Find the Best Cheap Car Insurance for International Drivers


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Updated: October 9, 2024

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Generally speaking, anyone on the road in the United States is required to have car insurance. In every state except New Hampshire and Virginia, driving without auto insurance is illegal, and you could end up footing a hefty bill if you get into a car accident without insurance coverage. If you’re a visitor residing in the country for an extended period of time and you own or lease a car, you’ll need to buy a formal insurance policy from an insurance company.

To purchase a car insurance policy, drivers may need to show proof of an international driver’s license or permit, which can help streamline the process and ensure compliance with state regulations for international drivers. Alternatively, drivers can apply for a U.S. license in their resident state. If you want to know where to start, MoneyGeek dug into the data and found the best cheap car insurance companies for international drivers.

If you’re visiting the United States for a short time, you can typically get car insurance coverage directly from your car rental company without having to purchase a policy from a third party.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

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Short-term visitors can get rental car insurance from their provider. Long-term visitors should get coverage from third party providers.

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MoneyGeek found that State Farm, Progressive, and Farmers offer car insurance to foreign drivers.

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Rental car insurance includes liability coverage, collision coverage and personal accident insurance.

Why Trust MoneyGeek? Our team collated data from state departments of insurance and Quadrant Information Services. We used the information we gathered to study insurance costs for various driver profiles and locations with the goal of helping you find the most affordable car insurance policies. Since premiums change based on your profile and preferences, you can find the best and cheapest offers by shopping around and comparing providers.

How to Get Car Insurance With an International License

If you’re in the United States as a resident or on a visa and you buy or lease a car, you’ll have to buy a car insurance policy from a car insurance company. In most cases, you’ll need to provide proof of a valid license from your home country as well as an international driver’s permit. While some car insurance companies do offer policies for international drivers, other companies may be unwilling to provide you with an insurance policy if you don’t have a U.S. driver's license.

No matter what car insurance company you decide to purchase coverage from, your policy must comply with state and local requirements for minimum coverage. These may vary depending on where you live, so be sure to check with your car insurance provider to make sure that you’ve purchased the necessary coverage.

In most cases, you may want to purchase more coverage than the minimum amount required since higher coverage levels can help protect you and save you money in case of an accident. How much car insurance you need is determined by a variety of factors, including the value of your car and your budget.

The Best and Cheapest Car Insurance for Foreign Drivers

Companies With the Most Affordable Insurance for Foreign Drivers
Company
Full Coverage Policy Annual Premium
Accepts International License?

State Farm

$1,114

Yes

Progressive

$1,226

Yes

Farmers

$1,459

Yes

Once you obtain a U.S. driver’s license, you can easily purchase car insurance from most car insurance companies. However, if you don’t yet have an American license, some insurance companies may refuse to sell you a policy. Therefore, you’ll want to look for insurance providers that accept international driver’s licenses.

Companies that accept applications from international drivers:

  • State Farm
  • Progressive
  • Farmers

State Farm is explicit about offering insurance policies to drivers with international licenses, while Progressive and Farmers both allow applicants to provide information from international driver’s licenses during the application process, indicating that they are open to offering coverage to drivers with a license from abroad. Drivers can contact these companies by phone to learn more about applying for insurance with an international license. The rates below will give you an idea of what to expect, but they represent average annual rates for a domestic driver. So they may not accurately represent the rates an international driver might pay.

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Keep in mind that even companies that do provide insurance to drivers with an international license typically charge higher rates. This is because it’s more difficult for companies to find information about driving history, credit score and other factors.

Car Insurance for Foreign Drivers Staying Long-Term by State

We highlighted which of the three companies that offer insurance to those holding an international license — State Farm, Farmers and Progressive — are the cheapest on average in each state and in the nation's capital.

  • State Farm is the cheapest in 35 states
  • Progressive takes the top spot in 11 states
  • Farmers is the most affordable in the remaining five states

These rates are averages for domestic drivers, so keep in mind that your rates may be higher as an international driver.

The best and cheapest car insurance companies nationally may not be the same as the best and cheapest car insurance companies in your state. Insurance is regulated at the state level, and insurance companies may offer different levels of service across state lines. For this reason, rates from the same insurance company can vary from state to state.

For example, the cheapest car insurance company in California for drivers is Progressive. But that doesn’t mean that Progressive is the most inexpensive in every state. The cheapest car insurance also varies depending on your driver profile, which is influenced by several factors, including your age, gender and driving history. Before purchasing an insurance policy, you should be sure to compare rates from multiple different providers to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Foreign Drivers by State
State
Cheapest Company
Full Coverage Annual Premium

Alabama

Farmers

$1,088

Alaska

State Farm

$846

Arizona

Progressive

$905

Arkansas

Farmers

$865

California

Progressive

$1,029

Colorado

State Farm

$1,013

Connecticut

Progressive

$1,075

Delaware

State Farm

$1,117

How to Get Car Insurance as a Tourist or Temporary Visitor

If you’re only visiting the United States for a short time, you can usually buy insurance from your car rental company. The three main components of car insurance provided by rental companies include liability insurance, a collision damage waiver and personal accident insurance.

Coverage limits for each of these components may vary depending on the rental company and on your personal preference. Insurance coverage from a rental company may cost up to $50 per day, depending on how much coverage you purchase.

Most visitors from Canada who are driving their own car will be covered by their own insurance company. However, this isn’t true for drivers from Mexico, who will need to purchase additional coverage.

Key Takeaways

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Liability coverage covers you if you damage someone else’s car or injure another person in an accident.

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A collision damage waiver covers damage to your vehicle in the case of an accident.

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Personal accident insurance covers medical expenses for you and your passengers in the event of an accident.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to get coverage if I’m staying short-term?

Do I need to get car insurance even if I’m not a U.S. citizen?

How much does car insurance cost on average?

Why don’t most companies offer insurance to foreign drivers?

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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