Compare Car Insurance Rates With a Conditional License [2023]
It is possible to find high-risk car insurance with a conditional license. Breaking the terms of your conditional insurance may result in license suspension.
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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 16, 2023
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UPDATED: Jun 16, 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
- A conditional driver’s license is normally issued either because of a person’s age or because he/she committed a serious traffic violation
- You can still find insurance coverage for your car with a conditional driver’s license, but your rates will be drastically higher than normal
- If you are given a conditional license, be sure to follow the rules and regulations to help clear your driving record
Having a conditional driver’s license doesn’t automatically disqualify you from purchasing car insurance, but it can make things more difficult depending on circumstances.
With the exception of new drivers, having a conditional license means you’ve done something which the state considers a sufficient reason to restrict your driving activities.
Insurance companies know that and tend to be a lot more cautious in providing you with coverage.
In cases where you’re still able to get car insurance with a conditional license, be prepared to pay substantially higher rates. The only way to reduce your premiums is to obey the restrictions placed upon your license and keep a clean record from that point forward.
The only way to reduce your premiums is to obey the restrictions placed upon your license and keep a clean record from that point forward.
In due time, when full driving privileges have been restored, you should see a reduction in your rates as long as you continue to drive safely and legally.
What exactly is a conditional license?
Simply put, a conditional driver’s license is one that places certain restrictions on the holder. When you’re convicted of DWI or DWAI, your driver’s license will be suspended, however, you may be granted a conditional driver’s license which will give you limited driving permissions.
There are basically two types: one for new drivers and one for experienced drivers who are guilty of certain offenses.
Where young drivers are concerned, many states place restrictions on brand-new license holders under the age of 21.
This type of conditional license usually restricts the time of day such new drivers can operate a motor vehicle as well as who can be in the motor vehicle with them.
This license is designed to mitigate the potential for accidents while new drivers are still honing their skills.
A conditional license issued to experienced drivers is usually the result of serious traffic offenses such as DWI.
In many states, this conditional license will be classified as “business use only,” which would allow an individual to drive to and from work and possibly to and from church services.
Any other driving would be considered illegal and grounds for arrest and prosecution.
A conditional license is sometimes also issued for repeat speeding violations, reckless endangerment, hit and run, and the like.
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How much higher will my insurance rates be with a conditional license?
You’ll probably remain in the pool as long as the conditional license is in force.
If you can’t find an insurance company willing to write you a policy, it may be possible to have your car registered and insured by a relative instead.
When conditional driver’s licenses are issued to new drivers, insurance rates don’t go up per se.
Of course, adding a new driver to a parent’s policy will add to the cost, but that cost is simply related to another driver being added to the policy.
It’s also unlikely that receiving a full driver’s license at the appropriate age will cause a reduction in the rates for that child. Parents can expect the amount they pay for their child to remain the same while he lives at home and drive their cars.
Under what conditions may you drive with a conditional driver’s license?
You can use your conditional driver’s license in the following situations:
- To and from your place of employment
- If your job requires the operation of a vehicle, then during working hours
- To and from a class/activity of an authorized alcohol and rehabilitation program
- To and from a class at an accredited school, college, or university
- To and from a place, including a school at which your kids are cared for
- To and from a medical examination or treatment
What if I’m caught violating the terms of my conditional driver’s license?
Conditional driver’s licenses are a serious matter and should not be taken lightly.
If you are caught violating the terms, your license will most likely be suspended or revoked entirely.
On a suspended license you may still be able to continue paying on your current insurance policy in order to keep it in force. The driver license revocation will almost always result in dropped insurance coverage and canceled vehicle registration.
At such time as you meet the requirements for a new driver’s license, you will more or less be starting over in the system.
But the record of the suspension or revocation will still put you into a high-risk pool and keep you there for some time.
As long as you’re in that pool, you can expect to pay the highest insurance rates among any drivers on the road. The only way to avoid such a scenario is to obey the restrictions of your conditional license throughout its term.
Because driving on public roads is an inherently dangerous activity, states do what they can to ensure drivers remain safe at all times.
A conditional license usually demonstrates a violation of safety standards, which needs to be addressed before an individual driver can be trusted again.
If you’ve been given a conditional license, the best thing you can do is behave yourself on the road and earn the right to have full driving privilege restored.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a conditional license?
It’s a restricted driver’s license with limitations for new or experienced drivers who committed offenses.
How does it affect insurance rates?
Insurance rates are higher with a conditional license. Keeping a clean record and obeying restrictions can lower premiums. Can I drive with a conditional license?
Can I drive with a conditional license?
Yes, but only in specific situations allowed by your state.
What if I violate the license terms?
Violations can lead to license suspension, dropped insurance coverage, and canceled registration.
Will rates decrease with full driving privileges?
Over time, rates may reduce if you drive safely and regain full privileges.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
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.