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.
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?
Non-standard carriers like Dairyland, Bristol West, The General and Progressive's will write policies for people who don't have a valid drivers license. Expect your premiums to be 25-50% higher than the standard rates. For example, an average monthly premium for an unlicensed driver might be $180-$250 compared to a licensed driver with the same coverage would cost around $120-$160 a month.
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.
Florida and Virginia have a different process when it comes to dealing with DUI convictions. They require an FR-44 filing instead of an SR-22 and this comes with a higher liability limit.
In Florida with an FR-44 you must carry a minimum of both $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury and $50,000 in property damage coverage. That's over ten times higher than the standard minimum state requirements of $10,000/$20,000/$10,000.
Virginia's FR-44 requirements are $50,000/$100,000 bodily injury and $40,000 property damage coverage. That is roughly double the states standard minimum liability coverage limits. These higher limits when a FR-44 is required will raise your premiums $50-$100 a month
These higher limits will add another $50-$100 a month to your premiums. On top of that SR-22 filing fees can cost anywhere from $15 to $50 depending on the carrier you go with.
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
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 non-standard carriers. If a national insurance company like State Farm or Allstate won't insure you, you’ll have to get insurance from a non standard carrier. National companies can be pretty picky about who they insure, but the likes of Dairyland, Bristol West, Mendota, The General, or even going direct to Progressive's high risk division might be a better bet - this is because they specialize in policies for people whose license has been suspended, need an SR-22, or are an excluded driver.
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.
