Can You Get Car Insurance Without a License?

If you no longer drive or your license is suspended, you may be tempted to let your insurance slide to save a little money. But if you own a vehicle someone else drives, you're legally required to have car insurance in most states.

Getting car insurance without a license can take a little extra effort because many companies don't sell car insurance for unlicensed drivers. However, some provide coverage for cars owned by unlicensed drivers but driven by a licensed driver. To get insurance without a license, you can try listing yourself as an excluded driver to remove yourself from coverage and listing someone else as the primary driver.

Let's examine the options available and learn how to get car insurance without a driver's license.

Can you get car insurance without a license?

While you can get a car insurance policy without a driver's license, not all insurers offer coverage to unlicensed drivers. Progressive and Nationwide, for example, are two well-known providers that do not generally issue policies to people without licenses.

As you look for the best car insurance, you'll notice that insurers usually ask for your driver's license number before calculating your monthly cost. This is so they can check your driving history and record for at-fault accidents or speeding tickets.

The insurance company determines your rate based on your driving history and other factors such as your age, gender, and where you live. Alternatively, you can provide the license for the primary driver.

Using someone else's license

If you don't have a license, the insurer may ask for the license number of the person who will be driving the car the most — the primary driver — instead.

The insurance company will then base your rate on that person's driving history instead of yours as the policyholder. If the primary driver has a bad driving record with a history of accidents or multiple speeding tickets, you may pay higher rates to insure your car.

How to get car insurance without a license

It's illegal to drive without car insurance almost everywhere, but some companies will still insure you without your license if you're not the driver. Start by gathering some quotes.

Get quotes

Most insurance companies require your driver's license number when using their online quote forms, so you may need to call to explain your situation to a representative, compare rates, and discuss your coverage options.

As part of the quoting process, you'll need to list the primary or principal driver, which should be the person(s) who drives the car the most. The primary driver must have a valid driver's license or learner's permit. They can be your spouse, a child, or even a caregiver who drives you to and from medical appointments or helps you run errands. Remember that if your primary driver has a few dings on their driving history, you may pay more for car insurance premiums.

The Hartford is one provider that might offer insurance to someone who doesn't have a license. In general, you might have luck with smaller companies than larger ones for non-standard coverage.

List yourself as an excluded driver

If you don't have a license, you can sometimes list yourself as an excluded driver on an auto insurance policy. Being an excluded driver means you aren't covered by the policy at all, so you won't be considered insured if you do drive the car (which is illegal in most states anyway, so we strongly recommend against it).

Insurance companies may require unlicensed policyholders to be listed as excluded drivers, while others will not. Not all states or car insurance companies allow policyholders to exclude drivers from coverage, so check with an insurance agent to see if you're eligible.

As an excluded driver, you'll likely have to fill out a form and sign an endorsement to the policy confirming that you won't be covered if you drive the insured car.

Get parked car insurance

If you don't drive your car regularly, and nobody else does either, it may be worth looking into parked car insurance. This type of coverage protects your vehicle from damage that might happen while the car is parked or in storage, such as theft and vandalism, fire, flooding, or falling objects.

Since no one is driving the car, the insurance company may be less worried if you, as the policyholder, don't have a driver's license. It may provide a lower premium rate if the car is kept in a secured location.

These policies are usually less expensive than traditional policies with liability and collision coverage.

How to get car insurance with a suspended license

A license suspension is a temporary hold on your license that keeps you from driving legally. Getting car insurance with a suspended license can be complicated, but it's not impossible.

Suspensions can happen for several reasons, including driving recklessly, having multiple traffic tickets in a short period, failing to show proof of insurance, driving without insurance, and DUIs or DWIs. Depending on why your license was suspended, some auto insurance carriers may deny you coverage, especially if you have a history of dangerous driving.

You likely still need car insurance even if you have a suspended license. Preventing a gap in coverage can help you avoid paying higher insurance rates when your license is reinstated. Your lender or lease agreement may also require keeping a car insured, and you could receive fines for not having insurance.

Each state's requirements are different, but to buy insurance with a suspended license, you may need to:

Obtain a form SR-22

If you drove without the minimum required coverage, had too many tickets or accidents, or even failed to pay child support, among other things, you may have to request that your insurance company file an SR-22 form or an FR-44 if you live in Florida or Virginia. SR-22s are certificates of financial responsibility that your insurance company files with the state, certifying that you carry the required minimum amount of liability insurance.

Call your insurance company and request the form if this is required to get your license reinstated. Not all insurance carriers will file SR-22s on your behalf, so if your current company doesn't, you may need to get a new policy with a company that does. 

Apply for a hardship or restricted license

There are some scenarios where you may be allowed to drive minimally with a revoked license. Generally, if you qualify for a restricted license, you may be allowed to drive to work, take your child to school, or drive to required medical care. The rules vary by state, and not everyone will qualify for a hardship license.

You may need to pay extra fees to get this license, obtain an SR-22 form, and agree to drive only during specific hours or along particular routes. Depending on the reason for the suspension, you may even be required (and have to pay) to install monitoring equipment like an ignition interlock device that will prevent your car from starting if you've been drinking or using drugs.

Shop around for the cheapest available insurance

Having your license suspended may mean you're classified as a high-risk driver by your insurance company. High-risk drivers often pay some of the highest car insurance premiums and may be denied coverage. Shop around to find an insurance company that offers you the coverage you need at a reasonable price.

Why you might need car insurance without a license

You may need to explore buying car insurance without a license for a few different reasons. 

Age or disability: If you own a car but no longer drive due to age or a medical condition, you may have a family member or caregiver who provides transportation using your vehicle. If you're the car owner, even if someone drives you to or from appointments or errands, you're still legally required to insure the vehicle.

Insuring a driver under 18: Minors cannot purchase car insurance since they cannot enter legally binding contracts. As their parent, you may need to be the policyholder and insure the car they drive, even if they bought the vehicle and you don't drive it.

Being a new driver or working on a learner's permit: If you have a learner's permit, you must have insurance before you can practice driving a car. If you're a new driver or reinstating a suspended license, you'll likely need to provide proof of insurance coverage at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before receiving a valid driver's license. Even if you aren't driving for a while, we always suggest keeping car insurance on any vehicles in your name since a lapse in coverage can cause extra headaches and potentially higher car insurance rates when you're trying to get back on the road.

Someone else drives your car: If you own the vehicle but let your spouse, friend, or roommate use it, and that person doesn't have car insurance, you need to maintain coverage on the vehicle. Without it, you risk paying for any damages or repairs out of pocket.

Custom or classic cars: If you own a classic or vintage car that isn't your primary vehicle, you might be able to drop collision or medical coverage, but it's still a good idea to have other types of insurance, such as liability coverage. Some carriers offer specific classic car insurance or may allow you to keep only comprehensive coverage for non-accident damages.

FAQs

Bottom line

Although getting car insurance without a license might seem like a lot of effort, remember that you are legally required to have auto insurance on a car you own, even if you don't drive it. If you don't maintain at least the minimum coverage necessary, in the event of an accident, you could face legal penalties, have your license suspended, or even have to pay out of pocket for all damages and repairs in an accident.

As you research your options, you may need to name someone else as the primary driver and be prepared to exclude yourself from the insurance policy. Research the available options and call various carriers to compare rates and coverages to ensure you're getting what you need and protecting your financial future.