Car Insurance for Foreigners in the U.S.
How to get car insurance for foreign drivers
- For short visits, you can get travel car insurance from a car rental company.
- For long-term visits, you’ll probably need standard car insurance.
- If you’re staying for more than a year, you may also need to get a U.S. driver’s license.
Car insurance for short-term visitors to the U.S.
Getting car insurance from a rental car company is a cheap and easy solution if your vacation or visit to the U.S. will be short.
This assumes you rent a car while in the U.S., of course. If you bring your foreign car to the U.S. with you, you’ll need to buy standard coverage from an American car insurance company — unless you and your car come from Canada.
Visitors from Canada
Car insurance bought from a Canadian car insurance company will usually cover you while you visit the U.S., even if you drive a rental vehicle.
Be sure to check with your insurer before your trip to make sure your policy will cover you, and if so, how much it’ll cover you.
Visitors from Mexico
If you visit from Mexico, you will likely need to get some form of U.S. car insurance. Car insurance policies don’t often transfer between Mexico and the U.S. Some companies specialize in short-term coverage for Mexican vehicles.
Car insurance for long-term visitors to the U.S.
If you’re planning a long-term visit to the U.S. — maybe as a student or through a work visa program — you might need to buy standard car insurance from a U.S.-based company.
Buying standard car insurance as a foreign driver isn’t as easy as getting it from a rental car company, unfortunately. This is because some insurance companies won’t sell coverage to drivers who don’t have a U.S. driver’s license.
At the very least, you’ll need a driver’s license from your home country to buy car insurance for travelers to the U.S. You also may need an international driving permit (IDP), depending on the state you visit. An IDP serves as additional proof that you’re licensed to drive in your home country.
Why long-term visitors may need a U.S. driver’s license
Car insurance companies want you to have a U.S. driver’s license because they use it to:
- Access your driving history
- Determine your risk
- Calculate your rate
Most companies that do sell car insurance to foreign drivers without a U.S. driver’s license charge them higher rates because of this.
Car insurance for undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
Undocumented immigrants in the U.S. face some of the same hurdles as long-term visitors when it comes to getting car insurance.
To get car insurance as an undocumented immigrant in the U.S., you’ll usually need a driver’s license. Two ways to get a driver’s license as an undocumented immigrant:
- If you qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, you can get a driver’s license in any state.
- 19 states and the District of Columbia allow any undocumented immigrant to get a driver’s license.
States that allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses
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Contact your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) to learn how to get a driver’s license as an undocumented immigrant.
You may be able to get car insurance as an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. without a driver’s license, but you’ll likely pay a much higher rate.
The best insurance companies for foreign drivers in the U.S.
Some of the largest auto insurance companies in the U.S. sell policies to foreign drivers:
| Company | LendingTree score | |
|---|---|---|
 | Farmers |  |
 | Geico |  |
 | Progressive |  |
 | State Farm |  |
If you struggle to get car insurance from any of these companies online, talk with an agent over the phone or in person.
You may also want to contact smaller, regional or local car insurance companies to get coverage as a foreign visitor to the U.S.
These small companies are known to sell temporary car insurance for foreign drivers:
- Dairyland
- Gainsco
- Hallmark
- Kemper
Keep in mind that you might pay higher rates than usual if you buy car insurance from a company that doesn’t require a U.S. driver’s license. This is because the company won’t be able to verify your driving record or assess your level of risk when calculating your quote.
To get the cheapest rate as a foreign visitor to the U.S., compare car insurance quotes from several companies before settling on the best for you.
Can you buy car insurance in the U.S. with a foreign license?
Yes, you can buy car insurance from a rental car company in the U.S. with a foreign license. Not all American car insurance companies will let you buy a standard car insurance policy with a foreign license, though.
If you’re planning a long-term stay in the U.S. as a foreign driver and can’t buy car insurance with your foreign license, getting a U.S. driver’s license should help.
Can you drive in the U.S. with a foreign license?
You can drive in the U.S. with a foreign license, but some states may require you to get an international driving permit (IDP) as well.
You should be able to drive in the U.S. with a foreign license for up to three months, and with an IDP for up to a year.
If, however, your visit to the U.S. will last more than a year, you’ll need to get a U.S. driver’s license to continue to drive legally.
How to get an international driving permit (IDP)
To get an IDP, contact the transportation or motor vehicles agency or department in your home country.
It may take a few weeks for you to receive your IDP, so apply for one well before you plan to visit the U.S.
To get an IDP, you usually need to:
- Be 18 or older
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Provide a passport-style photo
- Pay a small fee
You can’t apply for an IDP while in the U.S — you’ll need to get it before you leave your home country. Your IDP should be valid for up to a year after you receive it.
When you need to get a U.S. driver’s license
If you stay in the U.S. for more than a year, you’ll need to get a U.S. driver’s license by the end of that first year.
Otherwise, you should be fine to drive in the U.S. for up to a year if you have a foreign license and an IDP.
This can depend on the state you’re visiting, so check with your state’s DMV to find out exactly how long you can drive with a foreign license and/or IDP.
You may want to get a U.S. driver’s license before your year is up anyway if you can’t:
- Get car insurance with your foreign license
- Find affordable car insurance
U.S. car insurance requirements
Most states require you to buy some amount of car insurance to drive legally.
- Almost every state in the U.S. requires a minimum amount of liability car insurance. Liability car insurance covers injuries and property damage you cause to other people in a car accident.
- There are 22 states and the District of Columbia that require uninsured motorist coverage. This covers injuries a driver without insurance causes to you and/or your passengers in an accident.
- There are 17 states that require personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage. Both cover injuries to you and your passengers after an accident, no matter who causes it.
If you buy car insurance from a rental car company while visiting the U.S., it’ll usually come with liability coverage, medical expenses coverage and a damage waiver.
Medical expenses coverage helps pay for your medical care if you’re injured in an accident while driving your rental car. The damage waiver covers any damage done to your rental car during an accident.
Frequently asked questions
You need car insurance if you visit the U.S. and drive a vehicle.
If you drive a rental car, you can get car insurance from the rental car company that will cover you as long as you drive that vehicle.
If you bring your foreign car to the U.S. with you, you’ll need to buy standard car insurance — unless you’re visiting from Canada and have car insurance from there.
No. You can often get car insurance in the U.S. as a foreigner if you have a foreign license and/or an international driving permit.
Farmers, Geico, Progressive and State Farm are all known to sell car insurance to foreign visitors. Many smaller car insurance companies also sell coverage to visiting drivers. Compare quotes from several companies to get the cheapest rate for your needs and situation. (See more above.)
The average cost of car insurance in the U.S. is $722 a year, or $60 a month. This is for the minimum required amount of liability coverage. If you buy more coverage, your rate will be higher.
What you pay for car insurance will depend on several factors, including where you live. Car insurance is much cheaper in some states and cities than it is in others.