You may be able to get car insurance without a license by using a state ID, but few providers will agree to insure you if you’re not allowed to drive.

Written by Liz Jenson

Edited by Kianna Walpole

Updated on May 3, 2024

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Can you get car insurance without a license?
Top reasons you may need car insurance without a license—and where to find it
How to get car insurance without a license
FAQ
Meet our experts

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It’s not easy to find

car insurance

without a license. However, some insurance providers may be willing to work with you, particularly if you have a learner’s permit, your license is suspended, or you don’t plan to drive the insured vehicle.

Can you get car insurance without a license?

While you might be able to obtain

car insurance quotes

without a license, most car insurance companies require you to have a valid driver’s license to purchase a policy. This is true for two simple reasons:

Insurers use your driver’s license to examine your driving record and evaluate the level of risk you pose.

Driving without a valid driver’s license

is illegal in all 50 states.

However, some circumstances may allow you to purchase a car insurance policy without a valid driver’s license. Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons you might need a car insurance policy without a driver’s license.

Top reasons you may need car insurance without a license—and where to find it

There are several reasons why you might need car insurance even if you don’t have a valid driver’s license. These reasons include:

You have your learner’s permit but want to purchase a car

If you have a learner’s permit and you purchase your own car, you’ll need insurance coverage to drive—even if you only drive when you’re supervised. Some insurers won’t write you a policy if you don’t have a valid driver’s license, but others may allow you to use your permit as long as your vehicle is registered in your name:

If you live with a licensed driver, you can likely be added to their policy. This is much more common—and usually a lot cheaper—than a permitted driver purchasing their own policy.

If you do purchase your own insurance, here’s how much you can expect to pay on average for monthly coverage with different providers:

Insurance provider	Minimum coverage	Full coverage
Allstate	$110	$287
Clearcover	$91	$191
Kemper	$112	$342
Madison Mutual	$89	$217
Nationwide	$60	$286
Progressive	$124	$291
Safeco	$98	$286

Learn more:

New car insurance (2024)

Your license was suspended, but you have an active car loan

your license was suspended

but you still have an active

car loan

, you may be able to apply for a restricted license. This will allow you to drive under certain circumstances and qualify you to purchase car insurance.

Note that you may also need to

file an SR-22 form

to prove financial responsibility—and you should expect to pay higher car insurance rates due to your troubled driving history.

While rates for drivers with violations is approximately 68% higher than the national average, you can still find cheaper than average monthly rates with these insurers:

Insurance provider	Average coverage cost
Allstate	$201
Clearcover	$171
Dairyland	$183
Direct Auto	$176
Founders	$165
National General	$185
Safeco	$192
State Auto	$190
The General	$202

If your license is revoked, unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until it’s reinstated in order to purchase a car insurance policy.

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You don’t have a license but need to insure a car for a minor

Car insurance policies are considered a legally binding contract between the policyholder and the insurance company. As a result, drivers under the age of 18 aren’t able to purchase their own car insurance policy.

If you have a 16- or 17-year-old driver who has their own vehicle and would like their own policy, you will have to buy it for them. If you don’t have a license, you can usually list your teen as the primary driver.

On average, drivers under the age of 18 pay approximately $275 per month for a

liability-only

policy, and $681 for

full coverage

. However, you can generally find lower premiums costs with these top insurance companies:

Insurance provider	Minimum coverage	Full coverage
AAA	$174	$354
Dairyland	$174	$465
Direct Auto	$174	$366
Gainsco	$173	$380
National General	$163	$352
Plymouth Rock	$182	$416
Progressive	$124	$291
Safe Auto	$215	$349

You’re drive a classic car or your car is parked

For drivers with a vehicle that doesn’t leave the garage,

classic car insurance

or parked car insurance may be a good option.

These types of policies are usually comprehensive only, meaning they won’t provide enough coverage for anyone to get behind the wheel of your vehicle. However, they will give your vehicle protection in the event of a natural disaster, vandalism, theft, and other non-collision damages.

You don’t drive but still own a vehicle

If you own a vehicle that someone else drives for you, you’ll still need to purchase car insurance to ensure you and your driver are protected. In this case, you’ll need to look for an insurance company that allows you to list someone else as the primary driver and yourself as an

excluded driver

Keep in mind that who you choose to be the primary driver on your account will have an effect on your premiums—especially if they have a poor driving record.

