Can I Get Car Insurance Without a License?
You can get car insurance without a license and sometimes you have to if someone else will be driving your car. But some auto insurance companies will not cover someone without a valid license. Some states require at least one licensed driver to be on the auto policy.
Getting car insurance without a license seems impossible but Insurance Navy is here to make it easy for you. We have many car insurance options for you, so you can insure your car regardless of your licensing status.
Since 2006. Insurance Navy has been serving customers and their loved ones with affordable car insurance for all cars and drivers. We have great customer reviews and our licensed insurance agents are here for our customers 7 days a week.
Why You May Need Car Insurance Without a License
Buying car insurance without a license can be a wise and economical decision. Under these policies, your car would be insured but not you as a driver. There are also a couple of cases where it would be the only and the best course of coverage.
Examples of when you may need car insurance without a driver’s license:
- Underage driver. A 16 or 17-year-old may get a driver’s license. However, some insurance companies may have the age requirement of 18 to qualify for a car insurance policy. Some parents may also purchase a car for their new drivers before they get their license. At that time, multiple people, including an excluded and primary driver, may appear on the auto insurance policy.
- Personal driver/chauffeur. Some drivers may not renew or get a license due to an inability or an increasing inability to drive safely. Those car owners may have a personal driver or chauffeur moving them from place to place. The best auto insurance is one that covers your vehicle while another driver is using it. The driver should be listed as the primary driver.
- Provisional license or permit. If you’re a new, young driver with a learners permit or provisional license, then the first policy you should be covered by is your parents’. If the car is your own, then you’d be able to get an auto insurance policy but must have someone over 18 on it until you turn that age.
- Suspended license. If your driver’s license was suspended or revoked, then an SR-22 form or FR-44 is required (proof of financial responsibility) to renew it. SR-22 insurance would still be required even if you no longer have a driver’s license. You’re still the owner of the car.
How Do You Get Car Insurance With No License?
Regional nonstandard insurance providers are more willing to sell a car insurance policy to a high-risk driver with no license. These policies for unlicensed drivers usually have higher auto insurance costs than a driver with an active drivers license. Driving without a license is against state laws, so getting caught driving without a license can result in a hefty fine. You still have the right and choice to insure your property.
First, let’s understand the types of car insurance coverage that can be used for unlicensed drivers.
- Licensed primary driver. Naturally, not having a license exempts you from being the primary driver of your car insurance policy. It helps to name a licensed driver as the primary during the application process. The primary driver can be anyone with a license from your same address-family member, roommate, or friend.
- Unlicensed excluded driver. Insurance companies don’t condone unlicensed driving so they won’t cover anyone without a license behind the wheel. This is exactly what marking yourself as an excluded driver with the insurance company does. It covers your vehicle, but not when you are driving.
- Licensed co-owner. Adding the licensed driver as the co-owner to the vehicle will provide insurance coverage for your vehicle when you are without a license. This insurance coverage works similarly to having them as an insured primary driver. Vehicle ownership is sometimes required for getting car insurance.
- Parked car policy. If you’re keeping your car in storage or parking for the time being or until you get your license, then you may want to use a parked car insurance policy from the insurance company. This offers comprehensive coverage should anything happen to the vehicle in storage. This is an especially good auto insurance policy to have on collectible or vintage cars.
Who Should I Make the Primary Driver If I Buy Car Insurance Without a License?
Aside from having a valid driver’s license, a primary driver would be the driver who uses the car more often.
When selecting a primary driver if you’re without a license, you should take into consideration their driving history and the risk they pose in the eyes of the insurance company. It helps when they share your address or household. That way, they may be covered by the same car insurance policy.
“Primary driver” isn’t a legal term that refers to the owner of the vehicle but the driver who is covered while they are driving. An insurance company can’t enforce state laws, but they can encourage them.
Adding a primary or active driver to your car insurance policy is done through your insurance company. You’d just have to provide their driver’s license and their driving history.
Some companies also allow you to have excluded drivers. Again, they would still be allowed to drive the car, but they wouldn’t be covered whenever that may be. This also may save the policyholder some money on their auto insurance premium.
Can I Get Coverage with a Suspended License?
Yes, You can get car insurance with a suspended license. Being suspended means you’re only temporarily unlicensed.. Some options during a license suspension are a parked car insurance policy and excluded driver coverage.
