Can You Get Car Insurance Without a License?
You can probably get car insurance without a license, but you'll need to shop around with specific companies.
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Situation | How to get car insurance |
|---|---|
| Your license was suspended | Get insurance with an SR-22 filing |
| Your license was revoked | Call high-risk companies or your state's last-resort plan |
| You have a learner's permit | Include a licensed driver on your policy |
| You've never had a license | Include a licensed driver on your policy |
| You don't drive for medical reasons | List the person who drives you on your policy |
| Your car is parked or in storage | Buy comprehensive-only coverage |
How to get car insurance without a license
If you don't have a license, you probably need to put a licensed driver on your insurance policy.
However, you may need to shop around to find a car insurance company that will sell you a policy without a license. And even if you have insurance, you still can't drive without a valid license. If you do, an insurance company could possibly deny any claims you file and you might face legal consequences.
If your license was suspended
If your driver’s license is suspended, you’ll likely have to talk with your agent to get a new policy.
In some cases, you may need to get a different type of policy, often called "SR-22 insurance." An SR-22 is a form that your insurance company files with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles to prove that you have insurance.
However, needing an SR-22 makes you a high-risk driver, and not all insurance companies will sell you a policy. You may need to shop around and change companies before you can get your license reinstated.
High-risk car insurance can be expensive. Remember to shop around to get the cheapest rate. You can also ask about discounts for automatic payments, paperless billing, paying in full and bundling. You might also be able to save by taking a safe-driving class.
If your license was revoked
If your license was completely revoked, you probably need to talk to a high-risk car insurance company.
That's because it's likely that insurance companies will view you as a very high-risk driver. If you're with a "preferred" or even a "standard" company, you'll probably have to switch to a "nonstandard" company.
You won't be able to legally drive your car, even if it's insured, until you get a new license. Before you can get a new license, you probably have a waiting period. The length of the waiting period depends on why your license was revoked and the laws in your state.
Assigned risk car-insurance plans by state
If you can't find car insurance from a private company, you may need to contact your state's assigned-risk plan. These are government-run plans for very high-risk drivers. The coverage will probably be minimal and the price could be high, but you'll at least be able to get a policy.
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If you have a learner's permit
Minors with learners' permits can be added to their parents or guardians car insurance policy. Adults probably need a licensed driver on their policy.
If you live with a spouse, family member or roommate who has a license, you can probably get car insurance by adding them as a driver.
However, this only works when you own the car you're insuring. If you have a permit and don't own a car, consider buying a non-owner policy. These policies just cover you as a driver without covering a car. They can be a good option if you rent or borrow cars often but don't own one yourself.
If you've never had a license
If you don't have a license at all, you probably need a licensed driver on your policy.
Ideally, you can get a policy with a household member, such as a parent or spouse, that has a license.
If you don't own a car, though, consider a non-owner policy, which gives you coverage to drive rented or borrowed cars.
If you don't drive for medical reasons
If you own a car but can't drive, you can list your driver on the policy and exclude yourself.
This lets you insure a car you legally own but list someone else as a driver on the policy. If your driver gets into a wreck, the money from the claim still goes to you, because you're the legal owner of the car and policy.
If your car is parked or in storage
If you own a car that you store or keep parked, you can get a policy with minimal coverage.
This is called a "comprehensive-only" policy, or sometimes "storage insurance" or "parked car insurance." These policies only cover damage that isn't caused by collisions, such as falling tree branches, flooding, certain animal damage and theft.
Storage insurance policies do not include liability insurance, which is required to legally drive a car. If you have a car with storage insurance, tape a note to the steering wheel reminding you to call your insurance company to put liability coverage on it before you drive.
If you have a classic car, you can get specialized storage insurance for it that takes into account its value and any custom or vintage features.
You can probably get a comprehensive-only policy if you don't have a license, but it's possible that you'll need to list a licensed driver on the policy.
Cheapest car insurance without a license
Geico has the cheapest full coverage rates for most drivers without a license, at $187 per month, on average.
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- Progressive is also a typically cheap option, at an average of $207 per month for full coverage.
- You may not be able to get quotes from all these companies, depending on why you don't have a license. The only way to know if a company will sell you a policy is to contact an agent and let them know your specific situation.
Cheapest companies that may sell policies to unlicensed drivers
Company |
Value Penguin score
| Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $187 | ||
| Progressive | $207 | ||
| Mercury | $218 | ||
| Allstate | $282 | ||
| Farmers | $293 | ||
Rates are monthly averages for full coverage for a driver with a clean driving record. Not all companies will sell a policy to someone without a license. Contact each company for a quote.
Other companies that may sell policies to unlicensed drivers include:
- Acceptance
- Access
- A-MAX
- Direct Auto
If you don't have a driver's license, you probably have to call an agent to get a quote for car insurance. Most online quotes require a license number. If you don't have one, you may not be able to complete the process entirely online.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get car insurance without a license?
Yes, you can get car insurance without a license. If your license was suspended or revoked, you probably need to get high-risk car insurance. If you don't drive for medical reasons or otherwise own a car but don't have a license, you likely need to add a licensed driver to your policy to get coverage.
Is car insurance more expensive with no license?
It can be, but it depends on why you don't have a license. If your driving record is bad, including if you have DUIs or other major violations, and your license was suspended or revoked, you'll probably pay higher rates for car insurance to get your license back. But if you own a car and don't drive for medical reasons or because you only have a permit, your rates will depend on the licensed driver on your policy. If that driver has a bad driving record, you'll probably pay higher rates.
What's the cheapest car insurance with no license?
Geico typically has the cheapest full coverage rates for drivers who don't have licenses, at an average of $187 per month. Progressive is also a cheap option, at $207 per month, on average. Keep in mind, though, that not every company will sell you a policy. It depends on why you don't have a license and the details of your specific situation.
Methodology
To find the cheapest car insurance companies for unlicensed drivers, ValuePenguin analyzed rates from 56 top insurance companies and from all residential ZIP codes in the country where each company has a large market share. All quotes are for a 30-year-old man who drives a 2018 Honda Civic EX and has good credit.
Quotes are for full coverage car insurance and include higher liability limits compared to state minimum coverage, as well comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision coverage: $500 deductible
ValuePenguin uses insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services, which are sourced from publicly available insurer filings. Rates should only be used for comparison purposes. Your quotes will likely be different and based on your unique situation.
To rate each insurance company, ValuePenguin's insurance experts review rates, coverage options, discounts, customer service and any unique features. Customer satisfaction data comes from J.D. Power customer service and claims satisfaction surveys and customer complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
About the Author
Senior Writer
Cate Deventer is a Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
