How do you get car insurance with no license?

Car insurance is an important part of owning a vehicle. Not only does a policy protect yourself and your vehicle, but other drivers and property as well. This does depend on what’s included in your coverage, as not all policies are the same. For example, there’s a big difference between full coverage and liability car insurance. 

In order to save money if you’re shopping for coverage without a license, it’s better to know what type of policy you’ll need. (For more information, read our “Compare Best Car Insurance Companies That Insure Unlicensed Drivers“).

You generally need a few things to buy car insurance, and your driver’s license is one of them. More often than not, a car insurance company is going to require a driver to have their license, but there are extenuating circumstances where someone may not have their license or it’s been suspended.

 If you’re looking to buy car insurance without a driver’s license, you might need to know what to do, and we’ve covered a few options in detail below. 

Can you get car insurance without a license? 

Buying car insurance without a license is possible, especially given that there are so many reasons why someone may need coverage. You should research insurance for a non-licensed driver and compare car insurance quotes between companies. 

For example, if your current insurance company is hesitant to provide you with a policy, you may want to look into other options. Use our free comparison tool today to compare insurance rates from different local companies near you.

Read more:

• How do I get my own car insurance?
• How do I purchase car insurance without a membership?

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Can you buy a car without a license? 

You can purchase a car without a license, but it’s often easier if you’ve already gotten your license, as with obtaining coverage. It will depend on the dealership you work with. Some prefer that you have both your license and a car insurance policy before finalizing the sale. 

Read mora: Do you need car insurance with a learner’s permit?

How to Get Car Insurance Without a License

You can obtain auto insurance without a license in a few different ways. 

Acquire an SR-22 Certificate 

This is generally done when you’ve had your license suspended but live in a state where you need a valid proof of insurance. An SR-22 certificate acts as said proof, and you can present it if required. 

Keep in mind that SR-22 auto insurance isn’t a specific type of insurance policy, though people might refer to it as insurance. Rather, it’s often dealt out in the form of paperwork and dictates that you are upholding your state’s minimum requirement for car insurance despite your suspended license. 

Read more: How do I get SR-22 insurance without a car?

List All Drivers on Your Policy

No matter who is driving your vehicle for you, you should list them on your car insurance policy. This is true whether that person is a part of your family or otherwise. Auto insurance companies often require that the driver is part of your household, but you can contact customer service or your agent to explain your situation if needed. 

When you’re listing someone else as a driver on your policy, they will need their driver’s license and some standard personal information, including age, gender, and ZIP code.

Transfer Ownership or Add a Co-Owner

If you have a driver’s license but cannot use it, your insurance company will want to know the reason. In some cases, you may need to transfer ownership of your policy to someone in your family, even if it’s only temporary.

Your policy price will then depend on their details, such as their driving history and insurance claims. This is often why car insurance companies require your chosen driver to be someone in your family. Often this means a spouse, sibling, parent, or housemate. 

Adding a friend or someone who doesn’t live with you can raise your rates and be a risky investment for both the insurer and yourself. 

Consider Parked Car Insurance Without a License

It’s common among drivers to store vehicles, whether it’s for a season or because it’s a classic. Should your driver’s license expire while your vehicle is in storage, you still don’t want a lapse in coverage. This could raise your rates and be financially dangerous if something happens to your vehicle during that time. 

Parked car insurance is geared more toward what could happen to a car when it’s parked or in storage. Instead of accidents or animal collisions, you’re protected against vandalism, theft, structure collapse, or water damage. 

Companies will also be more lenient when it comes to providing parked car insurance to someone without a license. Plus, this is fairly cheap car insurance without a driver’s license. 

Reasons to Buy Car Insurance Without a Driver’s License

Needing auto insurance is crucial if you’re a vehicle owner. Accidents can be expensive, but anything can also happen to a parked car. 

Finding car insurance for people with no license might seem daunting at first, but you can find affordable coverage as long as you explain your situation to your insurance company. You also want to make sure to update your policy immediately if any of your information changes.

You Own a Vehicle in Storage

There are many reasons why someone might have a vehicle in storage, and there is the possibility that a driver’s license might expire during that time. You might have a classic car that you only drive in nice weather, and you let your license expire during the off-season. Or you may have had an illness that took away your ability to drive, and instead of selling your vehicle, you placed it in storage instead. 