Many states allow you to keep your license for an SR-22. An SR-22 is a financial responsibility form that is reported to the state. If your state requires you to have an SR-22, you can purchase non-owner car insurance. Non-owner car insurance is a very good way to get a cheap insurance policy.
Usually you need to keep the SR-22 for the length of the suspension. Other variations like FR-44s may require liability above the state’s minimum.
But only a few states like Florida have higher coverage insurance requirements. FR-44s are designed to cover other drivers, which in turn increases insurance costs.
Can You Buy A Car Without a License?
There’s no law outright prohibiting the sale of a car to an unlicensed individual. The act of driving the car would just be illegal.
Buying a car without a license and taking it home can be possible if you have a licensed driver who drives it off the lot for you. Prior to making a car purchase without a driver’s license, you’ll want to contact your local department of motor vehicles and inquire if there’s any other specific documentation you may need at the dealership.
Secondly, you’ll want to do the same with your insurance company. Ask them if they too require any information from the car purchase for you to get liability insurance. Lastly, you would call the dealership you’re purchasing from to make them aware that you may need assistance from a sales manager.
How to get car insurance for your new car with no license is where the challenge is. The first thing to do is to stop looking to the bigger national insurance names for auto insurance without a license. Regional companies with non-household names tend to handle these types of car insurance policies for unlicensed individuals like excluded driver or co-owner coverage.
After comparing cheap car insurance quotes online from some of those insurance companies, you’d be able to make an informed decision on which car insurance coverage would be the best for you. When the insurance company would ask for your license number, you would give them the info of whoever will be your primary driver.
Tips for Getting Cheap Car Insurance Without a Driver’s License
Getting affordable car insurance without a license has a couple of different policy names and coverage types. But they all have the same goal of insuring your vehicle but not yourself as the official driver.
When making the decision to exclude yourself from the car insurance policy or include another main driver, keep these tips in mind the find cheap car insurance policy without a license:
- Pick a known primary driver. If you’re going to put an individual in charge of a car that you bought, then you’ll obviously not want them to be a stranger. It’s best to choose a family member, friend, significant other, or roommate as your primary driver. It is best if they do not have a poor driving record or history of auto accidents to get competitive rates.
- Look at insurance companies with high-risk policies. Some insurance companies may be reluctant to take on high-risk drivers like a driver with a DUI conviction, reckless driving conviction, suspended license, or a non-existent license. Look locally as opposed to nationally for companies who specialize in high-risk car insurance.
- Always be excluded as the driver of the vehicle. The point of no-license car insurance is to insure the car or any other licensed individuals that drive it. Since you have no license, it wouldn’t be legal for you to be the driver of the vehicle.
- Make your primary driver a legal co-owner. Adding the licensed driver’s name to the vehicle deed is a smart move if you’re looking for an insured car and driver. This will also help you get more affordable car insurance.
Of course, the cure-all to this vehicle insurance problem would be to go and get your driver’s license. Whether you need to take a driving class or test, having a license is one of the most crucial things in buying auto insurance and is mandatory for driving.
Car Insurance without a License FAQs
Do I need a US Driver’s License to get car insurance?
You can get car insurance as long as you have a valid driver’s license in the US, it doesn’t have to be a US issued license. Depending on your country of origin and the states you’ll be driving in, you may be able to use your foreign license when you get to the US. But if the insurance company can’t access your driving record from abroad you may pay higher insurance rates.
Can I get insurance without a license plate?
Yes, you can get car insurance without a license plate. You’ll need to provide proof of insurance (active liability insurance) during vehicle registration to get your permanent plates.
Can unlicensed drivers get full coverage car insurance?
Unlicensed drivers can get full coverage car insurance but with limitations. For example, your insurance company won’t cover claims if an unlicensed driver drives your car. Full coverage car insurance will still cover your vehicle if someone else drives it legally or if you own a vehicle like a classic car that you don’t intend to drive. But having comprehensive insurance doesn’t make it legal to drive without a valid driver’s license.
Can I get car insurance with a temporary license?
Many insurance companies offer car insurance policies to people with temporary licenses, suspended licenses, foreign licenses or no license at all. Maintaining continuous insurance coverage can save you money when you get your driver’s license active. You can get car insurance in these cases but it won’t prevent you from getting a ticket if you get caught driving a vehicle without a valid license.
