How Many Cars Can You Have in Your Name? Answered

How Many Cars Can You Have in Your Name?

There is no limit to how many cars you can buy or own at one time, and there is no limit on the number of cars that can be registered under your name. As long as you pay your taxes and have the appropriate insurance for all of your vehicles, you should be covered. You can own as many cars as you want, whether you have a large family, you’re starting a collection, or you’re parting out cars.

Insuring Multiple Cars

If you own several cars that all need to be driven, you will need to insure them. We spoke to agents at several major auto insurance companies in the U.S. to find out how to do this. In general, companies will allow you to insure four to five vehicles under the same policy. If you need to add additional cars, instead of losing your business to a competitor, most companies will allow you to open a second, heavily discounted policy to cover more cars. If you need to insure several cars, you should speak with an agent at your desired company to get an accurate quote.

Car Dealer License Requirements

If you are not just collecting or parting out cars — if you’re buying and selling vehicles outright for profit — there are a few more rules. Depending on where you live, if you sell more than a certain number of cars in a given time frame, you may need to apply for a car dealer license.

The rules regarding who needs to file to become a licensed dealer (and when) vary by state. In general, if you are selling more than two cars per year, you may want to look into getting a dealer license. Some states allow up to six sales in one year before a license is required — our article lists the general limits by state. There are different types of dealership licenses and the specifics vary widely, so your best course of action is to check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

If your goal is flipping cars for profit, be wary of “title hopping,” or buying and reselling a car without registering it in your name, thereby bypassing yourself as the seller. Most states have a grace period for how long you have to register your car once you buy it, but it is important to note that title hopping is a fraudulent and illegal practice. For more information, our article provides the how-to guide for flipping cars, including state requirements.