Keeping your insurance up-to-date while your vehicle is in storage can protect it from anything that may happen while it’s not being driven. Depending on your policy, you could be protected against vandalism or weather-related damage. Classic car insurance might be a good choice for you.

You also want to avoid having a lapse in coverage. A lapse in your car insurance coverage can lead to higher rates down the line, which is something you’ll want to avoid if you’re going to be driving again in the future. 

You Aren’t the Person Driving Your Car

People with a designated driver for medical or other reasons will want to keep their car insurance active even if they’re not the ones behind the wheel. This includes seniors who have someone driving them to doctor’s appointments or someone who has a family member driving them to work. 

If you’re in one of these situations and the vehicle being used is your own, you will want to have active car insurance. This will protect all parties involved as well as the vehicle itself. 

You Are a Student Driver

If you’re a student driver or only have a driver’s permit, you must have insurance before you buy a vehicle. Typically, car dealerships will want young drivers to have insurance prior to purchasing or leasing a car. 

Car insurance for teens and young drivers is also required for anyone using their parent’s cars. Parents can list the teen on their existing policy but must be considerate of what type of policy they have if they are the owners but do not drive. 

You Are Selling Your Car

If you currently own a vehicle but plan on selling it, you will want it insured. This will help with the selling process because people want to test drive the vehicle before buying it. Should anything go wrong while they’re behind the wheel, having car insurance will protect all parties involved. 

Your License Has Been Suspended

Having your license suspended means that you will not be able to drive for the duration, but you will still need to have your car insured. Any lapse in coverage could increase your rates and result in potential fines. You should also obtain an SR-22 auto insurance certificate, which proves to the DMV that your vehicle is insured while your license is suspended.

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What else do you need to consider when buying car insurance without a license? 

There are a few very important details to remember when you’re looking into buying auto insurance without a license. For starters, we don’t recommend listing yourself as an excluded driver because you won’t be protected in the event of an accident.

Having a car parked on the street means you will definitely need to have car insurance. If it’s tucked away in your garage or on your property, there’s less of a chance you will be fined, but out in the open or on municipal property, you could face financial consequences.

You also won’t be able to test drive a vehicle without a license. So if you’ve sold your car and are in the market for another one, you will have to buy it without driving it. 

Read More: Does car insurance cover excluded drivers?

Case Studies: Getting Car Insurance With No License

Case Study 1: Learner’s Permit

John has a learner’s permit and wants to obtain car insurance coverage while practicing his driving skills. He contacts various insurance providers to inquire about coverage options for drivers with learner’s permits. John finds an insurance company that offers coverage for permit holders and provides the necessary information, such as his permit details and driving history.

Case Study 2: Non-Driver Insurance

Sarah doesn’t have a driver’s license but wants to insure a car that she owns for various reasons, such as protecting the vehicle from theft or damage. She contacts insurance providers to inquire about non-driver insurance policies. Sarah finds an insurance company that offers coverage for non-drivers and provides the necessary information, such as proof of ownership and details about the vehicle.

Case Study 3: Car Owner but No License

Mike owns a car but doesn’t have a driver’s license. He wants to obtain insurance coverage to protect his investment and comply with legal requirements. Mike contacts insurance providers and explains his situation as a car owner without a license.

He finds an insurance company that offers coverage for non-licensed car owners and provides the necessary information, such as proof of ownership and details about the vehicle.

Case Study 4: Vehicle Storage Insurance

Samantha has a car that she doesn’t drive but wants to protect it from potential risks such as theft, fire, or damage. She contacts insurance providers to inquire about coverage options for vehicles in storage. Samantha finds an insurance company that offers storage insurance policies and provides the necessary information, such as proof of ownership and details about the storage location.

The Bottom Line: Do you need a driver’s license to get auto insurance?

The bottom line is that you will be able to purchase auto insurance without a driver’s license. However, you’re going to need to explain your situation to your insurance company. This isn’t as daunting as it seems, as there are more than a few reasons why someone would need insurance without a license.

Talk to customer service or your designated agent if you have one in the event of any confusion. It’s better to be upfront and honest so that there aren’t any misunderstandings.

Read More: SR22 Without Car Insurance (How to Get)

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