Can You Get Auto Insurance Without a Driver’s License?

Last Updated on October 20, 2022

For various reasons, you may need to buy car insurance without a license.

Yes, it’s possible to get car insurance even if you don’t have a driver’s license.

Some people need car insurance to reinstate their driver’s license, for example. Or, you may need to buy car insurance if someone else is driving your vehicle.

Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about getting car insurance without a license.

Table of Contents:

• Yes, You Can Buy Car Insurance Without a Driver’s License
• Reasons to Buy Car Insurance Without a License
• Who Is the Primary Driver?
• You May Need to List Yourself as an Excluded Driver
• How to Get Car Insurance With a Suspended License

Yes, You Can Buy Car Insurance Without a Driver’s License

Many car insurance companies allow you to buy car insurance even if you don’t have a driver’s license.

You buy car insurance as you normally would, shopping around for the best quotes. Then, you designate someone other than yourself as the primary driver. The primary driver is the person who will be driving the car most often. Because you don’t have a license, you cannot legally drive your vehicle. However, someone else can legally drive the vehicle after you buy insurance for that vehicle.

To legally drive on public roads in the United States, a vehicle must have car insurance. If someone else is planning to drive your vehicle, then you are required to buy car insurance for that vehicle – even if you don’t have a license.

You may also need to get car insurance to reinstate your license. Your state DMV may request proof of insurance to reinstate your license and driving privileges, for example. In this situation, you still have a driver’s license, but it’s not active until the DMV reinstates your driving privileges.

For all of these reasons and more, you may need to buy car insurance without a license.

Reasons to Buy Car Insurance Without a License

Buying car insurance without a driver’s license seems weird, but it’s not uncommon. Here are some of the reasons you may want to buy car insurance without a license:

You Have a Learner’s Permit and Are Working Towards Your License: If your status as an unlicensed driver isn’t permanent, then you may want to buy car insurance in anticipation of getting a full license. If you have a learner’s permit, which allows you to drive with an adult in the car, then you may need to buy insurance before driving a vehicle.

Health Conditions that Temporarily Prevent You From Driving: Some drivers have temporary health conditions that prevent them from driving. In this situation, you may buy car insurance in anticipation of your condition getting better in the future.

Children and Teen Drivers: If your child is under 18, then they cannot legally sign a contract, which means they can’t buy car insurance. In this situation, you can buy car insurance and list your teen or child as a licensed driver – regardless of whether or not you currently have a license.

Suspended License: If the DMV suspended your license, then you may need car insurance to protect your vehicle while you wait for your license to be reinstated. You may be unable to drive your vehicle for a few weeks or months, for example, but you may want to maintain continuous car insurance coverage while waiting to be reinstated.

Someone Else Will Drive your Vehicle: You may also need to buy car insurance without a license if someone else is driving your vehicle. If a spouse, child, or caregiver drives your vehicle, for example, then you may need to buy car insurance for the vehicle (because you own the vehicle) even if you don’t drive it. You list the child, spouse, or caregiver as the primary driver.

You Want to Protect Your Car Against Theft, Vandalism, and Fire Damage While in Storage: Even if you don’t have a license and don’t drive a vehicle, you may need car insurance to protect a vehicle from damage. If you have a classic or antique car, for example, then you may want to protect that car against fire damage, theft, and vandalism. In this situation, you can buy insurance for that vehicle even if you don’t plan to drive it.

In all of these situations, you would buy car insurance regardless of whether or not you have a license.

Who Is the Primary Driver?

If you do not have a license, then you cannot list yourself as the primary driver of the vehicle. Even if your insurer lets you list yourself as the primary driver, you could face issues with future claims and paperwork.

In this situation, you would list the primary driver as the person who drives your vehicle most frequently.

The primary driver could be:

• An adult child
• A caregiver
• A spouse
• A friend
• Anyone who drives your vehicle more than someone else

Whether it’s a caregiver or child, this person should be listed on your auto insurance policy. Otherwise, your insurer could deny future claims because you failed to accurately list the primary driver of the vehicle.

You May Need to List Yourself as an Excluded Driver

To get car insurance without a license, you may need to list yourself as an excluded driver.

When you are listed as an excluded driver, you will not be covered by car insurance whenever you are driving the vehicle. You are excluded from driving the vehicle, and insurance will deny any claims that occurred while you were driving the vehicle.

Once you reinstate your license or get a license for the first time, you may be able to remove yourself as an excluded driver and resume driving normally.

How to Get Car Insurance With a Suspended License

You may need to buy car insurance even if you have a suspended license.

Your state DMV could suspend your license because of multiple at-fault accidents, reckless driving citations, excessive speeding tickets, DUIs, and other incidents.

In this situation, you may need auto insurance to reinstate your license – even if you cannot legally drive.

Contact your current auto insurance company to verify coverage. Your insurer may need to submit an SR-22 certificate to the DMV to reinstate your driving privileges.

Or, if your previous insurer canceled your policy or failed to renew it, then you may need to shop around for a new provider. Some insurers specialize in insuring high-risk drivers. Others specialize in SR-22 insurance. These insurers can help you get car insurance to reinstate your license.

Once you have submitted proof of car insurance to the DMV, then the DMV may reinstate your license.

Final Word on Getting Insurance Without a License

It’s possible to get car insurance without a license – and it’s more common than you think.

For various reasons, you may need to buy car insurance even if you cannot drive yourself.

Contact your insurer or compare quotes online today to find the best car insurance for unlicensed drivers.