Things to remember
- Foreign driver’s license holders can get auto insurance to drive in the United States
- Some insurance companies require an international driver’s license in addition to a foreign license from your country of residence
- There are different types of auto insurance for foreign drivers, like rental car insurance, secondary insurance from a credit card, and temporary car insurance
If you have an international license, driving in the USA will have different requirements depending on where you’re located. Regardless of location, you will need auto insurance in order to drive legally. Understanding auto insurance for non-U.S. residents can be a challenge, so here are some tips on how you can get insurance if you have a driver’s license from another country.
- Can I get auto insurance in the U.S. with a foreign license?
- Do I need car insurance if I’m driving in the U.S. with a foreign license?
- Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements by State
- What types of car insurance are available for foreign drivers in the U.S.?
- Rental Car Insurance
- Secondary Insurance through your Credit Card
- Get Named as an Additional Insured
- Temporary or Short-Term Car Insurance
- Regular Personal Insurance
- How much does car insurance for foreign
license holders cost?
- Average Annual Liability Auto Insurance Rates by State
- The Bottom Line: Foreign Drivers Need U.S. Auto Insurance
Can I get auto insurance in the U.S. with a foreign license?
Yes, it’s possible to get auto insurance in the U.S. with a foreign license. There are insurance companies that limit car policies to American citizens, but the majority of large insurance providers offer vehicle insurance to people with foreign driving licenses in the U.S.
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Some insurance companies may require that motorists driving with a foreign license apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to providing proof of a valid driver’s license from the motorist’s country of residence.
At least 11 U.S. states require an IDP, namely Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington.
There are seven other states that require an IDP if the foreign driver’s license is not in English, namely Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin
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Some states do not have an international driver’s license requirement. Having a Texas international driver’s license is not necessary. An Illinois international driver’s license is also not a requirement to be an international driver in Illinois. You won’t need an international license in California unless you will be using a foreign driver’s license in California for more than 90 days.
Remember, in the states that require an IDP to drive, the international driver’s license is not a substitute for a foreign driver’s license. Rather, the IDP and a valid foreign driver’s license must both be in the possession of the foreign driver.
If you live in the U.S., you can obtain an IDP from AAA, the Automobile Association of America. If you live in a country other than the U.S., you’ll need to check with your insurance carrier or local government for information on how to obtain an IDP. IDPs are typically valid for one year.
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Do I need car insurance if I’m driving in the U.S. with a foreign license?
More: Auto Insurance for a Temporary Resident
Yes, you need car insurance if you’re driving in the U.S. The minimum car insurance required in each state is different, but almost all states have laws requiring liability auto insurance coverage, which covers drivers for property damage and personal injuries that you caused to others in an accident.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements by State
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements by State
Get Your Rates Quote NowStateMinimum BI & PD Liability LimitsRequired Insurance Policies Alabama
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability
Alaska
50/100/25
BI + PD Liability
Arizona
15/30/10
BI + PD Liability
Arkansas
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability, PIP
California
15/30/5
BI + PD Liability
Colorado
25/50/15
BI + PD Liability
Connecticut
25/50/20
BI + PD Liability, UM, UIM
Delaware
25/50/10
BI + PD Liability, PIP
District of Columbia
25/50/10
BI + PD Liability, UM
Florida
10/20/10
BI + PD Liability, PIP
Georgia
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability
Hawaii
20/40/10
BI + PD Liability, PIP
Idaho
25/50/15
BI + PD Liability
Illinois
25/50/20
BI + PD Liability, UM, UIM
Indiana
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability
Iowa
20/40/15
BI + PD Liability
Kansas
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability, PIP
Kentucky
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM
Louisiana
15/30/25
BI + PD Liability
Maine
50/100/25
BI + PD Liability, UM, UIM, Medpay
Maryland
30/60/15
BI + PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM
Massachusetts
20/40/5
BI + PD Liability, PIP
Michigan
20/40/10
BI + PD Liability, PIP
Minnesota
30/60/10
BI + PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM
Mississippi
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability
Missouri
