Can I buy auto insurance without a driver’s license?
Wondering if you can buy auto insurance without a driver's license? Not every insurance company will issue a policy to a vehicle owner who does not possess a driver's license. Still, you have options available to help you find an auto insurance policy if you don't have a license.
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Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Dec 17, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Dec 17, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- It is possible to buy auto insurance without having a driver’s license; however, you must own the vehicle
- You will need to designate a primary driver who has a valid driver’s license
- You may need to present some other form of identification
Auto insurance follows the car, not the driver. Can you get auto insurance without a license? Of course, you can. You may own a vehicle and have another licensed driver designated as the primary driver on the auto insurance you buy.
In addition to having a primary driver, you may also name secondary drivers in the policy who will sometimes drive your vehicle. This is quite common for people who do not drive and use chauffeurs as their drivers.
Consider royalty and the wealthy, who may own a fleet of luxury vehicles and limousines but rarely drive any of them.
Moreover, there are those with a disability or who are elderly. This prevents them from driving, but they may still own a car and need auto insurance. They benefit from getting affordable auto insurance quotes for unlicensed drivers.
Excluded vs. Listed Drivers on Auto Insurance Policies
When the insurance company issues your auto insurance policy, it may require you to be an “excluded” driver. An excluded driver means you have no insurance coverage for your driving. This status might be changeable later; however, you should not drive unless you change your status to a listed driver.
A listed driver (also called a named driver) is stated in the auto insurance policy to indicate the insurance coverage for that person driving your vehicle.
Read more: What is the difference between named driver and any driver auto insurance?
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Reasons to Buy Auto Insurance Without a Driver’s License
Can you get auto insurance without a driver’s license? Here are some common reasons you may want to.
Classic and Collector’s Vehicles
Another reason to insure a vehicle is if it is a classic or collector’s car kept as a rarity and never driven on public roads. These owners do not need a driver’s license to buy and sell them as rare collectibles.
Caretakers
Owning a vehicle and having a caretaker be the primary driver is the situation for many who receive in-home health care and personal care assisted living. The caretaker may need to use the auto to run errands, such as picking up groceries or prescriptions.
In addition, there may be a need to transport the person to doctor visits using the vehicle owned by the patient.
Learner’s Permits
If a person has only a learner’s permit, obtaining auto insurance with a learner’s permit before getting a driver’s license is possible.
Vehicles in Transport
Insuring an auto while in transport by rail or truck does not require a driver’s license if it is not driven.
Non-U.S. Persons
Foreigners visiting the U.S. who plan to drive a car must meet the same legal insurance requirements as U.S. persons but are not required to have an American driver’s license when they have a foreign one or an international driving permit (IDP).
Therefore, those in this category may want to look at affordable auto insurance quotes for non-U.S. citizens and residents.
Read more:
Buying Auto Insurance Without a Driver’s License: The Bottom Line
Not all insurance companies allow people to buy auto insurance without a driver’s license. However, many do, and it is easy to get a quote. In addition, you can find auto insurance quotes online that work with your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need car insurance if I am not the driver?
If you own a car but do not drive it, you still may want to carry auto insurance to protect the vehicle from the risk of theft, damage, vandalism, and other troubles covered by comprehensive insurance. This is typically the type of specialty insurance used for collectible cars.
Can a licensed friend drive me around?
If they have permission to drive the vehicle, they are usually covered. Therefore, adding them as listed drivers in the auto insurance policy is prudent.
Is auto insurance on the car or the driver?
Auto insurance covers the car for listed drivers and occasional drivers with permission. Listing a driver on a policy for a car you own does not provide them any auto insurance for driving other vehicles.
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Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.