Auto Insurance
Can You Get Car Insurance Without a License?
You don't necessarily need a license to buy car insurance, but it's much less likely that an insurer will agree to cover you. If you own a car, don't have a license and don't drive, the best way to get a policy is to buy one while listing yourself as an excluded driver, but not all insurance companies will accept excluded drivers. Comprehensive-only insurance is also an option if your car is in storage.
To find insurance without a license near you, you should start by contacting major insurers in your state or talk to an insurance broker or independent agent who can help you find a policy.
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Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 8/1/2022
Written By |
Gail Kellner
Reviewed By |
Mark Fitzpatrick
You can get car insurance without a driver's license, but it's more complicated than the traditional path. Car insurance companies want to look at your driving record to set rates, and if you don't have a license, they will consider you high-risk. MoneyGeek explains how you can get insurance, where you can find available options near you and offers money-saving tips.
Those looking to get car insurance with a suspended license are more likely to get coverage than those with no license, though they may need to file an SR-22 depending on the reasons for their license suspension and where they live.
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Key Takeaways
Getting car insurance when you don’t have a license is difficult, but it's possible to find insurers that will let you buy a policy if you are listed as an excluded driver.
Being listed as an excluded driver is a good solution for those who are driven around by others or who don't plan to drive but have a young member of the household who wants to drive.
If you have a license but it is suspended your options may be different. For instance, you may be able to find an insurer that will cover you and file an SR-22 form.
Can You Get Car Insurance Without a License
You can find ways to get car insurance without a license, but the solution will depend on on your situation. There are generally three ways to get car insurance unlicensed:
- Listing yourself as an excluded driver, meaning the insurance coverage doesn't apply to you
- Transferring ownership of the car or getting a co-owner
- Buying a specialty policy such as comprehensive-only insurance or classic car insurance
Listing yourself as an excluded driver is one of the more common solutions, but it is also difficult to get coverage in this manner. When trying to find where you can get car insurance, very few insurers will willing to issue a policy if someone on the policy doesn't have a license, even if they are excluded from coverage.
How to Get Car Insurance Without a License
The best way to get insurance without a license depends on your needs. Below, MoneyGeek broke down how to get car insurance for people who don't drive but are part of households that own a car, people who are storing their car or people with unique vehicles.
- SituationSolution
- You don't drive but your kids doIf your teen has a license but you don't, you can try to buy a car insurance policy and name yourself as an excluded driver.
- You're a senior who doesn't drive but you need someone to drive youIf you own a car but others drive you, you should try to buy car insurance naming yourself as an excluded driver.
- Your spouse has a license and you don'tIf your spouse has a license, the easiest solution here is to make them co-owner or owner of the car. Once they are co-owner, they'll be able to buy a policy for the car you're trying to insure.
- You own a car that is in storageIf your car isn't going to be seeing any action on the road, you may be able to buy comprehensive-only insurance from an insurance company. This will only protect the car from non-driving incidents like theft and weather, so an insurer may be willing to provide this coverage even though you're unlicensed.
- You own a classic or vintage car you don't driveLook into classic car insurance, which provides policies tailored specifically to vintage and specialty cars that may not see the road.
MONEYGEEK RESOURCES
Do any of these unlicensed scenarios describe you? If so, MoneyGeek resources to help you find companies that fit your. needs.
- If your kids are licensed and driving, MoneyGeek identified companies that sell cheap and quality car insurance for teens. If your child doesn't have a license, you can learn more about insurance with learner's permit.
- If you're a senior, MoneyGeek has resources on the best car insurance options for seniors.
- If you have a specialty car, MoneyGeek identified the best insurance for classic or vintage cars.
Where to Get Insurance With No License
Put simply, if you have no license it is going to be more difficult to find car insurance, especially from major national insurers like GEICO, State Farm and Progressive. But you're still going to have to try and find insurance from a traditional auto insurance company. To help you in your search, you should contact an independent insurance agent in your area who has local knowledge and can help you find an insurance company that will offer policies that allow unlicensed people to be named on the policy.
If you don't want to work with an agent or broker, you can find an insurance company if you're willing to contact them yourself and determine whether they will offer you a policy even though you don't have a driver's license. You could contact major national insurers or smaller, regional insurers, with smaller insurers likely to be a better option.
Compare Insurance Rates
Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Buying Car Insurance Through a Broker or Independent Agent
Insurers are more likely to reject covering you if you have no license, and working with an insurance broker or independent agent can help accelerate your search given their local knowledge and expertise. Rather than contacting all available insurance companies yourself, you can rely on an agent or broker to tell you which insurance company is most likely to offer you a policy even though you are unlicensed.
To find an agent or broker, you could start with the trade group the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, which can match you to a network of agents.
An insurance broker is representing you and is not associated with an insurance company. Their expertise can help you find an insurer that's a good fit.
An independent insurance agent is a representative of several insurance companies, and they are being paid commission for policies they sell to you. They'll be more likely to push you toward the companies they represent, but they will also have intimate knowledge of those insurers and how likely they are to cover you.
Compare Insurers With Your Own Research
If you're not interested in working with an insurance broker or independent agent, you may have to reach out to insurance companies yourself to see if they'll cover you. This can be a time-consuming process, as most insurance companies don't offer information online about whether they will cover someone without a driver's license. But contact numbers are easily available on insurance company homepages.
If you're wondering where to start, MoneyGeek has resources on the cheapest insurance companies available in each state.
Unlicensed Motorists Insurance FAQs
You may still have questions regarding securing a car insurance policy if you don’t have a license. Here are some of the most common.
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sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts and Statistics: Distracted Driving." Accessed July 30, 2020.
- State of CT Department of Motor Vehicles. "Adding, Dropping, or Changing a Name on a Registration or Title." Accessed July 30, 2020.
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "What is a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22)?." Accessed August 5, 2020.