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability, UM
Montana
25/50/20
BI + PD Liability
Nebraska
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability, UM, UIM
Nevada
25/50/20
BI + PD Liability
New Hampshire
25/50/25
Financial Responsibility only
New Jersey
15/30/5
BI + PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM
New Mexico
25/50/10
BI + PD Liability
New York
25/50/10
BI + PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM
North Carolina
30/60/25
BI + PD Liability, UM, UIM
North Dakota
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM
Ohio
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability
Oklahoma
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability
Oregon
25/50/20
BI + PD Liability, PIP, UM, UIM
Pennsylvania
15/30/5
BI + PD Liability, PIP
Rhode Island
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability
South Carolina
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability, UM, UIM
South Dakota
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability, UM, UIM
Tennessee
25/50/15
BI + PD Liability
Texas
30/60/25
BI + PD Liability, PIP
Utah
25/65/15
BI + PD Liability, PIP
Vermont
25/50/10
BI & PD Liab, UM, UIM
Virginia
25/50/20
BI + PD Liability, UM, UIM
Washington
25/50/10
BI + PD Liability
West Virginia
25/50/25
BI + PD Liability, UM, UIM
Wisconsin
25/50/10
BI + PD Liability, UM, Medpay
Wyoming
25/50/20
BI + PD Liability
More: Buying Auto Insurance as a Family with Multiple Drivers
So, regardless of whether you have a U.S.-issued or foreign driver’s license, you’re going to need car insurance to drive in the U.S.
It doesn’t matter if you only plan to drive for just one day or even a few minutes; state laws require that all drivers have valid car insurance, including those with a foreign driver’s license in the USA.
What types of car insurance are available for foreign drivers in the U.S.?
Even though you need car insurance if you’re driving in the U.S. with a foreign driver’s license, you don’t necessarily have to buy a long-term personal policy. If you’re traveling to the U.S. temporarily, there are a few different short-term foreign driver’s license insurance options.
Rental Car Insurance
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If you’re going to rent a car with a foreign driver’s license, you have a few different options for car insurance coverage.
All rental car companies offer auto insurance at the counter when you pick up the car. Basic rental car insurance would likely just cover damages caused to others as a result of an accident you caused. Most rental car companies also offer collision damage waivers that cover damage to the rental car. You can also pay extra for personal property insurance for your personal effects, and accident insurance to cover injuries to you or your passenger.
Secondary Insurance through your Credit Card
Credit card companies generally offer rental car insurance, called secondary insurance, as a free cardholder perk if you use their credit card to pay for the car rental.
Secondary car insurance is not your primary insurance. It is just backup insurance to pay for amounts that exceed other auto insurance coverage or for things that aren’t covered in the primary policy, like deductible payments.
That means if you’re in a car accident in the U.S., you would first have to file a claim with your primary source of car insurance before you could make a claim with your secondary insurance provider.
Get Named as an Additional Insured
What if you’re visiting friends or family in the United States, and you only plan to borrow their car during your trip?
Most car insurance companies allow policyholders to list additional temporary drivers on their policy for no extra cost. So, rather than looking into purchasing short-term car insurance, just ask the U.S. resident whose car you’re borrowing if you can be added to their auto insurance policy as a short-term visiting driver.
Temporary or Short-Term Car Insurance
Standard car insurance policies are for either six-month or 12-month terms. That’s because it’s risky for insurance companies to offer coverage for a few weeks, days, or even hours.
But some insurers are willing to take the risk of offering temporary car insurance. Most temporary or short-term car insurance policies are for a 30-day term, but there may be providers out there that offer coverage on a daily basis.
In most instances, temporary car insurance only provides basic liability coverage for property and personal injury damages to others, and not for your personal injuries or damages to the car you’re driving.
You need to be careful when looking for short-term car insurance providers. First of all, the cost is likely to be high because it’s more expensive for insurers to cover the risk on temporary policies.
Second, make sure the coverage is legitimate. Beware of scam insurance companies that pass off fake auto insurance. People with foreign driver’s licenses are often targets of scam car insurance.
As with any car insurance carrier, do your homework. Research the insurance company, including the company license information that should be available from the Department of Insurance of the state you’re visiting. Make sure the policy being offered provides the full details of the coverage as well as any exclusions in coverage.
