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Updated December 21, 2022
If you don’t have a driver’s license, you might wonder whether it’s possible to purchase car insurance. While you can get insurance, the process will likely be more complicated and expensive. In most cases, you’ll need to add a primary driver with a license to your policy in order to get coverage. Here’s what you need to know about no-license car insurance.[1]
When you apply for an auto policy, car insurance companies usually look at the last three to five years of your driving history to determine your premiums. If you don’t have a driving history or you have a suspended, lapsed, or revoked license, you’ll be considered higher-risk. For this and other legal reasons, major providers don’t usually offer coverage for unlicensed drivers. But the good news is that there are work-arounds. If you need car insurance but don’t have a valid and active license, consider the following strategies.[2]
If you’d like a no-license auto policy, you can get someone else to be the primary driver, the person who will use the insured vehicle most often. If multiple people will drive the car frequently, you should list the one with the best driving record because car insurance companies will consider the driving history of the primary driver when determining your rate. A primary driver with a clean record, free of serious traffic violations, may help you land a good deal on car insurance.
The primary driver can be anyone who will regularly use the car you hope to insure. If you have a family, this may be your spouse or teenage child. In the event a certain health condition prevents you from driving, the primary driver can be a caregiver or aide who transports you to errands or appointments. A primary driver might also be a babysitter you count on to drive your children around.
If you and someone else you live with share a car insurance policy, one option includes adding a co-owner or household driver. Your car insurance premiums will depend on this person’s driving record. Your co-owner may be your roommate, spouse, significant other, child, or anyone else who regularly drives your car.[3]
Read More: Can Car Insurance and Vehicle Registration Be Under Different Names?
If you want to insure a vehicle you own as an unlicensed person, you may be able to buy a policy and list yourself as an excluded driver. As an excluded driver, you won’t be allowed to drive the car or receive coverage under the policy. In this case, you need to list someone else with a valid driver’s license as a primary driver. You might also want to include the primary driver in your vehicle registration. Note that some states impose restrictions on who can be excluded or don’t allow driver exclusions at all, so check your state’s official guidelines.
If you plan to park your vehicle in a garage or another location for a significant period of time, you may want to consider stored car coverage — especially if the location doesn’t include adequate security. Also known as storage coverage, parked car coverage, or comprehensive coverage, this type of policy protects your vehicle in the event of theft, fires, flood, or other covered incidents. The coverage won’t pay for any damage if you drive the vehicle and get into an accident.
Learn More: Car Storage Insurance
You may face license suspension after multiple traffic violations, a serious at-fault accident, or a DUI conviction, which makes it more difficult to get car insurance. Fortunately, you might still qualify for a policy with an SR-22 form.
“If a person’s driver’s license is suspended and they get an SR-22 or other financial proof of insurance, they’ll be able to get their license reinstated,” says Earl Jones, an insurance agent at Earl L. Jones Insurance Agency.[4]
Also known as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, an SR-22 form proves that you meet the minimum car insurance requirements in your state. Most car insurance companies will add an SR-22 to your policy and file the document with your state, so you don’t have to do much. But prepare to pay a fee for this convenience.
Even though SR-22 requirements vary, most states require that you have this form for about three years. Since each state has its own SR-22 criteria, reach out to the DMV in your state for more information.
If you have a suspended driver’s license, car insurance companies tend to consider you a high-risk driver and charge more expensive premiums. In the table below, you’ll find the cheapest average car insurance rates after a suspended license, which range from $78 to $221 per month. The premiums you get will depend on the car insurer you choose, as well as your unique driving history and situation.
| Insurance Company | Average Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Anchor | $78 |
| National General | $106 |
| Infinity | $130 |
| Workmen’s | $139 |
| Bristol West | $148 |
| Kemper | $150 |
| Mercury | $157 |
| Dairyland | $221 |
Learn More: The 10 Best Car Insurance Companies
Buying car insurance without a driver’s license may make sense in a number of situations, including:
You own a car but don’t drive it. If a relative, caregiver, or other driver will drive your car on a regular basis, it must be insured to protect the driver and your vehicle while on the road.
Your minor needs insurance. Minors typically can’t buy their own car insurance. If you have a teen who drives, you might need to invest in a policy for them and list their name as the primary driver.
You have your learner’s permit. Since a learner’s permit means you’ll be fully licensed soon, you’ll need car insurance. Note that if you’re under 18, a parent may have to help you get it.
You live with someone who can’t afford car insurance. You might have a roommate or significant other in your household unable to pay for a policy on their own. In this case, you can buy car insurance on their behalf and add them as a primary driver.
You have a suspended license. If your license was suspended, you may not drive for a while. But if you hope to reinstate it, you’ll need to show that you have adequate car insurance coverage.
You own a classic car. If you have a classic car or another vehicle that you keep in storage instead of driving, stored car insurance or comprehensive coverage might be a good idea. It’ll protect your car from theft, vandalism, fires, and other covered events out of your control.[3]
Check Out: Can You Legally Drive with an Expired License? (2022)
If you’re in the market for auto insurance without a license, you’ll need to shop around and compare your options. While you can visit the websites of multiple car insurance companies and fill out multiple forms, it’s faster and easier to use an online quote-comparison platform.
Once you share some basic information about yourself and your car, you’ll receive customized car insurance quotes in minutes, for free. You’ll be able to compare all your no-license car insurance options in one convenient place. If you find a provider and policy that meets your needs, you can apply right away.
See More: Cheap Car Insurance for 2022
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about no-license car insurance.
If you own a car but don’t have an active driver’s license, you may still need car insurance, especially if someone else, like a family member, caregiver, or hired driver, will drive it on a regular basis.
To lock in an auto policy without a license, look into regional or local car insurance companies. Most major providers with a nationwide presence may hesitate or refuse to insure drivers without an active and valid driver’s license.
Your car insurance rates will likely increase if you have a suspended license. You’ll be considered a high-risk driver and charged more as a result.
Yes, it’s possible to buy a vehicle without a driver’s license. In most cases, you’ll just need a photo ID and proof of car insurance to register your new car.[1]
You can register your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state, even if you don’t have a driver’s license. Just be prepared to submit some paperwork, pay a fee, and show proof of insurance.[1]
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.
Insurance Writer
Anna Baluch is a Cleveland-based personal finance and insurance expert. With an MBA from Roosevelt University, she enjoys writing educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions. Her work can be seen across the internet on many publications, including Freedom Debt Relief, Credit Karma, RateGenius, and the Balance. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.
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