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What You Should Know
- Not all car insurance companies will offer coverage to drivers with an international license
- Progressive, State Farm, and The General all offer car insurance for foreign license holders
- Car insurance companies will use your location in the U.S. to calculate your rates
While the best car insurance companies cater to all types of drivers, not all companies will offer coverage to international drivers.
Car insurance companies that accept international licenses include some of the top companies, but rates will vary by driver and location.
To find the most affordable car insurance companies that accept international licenses, shop around and compare quotes. Each company will offer different rates, so look at multiple companies to find your best deal.
Enter your ZIP code to compare free quotes from car insurance companies that accept international licenses in the area that you will be visiting.
What car insurance companies accept international licenses?
Car insurance is required to drive in most states in the U.S., even if you are just visiting.
Finding the best car insurance companies that will accept your international license can be tricky. Unfortunately, only a few of the top insurers will offer you coverage.
While you can find Progressive car insurance with a foreign license, not all companies offer the same coverage. For example, you can't get GEICO insurance with a foreign license.
Car insurance companies that offer coverage to foreign drivers include:
- State Farm
- Progressive
- The General
- Dairyland
- Infinity
- Kemper
Keep in mind that your rates will vary depending on your personal factors and the area you will be visiting.
A few factors that affect your auto insurance rates in the U.S. are your age, gender, and where the vehicle will be. In addition, cities and states with more crime or auto insurance claims will see higher rates.
This table shows the average car insurance liability rates for 10 states. This will give you an idea of how much rates can change by state.
| State | Average Liability Car Insurance Rates |
|---|---|
| California | $462.95 |
| Colorado | $477.10 |
| District of Columbia | $628.09 |
| Florida | $289.04 |
| Illinois | $337.17 |
| Louisiana | $518.91 |
| Michigan | $587.75 |
| New Jersey | $393.24 |
| New York | $462.21 |
| Texas | $498.44 |
You can see that rates vary greatly depending on the state you are in. Keep in mind that rates will vary by driver so you can expect to see different rates.
A U.S. car insurance company can’t see how good a driver you are in your home country. So they're taking a gamble insuring you. That means car insurance for foreign license holders will generally be much more expensive.
The one thing you don't want to do is skip getting car insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, around 13% of drivers in the U.S. are uninsured.
Driving without auto insurance can lead to fines, driver's license suspension, and even jail time.
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How do international drivers get car insurance in the U.S.?
There are two different ways for international drivers to get car insurance in the U.S.
If you have an international driving permit, you will still need auto insurance, but the process might be easier.
First, if you are just here for a short visit, it will be cheaper and easier to just get car insurance through your rental car company.
While it is generally more expensive for U.S. citizens to get coverage through a rental car company, international drivers can save time and money by adding coverage to their rental car.
However, if you will be in the U.S. long-term, you should get coverage through an auto insurance company.
If you’ve immigrated to the U.S., you will need a U.S. driver’s license to get auto insurance. While most states require you to use your social security number to get a driver’s license, there are 11 states that do not.
How much car insurance is required in the U.S.?
Most states in the U.S. require drivers to carry at least a minimum amount of auto insurance. However, the coverages and amounts required vary by state.
Car insurance coverage that is usually required includes bodily injury (BI), property damage (PD), uninsured or underinsurance motorist (UM and UIM), and personal injury protection (PIP).
This table shows you the minimum car insurance required in each state.
| State | Auto Insurance Required in the State | Minimum Liability Coverage Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 |
| Alaska | BI & PD Liab | 50/100/25 |
| Arizona | BI & PD Liab | 15/30/10 |
| Arkansas | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 25/50/25 |
| California | BI & PD Liab | 15/30/5 |
| Colorado | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/15 |
| Connecticut | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 25/50/20 |
| Delaware | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 25/50/10 |
| District of Columbia | BI & PD Liab, UM | 25/50/10 |
| Florida | PD Liab, PIP | 10/20/10 |
| Georgia | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 |
| Hawaii | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 20/40/10 |
| Idaho | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/15 |
| Illinois | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 25/50/20 |
| Indiana | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 |
| Iowa | BI & PD Liab | 20/40/15 |
| Kansas | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 25/50/25 |
| Kentucky | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 |
| Louisiana | BI & PD Liab | 15/30/25 |
| Maine | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM, Medpay | 50/100/25 |
| Maryland | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM | 30/60/15 |
| Massachusetts | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 20/40/5 |
| Michigan | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 20/40/10 |
| Minnesota | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM | 30/60/10 |
| Mississippi | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 |
| Missouri | BI & PD Liab, UM | 25/50/25 |
| Montana | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/20 |
| Nebraska | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 |
| Nevada | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/20 |
| New Hampshire | FR only | 25/50/25 |
| New Jersey | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM | 15/30/5 |
| New Mexico | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/10 |
| New York | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM | 25/50/10 |
| North Carolina | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 30/60/25 |
| North Dakota | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 |
| Ohio | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 |
| Oklahoma | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 |
| Oregon | BI & PD Liab, PIP, UM, UIM | 25/50/20 |
| Pennsylvania | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 15/30/5 |
| Rhode Island | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/25 |
| South Carolina | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 |
| South Dakota | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 |
| Tennessee | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/15 |
| Texas | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 30/60/25 |
| Utah | BI & PD Liab, PIP | 25/65/15 |
| Vermont | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 25/50/10 |
| Virginia | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 25/50/20 |
| Washington | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/10 |
| West Virginia | BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM | 25/50/25 |
| Wisconsin | BI & PD Liab, UM, Medpay | 25/50/10 |
| Wyoming | BI & PD Liab | 25/50/20 |
Keep in mind these coverages don't pay for damages to your vehicle when you're at fault. You would need to add collision and comprehensive insurance to your policy to cover damages to your vehicle.
Car Insurance Companies that Accept International Licenses: The Bottom Line
Car insurance companies that don’t accept international licenses are more common than companies that do. This is because although the driver has proof that they can drive legally in their home country, the auto insurance company has no way of determining how risky the driver is.
Drivers who will only be in the country for a short amount of time can get insurance through the rental car company, but drivers who will here long-term need to go through an auto insurance company.
Shop around to find the best auto insurance for you if you are a foreign driver. Compare rates from car insurance companies that accept international licenses to find the best coverage for you.
Enter your ZIP code to compare quotes from auto insurance companies that accept international licenses in the area you will be visiting for free.
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