UPDATED: AUGUST 26, 2023 | 3 MIN READ
Car insurance is an absolute necessity if you drive. In most states, it’s the law. Car insurance protects you and others from paying out for injury or loss of a vehicle. The average cost of damage to vehicles involved in a car accident is under $5000.
It’s illegal to drive a car without a valid driver’s license, so most people wouldn’t even think about getting car insurance without having a license. It may be a pretty rare occurrence, but sometimes people may find themselves in a position where they are looking to get 12-month car insurance policies without actually having a driver’s license.
However, you may be in this situation for many reasons, so we’ll dive into the whys and, more importantly, the hows.
Can I get car insurance without a driver’s license?
To answer briefly, yes. Yes, you can. But why would you need to?
Let’s take a closer look at this.
Surprisingly, there are many reasons you may discover that you need car insurance without a driver’s license.
- You only have a learner’s permit.
- You need to insure someone else, such as a child.
- Your license has been suspended, but you want to avoid a lapse in coverage.
- You own the car but don’t ever intend to drive it.
- You have temporary health conditions but want to insure whoever will be driving you.
Auto insurance for a learner’s permit
Most states issue learner’s permits or temporary licenses to those still learning to drive. Teenagers often learn to drive using their parent’s car, but they still need to be added to the insurance policy.
Most states require everyone in the household age 15 and older to be listed on your insurance policy — whether they drive or not.
Or…
What if you never learned to drive as a teen and are a fully-fledged adult with your car but no license yet? Some companies will allow people to insure their cars with only a learner’s permit.
Insuring your child when you don’t have a license
Teenagers can drive cars but often can’t afford to buy a car. Parents may choose to buy their kids a car and get insurance. Some states have a minimum age for people to own a car, so parents may keep ownership but let their children use it.
Additionally, in some states, it’s the law that teens age 17 and under have a parent listed on their insurance. Therefore, parents may have to co-sign the insurance even if they don’t have a driver’s license.
Do I need insurance with a suspended license
Another reason you may want to get car insurance without having a valid driver’s license is if your license has been suspended.
This can happen for several reasons but is usually temporary. Just because you’re not allowed to drive doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t own a car and therefore need to keep it insured.
It’s also good to have insurance while your license is suspended because if you go a few months without insurance, your premium may increase when you get it back again.
Because of this, it can sometimes be cheaper to keep paying for insurance even when you don’t legally require it.
Car insurance for hobby cars
If you’re a collector of cars, you may not even be able to drive them. Luckily, no law says you must have a driver’s license to collect cars — you can’t drive them.
Collectible or vintage cars usually don’t come cheap, so you’ll probably want an insurance policy on them in case of damage or theft. They may not be going out on the road, but it’s worth looking into different types of insurance for your collection.
Some companies specialize in classic car insurance; others offer specific coverage for your collectible or vintage car. Making sure you have classic car coverage is important, as vintage cars have different needs than newer models.
Other car insurance companies may offer ‘vehicle under construction’ coverage for people who buy cars to restore them to their former glory. These coverage plans increase the amount of coverage to be in line with your car’s restoration stage.
Auto insurance for people with health conditions
So, you have a health condition that means you can’t drive? Maybe you have a broken limb or another temporary issue that doesn’t allow you to drive now.
You still need to insure your car even if it’s not you driving it. Also, if you have someone driving your car temporarily, that person must have a valid driver’s license.
How to get car insurance without a driver’s license
It’s not as simple to get car insurance without a driver’s license as if you have one. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, though.
Follow our tips and advice to minimize stress.
List a different primary driver
A primary driver is a person who drives the car the most and is typically the owner of the car or a co-owner. Some insurance companies need the primary driver and the person taking out the insurance to be part of the same household, but this varies by the insurance company. Speaking to agents to discuss your specific scenario and find out what they offer is important.
Use a comparison site for finding the best car insurance
Rather than calling every insurance company individually to find out that they may not even be able to help you, consider comparing auto insurance rates online. You can enter all the information needed to get the best car insurance rates possible within a few minutes.
Look into sr-22 certificates
An SR-22 certificate is often required for ‘high-risk’ drivers. This is a certificate that acts as proof of liability insurance. People without a license are typically seen as high-risk drivers, so looking into SR-22 certificates may be beneficial.
Exclude yourself from your car insurance
Not all insurance companies allow excluded drivers, but if you go with one that does, consider excluding yourself. An excluded driver is a person who explicitly won’t be covered by your insurance. By listing yourself as an excluded driver, you’re reassuring the insurance company that you won’t be driving without a license.
FAQs
What car insurance can you get without a license?
One of the types of car insurance you can get without a license is parked car coverage. Another name for this is ‘storage coverage’, for cars that won’t be used for extended periods. This is comprehensive coverage only. It doesn’t include liability or collision coverage.
Where can you get car insurance without a license?
The first step to getting car insurance without a license is comparing rates from different companies. Because you’re considered a higher risk, getting rates from several insurance companies to choose the best one is important.
What’s the best way to get insurance without a license?
The simplest way to get insurance without a license is to have someone with a license as the main driver on the policy. You can also list yourself as an excluded driver.
Can I get insurance with a suspended license?
Sometimes, you can. It might be more complicated than if you hadn’t suspended your license, but it’s doable. Some states will require people with suspended licenses to apply for an SR-22 to prove that they have the minimum car insurance requirements.
Can I register a car or get a license plate with no license?
Some states allow you to register a vehicle without a license. The paperwork and whether or not you have car insurance before registering the car will vary from state to state. You should call your local Department of Motor Vehicles to find exactly what your state needs to register your car.
Getting car insurance without a license
It’s possible to get car insurance without a license for many reasons a person may need.
Whatever your reason for doing so, always shop around to ensure you get the best deal. Use our form to get car insurance policy quotes from multiple companies quickly.
Related content:
- Short-Term Car Insurance Guide
- Cheapest cars to insure
- How Your Online Behavior Impacts Your Car Insurance Rates
- Drunk Driving Facts
- What’s the Average Annual Miles Driven In Each State?
