The Short of It

  • Getting auto insurance without a license is possible
  • There are many different reasons you might need insurance with no license, such as having a personal driver
  • You can also get auto insurance with a suspended license or learner’s permit

It might surprise you to learn that you can get auto insurance without a license. In general, auto insurance companies want you to enter a driver’s license number because they use your driving record to help calculate your rates.

However, there are companies that will offer you car insurance coverage without a license. Coverage can be expensive, so shop around to find affordable auto insurance without a license.

Enter your ZIP code now to compare auto insurance rates without a license and find the best deal for you.

Can you get auto insurance without a driver’s license?

You can, but it can be hard to find and expensive when you do find it.

Most traditional auto insurance companies use many different factors, such as age and ZIP code, to determine your auto insurance rates. One of the main things they look at is your driving record.

Auto insurance companies are all about risk. Your driving record is a great indicator of how much of a risk you might be to insure.

To get an idea of how much your driving record affects your rates, take a look at this table.

Average Annual U.S. Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record
CompaniesAverage Annual Rates with a Clean RecordAverage Annual Rates with One AccidentAverage Annual Rates with One DUIAverage Annual Rates with One Speeding Violation
USAA$1,933.68$2,516.24$3,506.03$2,193.25
Geico$2,145.96$3,192.77$4,875.87$2,645.43
American Family$2,693.61$3,722.75$4,330.24$3,025.74
Nationwide$2,746.18$3,396.95$4,543.20$3,113.68
State Farm$2,821.18$3,396.01$3,636.80$3,186.01
Progressive$3,393.09$4,777.04$3,969.65$4,002.28
Travelers$3,447.69$4,289.74$5,741.40$4,260.80
Farmers$3,460.60$4,518.73$4,718.75$4,079.01
Allstate$3,819.90$4,987.68$6,260.73$4,483.51
Liberty Mutual$4,774.30$6,204.78$7,613.48$5,701.26
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When auto insurance companies don’t have your driving record to look at, they have a much harder time calculating your rates. This can cause them to either not want to take the chance at all, or charge you higher rates.

One thing that you don’t want to do is drive without your license. According to NOLO, you can face severe fines and penalties if you drive without a license, or with a suspended or revoked license. (For more information, read our Auto Insurance Companies That Accept a Suspended License”).

Why would you need auto insurance if you don’t have a driver’s license?

There are many reasons you might need to buy auto insurance without a license. Some common scenarios are:

  • You have a personal driver – Whether you can’t drive because of health issues or if you just don’t like to drive, having a personal driver can be a huge help. Even though you won’t be driving the car yourself, you will still need to carry insurance on your car.
  • You only have a learner’s permit – If you are an adult living alone, you will need auto insurance with a learner’s permit to practice. If you live with a family member or significant other, you can practice under their auto insurance.
  • You have a teenage driver – If you don’t have your license, but your teenager does, you might need car insurance in your name since you are an adult. Auto insurance is expensive for teens, and some companies don’t want to write them a policy without an adult listed as well.
  • You have a suspended license – If you have a suspended license, your state may require you to carry SR-22 insurance. An SR-22 form is provided to the state by your insurance company and states that you have at least the minimum car insurance required by your state.
  • You have a show car – If you have a car that you don’t drive, you should still keep at least comprehensive coverage. Even if your car is parked in a garage, it can still be damaged. Comprehensive auto insurance covers you from damages from theft, vandalism, and acts of nature.

If you need auto insurance and don’t have your license, there are some things you can do to get covered.

First, consider listing a licensed driver as the primary driver.

Even though the driver might not own the car, the auto insurance company can use their driving history to calculate the car insurance rates. You would want to make sure the driver you choose has a great driving record to keep your rates low.

You would be listed as an excluded driver since you wouldn’t be driving the car but would be on the policy. This way the policy stays in your name, but there is a licensed driver on the policy.

Second, you can put the car and insurance in someone else’s name. For example, you could list a friend or family member as a co-owner and have the auto insurance put in their name.

Can you buy a car without a license?

Now that you know how to get auto insurance without a license, do you need a license to buy a car?

You probably don’t need a license to buy a car. If you are buying a car from an individual seller, you don’t need a license. However, you can’t take it for a test drive so be sure to bring a friend along to try it out.

Can I buy a car without a license from a dealer? That is a little trickier. While you can technically buy a car without a license, most dealers won’t sell to you. It is possible to find dealerships that will sell to you, but you might have to look around quite a bit.

It will also be difficult to find a lender willing to give you a loan on a vehicle without a driver’s license. Dealers typically won’t offer you financing, but you may be able to find a local lender that will. (For more information, read our “Do you need a driver’s license to buy a car?“).

You’ll also have to shop around to find companies offering auto insurance without a license. Shop around to find the best coverage at the cheapest price.

Enter your ZIP code now to compare auto insurance quotes without a license near you.