Car Insurance Without A License

While there are many ways to get car insurance without a license, the best way to find insurance coverage is to simply buy a policy and list yourself as an excluded driver. This type of insurance will ensure that the car and the listed drivers have the proper proof of insurance coverage necessary to drive the car legally. Although you may not think that an insurance company would be willing to provide auto insurance for unlicensed drivers, there are several situations in which an insurer will do so.

However, it is important to note that finding car insurance with no driver’s license can be a challenge since not all companies will sell insurance to someone who doesn’t have a license or can’t drive the vehicle. Let’s explore the many different ways to get cheap car insurance with no license required.

Car Insurance With No License

First of all, it’s important to remember that no law outright forbids the sale of car insurance for unlicensed drivers, but many of the largest insurance companies in the United States will still turn you down if you apply and don’t have a driver’s license.

That’s because there’s a great deal of risk involved in providing someone who cannot legally drive with an insurance policy, and in some cases, attempting to buy one despite your unlicensed status can raise some red flags.

Why Would You Need Car Insurance for Unlicensed Drivers?

If you aren’t driving your car, you may think there’s no need to be insured. Not exactly. In most states, in order to register your car, you will need to provide proof of insurance. Failing to do so will result in having an unregistered car, and in most states, it is illegal to have an unregistered car parked on the street or even in a driveway.

This can result in fines, and it could result in having your car towed, impounded or auctioned. Other reasons you might want to keep insurance on your car without a driver’s license include:

• Protection From Theft – If your car is stolen but you do not have insurance, you will not be reimbursed for your car or for any damages done to your car if it is recovered by the police.
• Vandalism and Damages – Along those same lines, if your car is vandalized, damaged by weather, or even damaged by a falling tree without insurance, you may be responsible for paying out of pocket. If you are a homeowner, your policy may cover these things, so be sure to check.
• Someone Else Is Driving – Even if you don’t have a license, perhaps someone else in your home does. This is one of the most common reasons you might purchase insurance as an unlicensed driver.
• License Suspension – If your license has been temporarily suspended, you may want to keep insurance on for the duration of your suspension just to prevent any lapses, which can cause a significant rate increase.

What Happens If You Get Caught Driving Without A License

There are numerous consequences associated with driving without a license, and this depends on whether you have a suspended license, or you simply never got one in the first place. You will almost certainly receive a ticket, and based on your driving or criminal history, you may even be arrested.

If your driver’s license has been suspended, there’s a very good chance that your suspension will be extended for an even longer period of time.

Cheap Auto Insurance For Unlicensed Drivers

Now that you understand the reasons why it’s so very important to maintain insurance on your vehicle even if you don’t have a license or yours has been suspended, there are a few different things you can do to increase your odds of finding insurance at an affordable rate.

List Yourself as an Excluded Driver

Most insurance companies will require you to list anyone age 14 or 15 and older on your policy and either insurance them or exclude them. By excluding yourself as a driver on your policy, this absolves the insurance company of a great deal of risk.

However, if you choose to drive anyway and you get pulled over, the penalty is the same as driving without insurance.

List Someone Else as the Primary Driver

Insurance policies must have primary drivers, and if you’re going to exclude yourself, you must list someone else. This can require a significant amount of paperwork, and you should also expect your premiums to change.

This is one of the easiest ways to get insurance without a license, but depending on who is taking over the policy, it can also have the biggest effect on the premium costs.

Premiums are based on the car and the location, but the biggest factor is the primary driver’s information and driving record.

Ask About Comprehensive-Only Insurance

This sort of insurance goes by many different names. For example, you might call it parked car insurance, comprehensive insurance or non-collision insurance. Either way, its only purpose is to provide coverage for cars will be parked rather than driven.

With this type of insurance coverage, you can keep your car covered as it sits in your driveway or on the street. The good news about comprehensive-only insurance is that you can get it from most of the major companies in the US without a license.

List Someone Else as the Vehicle’s Co-Owner

If there’s someone you can trust who has a valid license and is willing to do so, it may be worth it to consider listing them as the co-owner of your vehicle. This way, the licensed driver can easily insure the vehicle in his or her name.

It’s pretty simple to change your registration, but it does require some paperwork and a fee that can vary from state to state. Again, there is some risk involved when making anyone a co-owner of your car, so be sure to consider this very carefully before you proceed.

Show Proof of a Short Suspension or Other Reason for Being Unlicensed

Finally, some companies that provide insurance to drivers with no license are more lenient than others, and they might work with you as long as you can show proof that your suspension (or other reason for being unlicensed) is short-lived.

For example, if you aren’t licensed because you didn’t pass the vision screening at your last renewal and you’re just waiting for your new glasses, you may be able to fax proof of this to your insurer.

On the other hand, if your license was suspended for failure to pay for a ticket, but you can show proof that the ticket has since been paid and the suspension will lift in 30 to 45 days, many companies will easily give you unlicensed car insurance for the duration.