CA driver’s license law helps boost car sales on Central Coast

Car dealerships on the Central Coast are seeing a boost in business as result of Assembly Bill 60, which was implemented one year ago.

“We are seeing an increase in car sales which creates sales tax, the insurance businesses are getting extra business and it’s putting insured, safe drivers on the road,” said Tina Lopez with JV Automobiles in King City.

Lopez said the state law has spurred a spike in sales.

“It’s created an entirely new market for people who are wanting and willing to purchase a nicer type of vehicle,” said Lopez.

In the past, Lopez said many unlicensed drivers preferred to buy cars that were fairly cheap and disposable because they were worried about what might happen if they were caught without a driver’s license.

“People have always wanted nice cars but the motivation wasn’t there to purchase them because they knew that at any moment they could have them impounded,” said Lopez.

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, under AB 60 last year more than two million people participated in drive test examinations, 830,000 applied from a driver’s license and 605,000 new licensed drivers hit the road.

“We’re very excited and we are here to help them,” said Sandra Quiroz with Raymundo’s Auto Sales in King City.

Quiroz said with a license in hand, new drivers might opt to buy something a little nicer, spending $10,000 to $15,000 more than before.

“We are trying to bring newer cars because we definitely know that’s what people are looking for nowadays,” said Quiroz.