The main reason people get car insurance is that they have obtained a car and a license to drive that car. So, if you don’t have a license, you may think it stands to reason that you don’t need insurance. In most cases, this is true, but there are some instances in which you may benefit from car insurance with no drivers license.
This said, getting car insurance without a license isn’t easy—the first thing most providers ask you for is your driver’s license number, after all. Still, it isn’t impossible either. Here are some pointers to help you get the car insurance you need, even without a driver’s license.
Free Car Insurance Comparison - Save up to 30%
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.
No Signup required
A car insurance provider issues a policy to cover the physical vehicle as well as the person driving the vehicle. Following, if someone who owns a car has someone else driving the car, then that car must be insured to go on the road—even if the owner of the car does not have a license.
While this situation may seem uncommon, there are actually a number of circumstances in which someone who owns the vehicle may not be driving the vehicle.
Here are some of the most common reasons:
Learner’s permit. Learning permits are often issued to people who are learning to drive. Many times, someone with a learner’s permit is still living with their parents and can be insured under their policy, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, the person will be required to get their own insurance.
Under Age vehicle ownership. Individuals who are under age will likely have trouble getting insurance for themselves and may require an adult to co-sign—even if that adult doesn’t have a license.
Personal drivers. You don’t need to be wealthy to have a personal driver. If you are unable to drive, for whatever reason (e.g. age or a disability), you may be required to hire a personal driver to drive your vehicle to get you around to work, errands and appointments.
Collectible or vintage cars. Collectible or vintage vehicles may not be driven, but the owners of these valuable automobiles may still want to insure the car. A special kind of insurance exists for vintage and collectible cars, but some owners prefer to have more traditional insurance, in the event they decide the car should be taken on the road.
The fact of the matter is, if you own a car, you need car insurance—even if you don’t have a driver’s license. You don’t actually need a driver’s license to get car insurance, because you don’t necessarily need to have a driver’s license to own a car.
There are a number of reasons why you might have a car without a driver’s license. Your vehicle may be parked in the garage and never driven, or you might own a classic car that you don’t drive. You might have your driver’s license currently suspended, or you might have a health condition that prevents you from driving the car you own.
You might also simply own a vehicle for your children and family members to drive. As well, student drivers or those with provisional licenses still need auto insurance, even though they’re not yet fully licensed.
Although there are plenty of reasons to own a car without a driver’s license, having car insurance is non-negotiable when you own a car.
Free Car Insurance Comparison - Save up to 30%
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.
No Signup required
A primary driver is any driver with a license. They do not have to live with you. For example, if you are buying insurance so a friend can drive you around in your car, you need their name and license information to apply for coverage.
The license number is important because it is the key to a driver’s driving history and your rate is partially dependent on that record. So, the insurance company needs to be able to see the primary driver’s driving history to be able to set a price based on probable activity in your car.
An excluded driver is, as the name suggests, a driver who is excluded from coverage under the policy. If you are applying for auto insurance for unlicensed drivers, your insurance company may make a condition of your insurance that you be named an excluded driver. They do this to make it clear that they are not responsible for coverage if you—an unlicensed and therefore illegal driver—are driving the car.
If you do get a license at some point in the future, you will need to contact your insurance company to be named as a driver on your policy. Be aware that you will not be covered until you do. Having your license does not automatically mean you are protected by your car insurance policy. You will need to contact your provider and name yourself as a driver. Due to the fact that you will be considered a new driver, and therefore an inexperienced driver without a good driving record behind them, your rates will likely be higher than your previous primary driver’s rates.
Free Car Insurance Comparison - Save up to 30%
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.
No Signup required
Some providers will allow you to include another principle driver on your policy but others will not. All providers are different so be sure to shop around and get at least three car insurance quotes without license before you settle.
Rules about insuring drivers vary from state to state.
The majority of big, national insurance companies will not insure unlicensed drivers, which means you will have to shop around with smaller providers.
Finally, beware of any providers who do not need any license information. Smaller providers are fine, but if a small provider doesn’t need this crucial information about your driving history to determine your rates, chances are you aren’t getting the best price possible.
Finding car insurance for someone without a license isn’t an impossible task. However, because bigger nationally-run insurance companies may not want to cover you, local or smaller companies that provide non-standard insurance will likely be your best bet. Look around, ask questions and prepare quotes to get the best price for the coverage you need.
The easiest way to compare car insurance quotes without a license is through ConsumerCoverage. Just answer a few simple questions and you’ll get access to a list of your best policies.
Yes, there are car insurance options available to you if your license has been suspended. However, to get your license reinstated you will likely need to buy insurance SR-22, which is insurance specifically for <a href=”https://www.consumercoverage.com/auto/high-risk-auto-insurance”>high-risk drivers</a> that act as proof that they carry the minimum coverage required by their state.
Lauren Lewthwaite Lauren Lewthwaite has been freelance writing for almost five years writing content that ranges from health to insurance and everything in between. Lauren is also a trained translator in French and English and is a dog-mom to an adorable Australian Shepherd.
