Car Enthusiasts and the Legal Age of Consent in West Virginia

Car enthusiasts represent a unique culture of people, and car shows, auctions and other events combined are some of the largest gatherings in West Virginia primarily focused on cars. Although many visitors to these events may have “only” a passing interest in automobiles, there is a large number of car show participants who would be classified as serious car collectors. Because of this, car related events see participants of all ages, all the way from toddlers up to the elderly.

It is no secret that individuals in West Virginia must be at least 18 years old to own or operate a vehicle. But because licensed drivers must be at least 16 years of age to drive a car, you will often find car owners and collectors who are at least 16. In fact, you may see many car show participants who are under the legal age to own their cars. In West Virginia, the legal age of consent is 16 years. This means that any person over the age of 15 is considered competent to make most legal and business decisions for themselves. For minors, this will vary depending on one or more other factors. Check out the Armagh article What Does an Age of Consent Mean? to learn more about the age of consent and how it works in your area.

While there are a few exceptions to the age of consent laws in West Virginia, car enthusiasts are not likely to run into them at their local auction, that’s for sure. A third degree emancipation petition will allow a minor aged 16 or 17 to live independently or marry. However, this petition must be made by the minor and granted by a judge. In effect, this means that a minor who is 16 or 17 years old can get married or move out of the parent’s house, but cannot own a car unless the parents co-sign.

This can present a challenge for minors looking to get involved with auto-maintenance and repair. Many parents do not want to support their child in the hobby and instead try to discourage car ownership. If they are successful in this, the minor will have fewer opportunities to learn about car ownership through hands-on experience.

On the other hand, some teenagers are highly motivated to learn everything they can about auto-maintenance and repair. Some even spend their weekends working with professional mechanics to gain experience in the field. Young car enthusiasts may struggle to get a job or start a business that would benefit from this knowledge when they are under 18 years old. It may be better to wait until the minor turns 19 so that the they can legally own their own vehicle.

At car shows, you will frequently find many sponsors and special guests on site to check out the cultural icons of the automobile world. These guests are usually well-respected leaders in business, finance, and even the automobile industry. Not only are these guests knowledgeable in their respective fields, they are also eager to help young car enthusiasts learn the legal requirements for car ownership, building their own businesses, and establishing themselves as reputable members of the local community.

West Virginia’s car enthusiasts represent some of the most dedicated and loyal members of our state. When presented with the legal age of consent, young car enthusiasts are challenged to think about the decision to own a vehicle carefully. This will set them up to be responsible car owners, after they reach the legal age of 18.

A study of legal restrictions demonstrates that these restrictions generally favor individuals over the age of 16. For example, to legally marry, individuals must be 16 or older. Even businesses such as tattoo parlors and cigarette shops will serve individuals age 16 and up. The reasons for age restrictions have to do with a respected social contract. For example, in the United States, it is generally recognized that once an individual is 16 years old, they are old enough to make many decisions for themselves, regardless of whether the decision in question is to marry or to own and maintain their own vehicle.

The bottom line is that unless the individual is already married, has a third degree emancipation petition, or has the permission of their parents, they will be legally restricted from owning a vehicle. Even if they do have permission to own the vehicle, there could be other issues that arise during the purchase process. This could result in the vehicle being illegally registered in the minor’s name.

The focus of local car shows, auctions, and other related events is to bring together car enthusiasts from all over the state for the purpose of education, entertainment, and networking. Law-abiding car enthusiasts will make their legal decisions based on laws such as the age of consent and the age at which you can legally buy a car. Young car enthusiasts will be able to make these decisions for themselves as soon as they turn 16. After that, they will be able to support themselves and their cars legally as adults.