twice, so it makes NO sense to start off with a brand-new bike. The first scratch, dent, etc. will cost you a ridiculous amount in depreciation, or a lot of money to fix.

Finally: Don’t buy ANY bike without finding out first what your insurance cost will be.

Answer by deb.peg1
I don’t know how the motorcycle dealers handle it, but I have bought cars. Even if I pay cash or arrange my own financing, they still want to see my license and proof of insurance. Maybe that’s just the law in my state and yours is different. Maybe motorcycle dealers don’t really care just as long as you qualify for their financing program.
Everything is negotiable so have them figure out what your payments would be and ask them if you paid two months up front as a down payment/deposit, would they hold the bike for a month and still sell it to you for the current sales price once you have your certificate and permit?
Whatever you agree on, get it in writing.

Answer by Candid Chris
No one mentioned a motorcycle safety course ( MSF, I think Calif. has it’s own brand) that would minimize both the license and the insurance matters.
If you can spend the $ 250 or so on the MSF than you need only walk into the DMV with your certificate and proof of insurance, which is way cheaper since you passed the MSF course, and take a simple written test to be fully covered to buy any frigging insane motorcycle you can afford.

As James stated getting a new bike as a starter bike is sort of the wrong way to go, you’ll lose money on that deal, believe me.

Answer by Pjay
There is no requirement that you have a license or insurance to buy own, or even register a motorcycle (or a car, for that matter)–just to RIDE it. DO NOT ride the bike without license and insurance.