Another warning sign would be low premiums that are too good to be true. That’s why it’s important to comparison-shop so you can get an idea of the average market price. Sure, you want to find the most competitive prices offered, but if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Regular Personal Insurance
If you plan on staying and driving in America for six months or longer, then you’ll probably have to get a personal car insurance policy. There are some different types of auto insurance coverage that may be available.
Basic liability coverage only pays for damages you caused to others up to the policy limits. Liability insurance does not cover any damages to or loss of your property, or any injuries you or your passengers sustain.
Collision coverage pays for damages to your car in an accident where the car you were driving hit something or someone.
Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, covers damage and loss caused by things other than collisions, like theft, vandalism, hail, fire, etc.
If you don’t have separate travel health insurance, you should consider adding medical coverage to your car insurance to pay any medical costs for you and your passengers after a car accident.
How much does car insurance for foreign license holders cost?
The cost of car insurance depends on a variety of factors, so you’ll have to shop around to find out the average cost. That said, generally speaking, a basic minimum liability policy for a moderate-to-low-risk U.S. driver can cost around $50 in monthly premiums. Here is a chart of average auto insurance rates by state.
Average Annual Liability Auto Insurance Rates by State
Average Annual Liability Auto
Insurance Rates by State
Get Your Rates Quote NowStateAverage Annual Liability Auto Insurance
Rates North Dakota
$282.55
South Dakota
$289.04
Iowa
$293.34
Wyoming
$323.38
Maine
$333.92
Idaho
$337.17
Vermont
$340.98
Kansas
$342.33
Nebraska
$349.07
North Carolina
$357.59
Wisconsin
$359.84
Indiana
$372.44
Alabama
$372.57
Ohio
$376.16
Arkansas
$381.14
Montana
$387.77
New Hampshire
$393.24
Tennessee
$397.73
Missouri
$399.41
Virginia
$413.12
Illinois
$430.54
Mississippi
$437.38
Minnesota
$439.58
Oklahoma
$441.57
Hawaii
$458.49
New Mexico
$462.21
California
$462.95
Utah
$471.26
Colorado
$477.10
Arizona
$488.59
Georgia
$490.64
Pennsylvania
$495.02
South Carolina
$497.50
Texas
$498.44
West Virginia
$501.44
Kentucky
$518.91
Alaska
$547.34
Oregon
$553.43
Washington
$568.92
Massachusetts
$587.75
Maryland
$599.48
District of Columbia
$628.09
Connecticut
$633.95
Nevada
$647.07
Rhode Island
$720.06
Michigan
$722.04
Louisiana
$727.15
Delaware
$776.50
New York
$784.98
Florida
$845.05
New Jersey
$865.55
U.S. Average
$516.39
Keep in mind that these are average costs for U.S. resident drivers. Costs will likely be higher for a foreign driver because car insurance companies aren’t able to take a look at your U.S. driving history and other risk factors.
Also, as a foreign driver, you probably won’t qualify for car insurance discounts unless you are a student. Lots of car insurance companies offer lower rates or discounts for student drivers with good grades and a clean driving record.
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The Bottom Line: Foreign Drivers Need U.S. Auto Insurance
Foreign drivers with valid licenses from their country of residence are able to drive in the U.S., but they must comply with U.S. laws that require minimum liability auto insurance to cover personal injuries and property damage if you cause a car accident. If you only plan to drive for the short term, you can most likely get auto insurance with a foreign driver’s license from a car rental company or with the credit card you use to pay for the rental car. If you plan on driving for six months or longer in the U.S., you’ll likely have to get an IDP and at least a six-month car insurance policy.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Rachel Bodine graduated from college with a BA in English. She has since worked as a Feature Writer in the insurance industry and gained a deep knowledge of state and countrywide insurance laws and rates. Her research and writing focus on helping readers understand their insurance coverage and how to find savings. Her expert advice on insurance has been featured on sites like PhotoEnforced, All... Full Bio → | Written by Rachel Bodine |
Dan Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has been working in his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. He reviews content, ensuring that ex... Full Bio → | Reviewed by Daniel Walker |