Elderly and disabled drivers: If you no longer drive yourself, consider non-driver insurance with The Hartford. The Hartford has an exclusive contract with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP®). You’ll be listed on the policy as a nondriver, and you can designate a caregiver as the primary driver.

How to get car insurance without a license

If you need car insurance and don’t have a valid license, there are a few different things you can try for a higher likelihood of approval.

1. Get a state ID card

You’ll need some form of ID to purchase an auto insurance policy. If you don’t have a driver’s license, that means you’ll need a state-issued identification card to validate your identity. To get a state ID card, visit your local DMV. In addition to your ID, you’ll also need to

bring the following

Documents related to your past insurance history (

declarations page

, old insurance card, etc.)

Documents regarding your driving history

Your vehicle’s identification number

Annual mileage count

2. Talk to a local, independent agent or insurance broker

Contact a local, independent insurance agent to discuss your insurance options as an unlicensed individual. Depending on your reason for being unlicensed, independent agents may have access to providers in your area who will be willing to insure you based on your driving history and current circumstances.

To reach providers on a broader scale, however, consider turning to an independent insurance broker, like

Jerry

. Jerry’s licensed insurance agents can work with you to help you find a provider that suits your individualized needs.

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3. Add another driver with a valid license to your vehicle title

If there is someone in your household who is a licensed driver—such as a spouse or another family member—you may be able to

add them to your vehicle title

and purchase the insurance policy in their name. This won’t be the right solution for everyone, but it can be helpful if you live with someone you trust to be a vehicle co-owner.

4. Check whether your state has an assigned risk pool

If you’ve tried everything and can’t find anyone willing to insure you, talk to your insurance agent about your state’s assigned risk pool. The state-assigned risk pool assigns

high-risk motorists

(like unlicensed drivers) to insurance companies.

Your assigned insurance company is legally required to provide you with

state minimum liability car insurance

. The downside of the state-assigned risk pool is that these

non-standard insurance policies

typically come with a very high car insurance rate, meaning this should be one of your last options for finding car insurance.

Learn more:

The best non-standard auto insurance companies

FAQ

Why would you need car insurance without a license?

There are a few reasons why you might need insurance coverage without a license; you might have your own car that someone else drives for you, be a new driver with a learner’s permit, or be a car owner who is unable to drive for the moment but plans to drive again.

Can you purchase car insurance for someone else if you don’t have a license?

You can still purchase car insurance for someone else, even if you don’t have a license. However, your insurance costs might be a lot higher if you’re not a licensed driver. You’ll be considered

high-risk

due to your lack of licensure, meaning you’ll see higher rates across most auto insurance companies. To find the cheapest car insurance, it’s best to let a licensed driver purchase any car insurance policies for your household when possible.

Can an unlicensed driver buy a car?

While you’ll need a valid driver’s license to operate your new vehicle, you won’t need a driver’s license to purchase a car. As long as you can afford it, you’ll be able to purchase and

title a new vehicle

. To drive your car, however, you’ll also need a driver’s license and

proof of insurance

Meet our experts

Liz Jenson

Liz Jenson is an insurance writer who specializes in general automotive and insurance topics. Liz’s mission is to produce informative and useful content to help car owners make smart choices when buying cars and car insurance. Since joining Jerry in 2021, Liz has written nearly 4,000 long- and short-form articles on topics including state-specific insurance recommendations, common car insurance questions, and deep dives into vehicle model details.

Before they came to Jerry, Liz was a full-time student at Indiana University, Bloomington working on a double major in English and French.

Kianna Walpole

Expert Insurance Writer & Editor

Kianna Walpole is an insurance writer and editor with a comprehensive background in consumer behavior and online publishing. With experience in car insurance, maintenance, and repair, she is dedicated to building informative content that helps customers reduce costs while achieving the best service. Prior to joining the Jerry editorial team, Kianna worked as a junior editor in the content marketing industry, using consumer data and key insights to create and edit content for an array of large-scale clients in the real estate, cybersecurity, and healthcare industries.