How To Get Car Insurance Without A License

Key Points:

• As long as you aren’t listed as the primary driver of a vehicle, you may be able to insure it without a driver’s license.
• In most cases, you need a license and proof of insurance to register your vehicle.
• If you insure a vehicle and don’t have a license, it’s still illegal for you to drive the vehicle.

Unlicensed driver’s insurance may not make any sense to you at first. It’s illegal to drive without a license, so why would someone need car insurance without one?

Since it’s illegal to drive a car without a license, most people don’t know that unlicensed driver insurance even exists. However, since most states require you to have insurance on any car you own, this type of policy became a convenient solution for people who own a car but don’t drive or have a license.

Below, we’ll break down the reasons why you might need car insurance without a license and how you can get insurance. To kick off your coverage search, we’ll also recommend two of the best car insurance companies you can work with, based on our in-depth industry research.

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What Is Unlicensed Driver’s Insurance?

Unlicensed driver’s insurance provides coverage for car owners who don’t have a license and don’t plan to drive their cars. If you own a car, you need insurance, even if you don’t drive. If someone else drives your car and gets in an accident, you’ll be considered an uninsured driver, since your insurance would otherwise be responsible for covering accidents.

Unlicensed driver’s insurance doesn’t cover people who actually drive a car without a license. If you let an unlicensed driver use your car and they get into an auto accident, your insurance claim will most likely be denied.

Penalties For Driving Without A License

If you’re planning to drive a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, don’t. Driving without a license can result in major penalties.

In many cases, your vehicle will be impounded, you’ll spend six months in jail, and be fined up to $1,000. But penalties vary based on the state you live in and your driving record. For example, if you live in Indiana and it isn’t your first offense, you may be imprisoned for up to a year and owe a fee of $5,000. 

Having unlicensed driver’s insurance won’t shield you from the consequences of driving without a license.

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When Do You Need Unlicensed Driver’s Insurance?

If you want unlicensed driver’s insurance, call up your top choices for car insurance providers and explain your situation. Under no circumstances should you lie to the insurance company. If your lie is found out, your policy will be canceled and auto insurance coverage denied, and having a lapse in coverage will result in higher rates in the future. 

Strategies for how to buy car insurance as an unlicensed driver will vary depending on your reason for getting insurance. Keep reading to find out what you should do in your specific situation.

You Own A Vehicle That Others Will Drive

You may be unable to drive, but you have a close friend or family member who will drive your car. If this is the case, you’ll need unlicensed driver’s insurance. Even though this is a valid reason to purchase car insurance, you may still have trouble finding it. Most providers won’t give you car insurance quotes without a driver’s license number.

If you want to remain a policyholder but will have another person driving your vehicle, you can list that person as the primary driver on your policy. You’ll then use that person’s driver’s license information to request quotes and compare car insurance rates.

You can also specifically exclude yourself from coverage. Excluded drivers are people you name on your car insurance policy as being specifically prohibited from driving your vehicle.

Listing someone else as the primary driver is easier if that person lives with you. If the primary driver doesn’t live with you, car insurance companies may be more hesitant to let you name them on your policy. In this case, consider co-titling your vehicle with the person who will be driving it. This person can then more easily be listed as the primary driver.

You Have A Vintage Vehicle You Want To Insure Against Theft Or Calamity

Perhaps you have a collectible car you keep for display purposes. You have no interest in driving the car, but you want to insure it because it’s an expensive item that you care about. What you need is classic car insurance, or an unlicensed policy.

Some insurance providers offer special options for antique auto insurance. You might also ask about parked car insurance or limited comprehensive insurance.

You Need To Prevent Lapses In Your Coverage During A License Suspension

Lapses in car coverage are not good, and they become part of your driving history. Failing to insure a motor vehicle you own can result in big premium bumps the next time you try to shop for car insurance. 

A common reason for having a suspended license in the first place is not having insurance. One requirement for having it reinstated is to provide proof of insurance. But how do you buy insurance without a license?

This is a fairly common circumstance, and most auto insurers will let you buy insurance while your license is suspended. To have your license reinstated, you’ll likely need a document called an SR-22 form. This is sometimes referred to as SR-22 insurance, though it’s not technically an insurance policy. The SR-22 is a document from your insurer guaranteeing that you possess the minimum amount of liability coverage required by the state and claim financial responsibility for your driving privileges.

You Have A Learner’s Permit

You need proof of insurance to buy a car whether you have a learner’s permit or a driver’s license. Providers may be able to insure you using your provisional license from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or a government ID.

If you’re a teenager living with your parents or an adult living with another insured driver, consider getting insured under their policy instead of buying your own. You’re much more likely to find cheap car insurance this way. 

Whatever your reason for needing unlicensed driver’s insurance, you should be able to work with an insurance agency to get the right coverage for your needs. Insurance agents deal with multiple providers and situations and may be able to find a suitable policy. 

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Car Insurance Without A License: Our Take

In most cases, you’ll need a license to get a car insurance policy. If you have a suspended license, however, you may need proof of insurance. Most insurance companies will provide this in the form of an SR-22 form. In other cases, you may be able to purchase parked car insurance or list another person as your vehicle’s primary driver.

Regardless of why you need insurance without a license, we recommend comparing coverage and auto insurance rates before committing to a policy. Based on our research, Geico and Progressive are two of the best companies to work with.

Our Recommendations For Car Insurance

Not every provider will underwrite an unlicensed driver’s insurance policies. Most national providers will not. If you plan to buy insurance in your own name, you may need to check with regional insurance companies. If you decide to co-title your vehicle, your insurance options will broaden.

Geico: Best for Basic Coverage

Geico is a great option for most drivers because it has affordable insurance premiums, an easy claims process, and nationwide availability. It offers basic options like liability insurance and collision coverage, as well as add-ons like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement. We give Geico 4.5 stars out of 5.0, and the company has a strong score from AM Best for financial stability. 

Geico offers discounts that suit drivers of all backgrounds, including a safe driver discount, military discount, and good student discount. Geico’s also known for affordable policy rates, even for drivers with poor credit history.

Read more in our Geico Insurance Review.

Progressive: Best For Usage-Based Insurance

We also score Progressive car insurance at 4.5 stars out of 5.0 in our Progressive insurance review. Progressive is one of the largest insurance providers in the United States and has been selling policies since 1937.

This insurance provider is a great choice for high-risk drivers with driving records that include DUIs, tickets, or simply a lack of experience. Progressive’s options for saving money include policy bundling, the Snapshot^® usage-based mobile app for safe drivers, and a deductible savings bank. 

Read more in our Progressive insurance review.

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FAQ: How To Get Car Insurance Without A License

If you don’t have a license and need insurance for a vehicle, we give some quick answers to your questions below:

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How We Rate Auto Insurers

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
• Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
• Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
• Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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