Compare Homeless Driver Car Insurance Rates [2023]
Getting car insurance while homeless can be a challenge, as insurance companies require you to provide a physical address. You can use a friend's address, but if your insurer learns you are not actually parking your vehicle there, you could run into problems.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
UPDATED: Jun 17, 2023
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UPDATED: Jun 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 car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Car insurance companies need a permanent address to determine rates
- If you’re without a home temporarily but have signed a lease, you can use that address
- Even if you don’t live with your friend, it can help if you leave the vehicle parked at their address when not in use
If you find yourself homeless or living in your car, auto insurance can be challenging to come by. Homeless car insurance is difficult to obtain because insurance companies typically require a permanent residence to be listed on your policy.
All hope is not lost, though. There are ways to improve your chances of approval for car insurance without a permanent address, and we’ll get into the important details below.
Car Insurance When You Live in Your Car
Most states require insurance if you own a vehicle. So if you’re living in your car, it will need to be insured. The problem is that insurance companies require an address to be listed on your policy. Your home address is used to determine your rates based on the level of risk the company anticipates when your vehicle is parked there.
For example, urban areas with higher vandalism and theft rates are viewed as higher risk than low-crime rural areas. Keeping a vehicle in higher-risk locations tends to lead to higher insurance rates. It isn’t only the location that is important to insurance companies, though. If you are living in your car, it is viewed as very dangerous and high-risk to the insurer, and this alone is often enough to be denied insurance coverage.
If you’re living in your car, you don’t have a current home address for your policy. Without providing a primary address where your vehicle will be parked, most insurance companies will not offer a policy at all.
So how can you get car insurance without a permanent address?
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Car Insurance Options While Temporarily Homeless
If you’ve recently moved out of your previous residence and are only homeless until you move into your new home, then you may be able to use that address on your insurance policy. This may occur if you are forced to move out suddenly and your new place won’t be ready for move-in until the end of the month or later. It’s a scenario that isn’t particularly uncommon, and in some instances, people don’t have anywhere to stay until their new home is move-in ready.
However, you should have some documentation confirming that is your address. If you can’t move in yet, but you have a signed lease, that is often sufficient documentation to get insurance through some insurers.
It is possible to use a P.O. Box as a mailing address for car insurance, but you cannot take out a policy with a P.O. Box as your home address.
Car Insurance Options While Parking at a Friend’s House
This option may not work with all insurance companies, but if you shop around with different insurance companies you’re likely to find one that will work with you. When it comes down to it, the primary purpose of an address on your policy is to determine your rates.
Even if you’re homeless, some insurance companies may allow you to use a friend or relative’s address if you agree to keep it parked there while you are not using it. You must have permission from that person to use their address, but it’s one of the few options for getting homeless car insurance.
You also have to keep in mind that if your insurance company discovers that you are not keeping your vehicle parked at this address, it is likely to stop your coverage altogether.
Key Takeaway: Homeless Car Insurance Is Challenging to Get
Without a permanent address, virtually all insurance companies will refuse coverage. This is especially true if you are living in your vehicle. However, if you are fortunate enough to have a signed lease for a new residence, some insurance companies will accept this as your address.
Otherwise, you may have to shop around for insurance companies that will provide coverage with the understanding that the vehicle remains parked at a friend or relative’s house while you are not using it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get car insurance if I am homeless or living in my car?
Most companies require an address to determine risk and rates. However, using a temporary address or a friend’s address may be options to explore
Why do insurance companies need an address for car insurance?
Insurance companies use the address to assess risk and set rates. Higher crime areas have higher risks, resulting in higher premiums.
Can I use a P.O. Box as my home address for car insurance?
No, a P.O. Box cannot be used as a home address for car insurance. A physical address is required.
What if I’m temporarily homeless due to moving? Can I use my new address?
If you have a signed lease for a new residence, some insurers may accept it as your address for car insurance.
Can I use a friend’s address if I park my car there?
Some insurance companies may allow you to use a friend’s address if your vehicle is parked there when not in use. Permission is necessary, and failure to comply may result in canceled coverage.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
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.