Can I get car insurance with a foreign license?

It's one thing to move to a new city or state but moving to a different country comes with a whole different set of challenges. One thing that may not have made your list yet is making sure you're lining up car insurance that will work with your foreign license.

Here’s a quick bit of good news. Depending on the insurance company, if you move to the U.S. and either bring a vehicle you own or purchase in the U.S., you may be able to get car insurance with a foreign license. 

To break down the nuances of car insurance and a foreign license, our team at HiRoad will share some tips with you on how to go about getting a U.S. car insurance policy that works best for your situation and needs.

Car insurance with a foreign license

Let’s get started with the type of license you have. In most cases, those coming from another country into the U.S. will likely have their own country’s driver's license and/or an International Driver's Permit (IDP). 

In order to drive in the U.S. you will not only need to have a license but also carry car insurance, if you own a vehicle. In most states, you are legally required to carry car insurance to drive—regardless of how long you plan to visit.

Let’s break down a short stay versus a long, extended stay in the U.S., and how that may look from a car insurance POV. If your visit isn’t expected to be long, you may want to consider looking at car insurance options through a car rental company. These are fairly straightforward and are typically only meant for short-term stays in the U.S.

If you’re expecting to stay longer or move permanently to the U.S., you’ll want to purchase a policy with a U.S. car insurance company. 

Depending on the country you’re from and which state you’ll be moving to, you may be able to get a policy with your foreign license. It's important to know that you must be listed as the owner of the vehicle in order to obtain a policy.

Keep in mind that not all insurers offer policies that cover those with a foreign license, so take the time to do your research and ask questions before signing up with any insurer. Here’s some good news! If you’re moving to Rhode Island or Arizona, HiRoad offers coverage to drivers with foreign licenses.

Insurance requirements with a foreign license

Insurance is interesting and as much as we’d sometimes wish it were one-size-fits-all, car insurance requirements for drivers are often state-specific. From Liability to Comprehensive coverages, it’s important to check with state resources or local car insurers on what you’ll be required to have on your car insurance policy.

For example, in Arizona, you are required by law to have a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident. You must also maintain a minimum of $15,000 in property damage liability coverage. 

Our take? You should consider having more than just the minimum coverage on your policy. A car insurance policy that has Liability, Uninsured/Underinsured, Collision, Comprehensive and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) can help protect you, others and your vehicle.

How to get car insurance in the U.S.

As we mentioned, depending on how long you'll be staying and if you own or plan on buying a vehicle, you can get insurance through a car rental or car insurance company. If you've decided to go with an insurance company, your next step will be starting a quote.

A car insurance quote takes certain aspects of information like what you’re driving, your address and other relevant info and shows you which coverages you can potentially have added to your policy. Sometimes you’ll work with an insurance agent to finalize your policy. No matter how you purchase coverage, we'd also suggest that you check all local/state info and with the DMV before driving on U.S. roads.