How Easy Is It For A 14-Year-Old To Buy A Car In Ontario?

It’s a case that was already shocking enough – a 14-year-old boy charged with being behind the wheel after an accident that killed two of his schoolmates. As terrible as that revelation was, another one came out on Tuesday. Police confirmed the boy had the money to buy the car and actually owned it outright – even though he wasn’t legally old enough to drive.

The relationship between teens and cars goes back to the 50s, when your wheels began to mark your freedom. But kids under 16 can’t drink, can’t buy cigarettes and can’t vote. How can they purchase a car? It turns out there’s no law against it. But wouldn’t most dealers balk?

To find out, CityNews sent two 14-year-old boys into selected dealerships in the GTA ready to put their money down on the purchase of a new vehicle. The very first one our undercover teen named Jacob encountered was only too happy to show him a car – and sell it to him, too.

Dealer: How old are you?

Jacob: I’m 14.

Dealer: So you cannot drive the car, so how you’re going to buy it? (sic)

Jacob: In 2 years, I’ll drive it. Can I come pick it up later?

Dealer: Will your parents come? Yes. Of course you can.

Jacob: And pay for it.

Dealer: Yes. I will have the car ready for you tomorrow if you are interested.

There were no legal rules broken but were any moral ones shattered by the near transaction? Even Jacob was surprised by how easy it was. “That’s kind of ridiculous that they can just sell me a car,” he shrugs.

His best friend Max also went out to make a purchase at a different lot. He had less success.

Dealer: Do you have a driver’s licence?

Max: No.

Dealer: So how you going to buy a car with no driver’s license?

When CityNews went back to the lot where they were ready to let Jacob take the car home, sales reps at first denied they would ever consider letting a youngster make such a purchase, even though the action was caught on a hidden camera. But at least they did ask about whether his parents were coming in.

Adults who heard about the experiment were appalled. “I think it’s quite ridiculous,” complains Gudrun Hardes, a Toronto mother.

“Can you imagine?” exclaims Mohamed Bouchama of Car Help Canada. “Giving the keys to a 14-year-old … It’s like telling them, hey, go out and kill people. It should not happen. It cannot. It should not happen.”

And while it’s unlikely most kids would have the money to buy a car at such a young age and few would actually try if they did, Bouchama is urging the government to change the law before anyone else makes the attempt.

Premier Dalton McGuinty admits his government is willing to take a look at the issue and may try to close the loophole to prevent any further tragedies. But for now, kids of any age can still purchase a car in Ontario – even if they can’t actually drive it off the lot.