Driving without a license is not recommended, and may result in hefty fines and/or jail time. However, there are plenty of valid reasons to insure your car, even if you don’t have a license. Let A-MAX help find the right policy for you!
AUTO INSURANCE FOR UNLICENSED DRIVERS
Find The Best Unlicensed Driver Coverage
In case of an accident, your car needs to be protected. Find the best rates for unlicensed drivers with A-MAX.
How To Get ‘No License’ Car insurance
Not having a license makes it so you cannot drive. For liability insurance to work, you need to have a driver. Therefore, you can include your roommate, significant other, or spouse on the policy. You'll be listed on the policy only as a household member. The insurance company can identify you as a registered car owner. However, this will not cover you as a driver.
With this policy, other drivers can be listed as primary drivers on the policy. That way, you are covered in the case of an accident from the other driver. Some insurance companies don't allow roommates or significant others on the policy (only spouses). So you might have to look around to see your options.
Your insurance company might choose to decline the new driver. This comes from the company's belief that the other person lacks an insurable interest in your vehicle. To overcome this limitation, you can share registration.
Most insurance companies are lenient when a roommate or significant other is a co-registered owner. After all, you can't deny an insurable interest if the other group is an owner. You'll still face difficulties if you don't live in the same household. If you lend your vehicle to someone across the street, you might be labeled high risk because you don't have control over the car. If your buddy drives the car more than you, they need the insurance.
Parked car coverage refers to coverage on a car when it doesn't move from a location. Because nobody is driving it, you don't have to worry about excluded drivers. However, your insurance will be inadequate should you decide to take it for a spin.
Storage coverage might only apply when you keep it inside a building. Check with your company's storage policy in this case.
Your company might also offer to eliminate your liability coverage. While this sounds tempting (as it saves you money), check with your local DMV branch before doing this. Vehicles registered to your state require liability coverage, meaning you can be fined when jumping on this coverage exclusion. Call your regional offices to see about their storage policy.
What Coverage Is Available To Unlicensed Drivers?
When getting auto insurance with no driver's license, your available coverage changes depending on your insurance.
If you are acquiring storage coverage, here are your options:
• Comprehensive coverage - Covers hail, flooding, theft, fire, vandalism, and hitting an animal. However, with it being in storage, it would be more like an animal hitting your vehicle.
• Uninsured motorist coverage (also underinsured motorist coverage) - UM/UIM - This coverage refers to when someone without coverage hits your stationary vehicle. It typically also covers hit-and-run situations.
• Collision coverage - This exists if your state doesn't have UM/UIM. Not necessary, given that most of this coverage's usefulness happens when you hit other people.
Typically, collision and comprehensive coverage are only required if you pay off your vehicle (auto loan). Even if the car isn't moving, most banks prevent you from losing this coverage.
If you have your spouse or roommate drive your vehicle, here is the extra coverage you will need:
• Property damage liability - covers the car your driver hits in case they are at fault
• Bodily injury liability - covers the other person(s) if you injure them and you are at fault. Applies on a per person / per accident limit.
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury - covers your injuries if the other party doesn't have enough insurance. (mandatory in some states)
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) - covers you in the event you are injured in an auto accident (regardless of who is responsible)
Optional coverages like medical payments, roadside assistance, and rental reimbursement might also be helpful. However, most of these are not mandatory, just handy.
Can I Get Coverage With A Suspended License?
Because having a suspended license is being temporarily unlicensed, yes. All the situations above (storage insurance and excluded driver coverage) still apply.
In many cases, states will allow you to keep your license for an SR-22. An SR-22 is a statement of financial responsibility regularly reported to your state.
Typically, you must keep an SR-22 for as long as your suspension lasts. Alternate forms of this (like FR-22s) might also require you to hold minimum liability coverage above state minimums.
The need for higher coverage is limited to a small number of states (like Florida). FR-22s provide more protection to other drivers on the road, increasing your costs further.
What If My Insurance Company Says I'm Too High Risk?
If regular companies like State Farm, Geico, or AllState turn you away from being high risk, the customer service agent will direct you toward high-risk insurance. This insurance type, also known as surplus lines insurance, insures risks deemed "unacceptable" for standard companies.
Common reasons for surplus lines include excessive accident history, too many tickets, or numerous SR-22 failures. Even if your company knows you cannot legally drive vehicles, they can choose to enforce this insurance given the overall household risk.
Insurance FAQs
Yes, you can purchase a car without a license. However, you need to bring a driver who qualifies for coverage to drive it home.
Because registration requires active liability insurance and a license, you will need another driver on the policy before registering without a license. You cannot register a car without a license from someone else.
Yes, full coverage doesn't require an actively registered vehicle. It includes both comprehensive and collision coverage. Collision will only be half as helpful, however.
If the driver has his license back after suspension, the answer is yes. If not, the driver is usually excluded from the policy. Auto policies typically cannot charge extra for an excluded driver.
No. Excluding this information will require your company to order an MVR (Motor Vehicle Report). The MVR will provide this information on your behalf, regardless of whether you want to disclose it.
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