Best Auto Insurance for Unlicensed Drivers

How to Get Car Insurance with No License

Finding coverage when you don't have a license requires a slightly different approach than usual. Because insurers use your driving history to calculate risk, not having a license presents a hurdle. However, companies like A-MAX specialize in helping you find affordable coverage even in unique situations.

Here are 3 common ways to secure insurance without a license:

1. List Yourself as an Excluded Driver

This is often the most common route. In this scenario, you purchase the policy as the owner of the vehicle, but you list yourself as an "excluded driver." This means the policy acknowledges you own the car but specifically states that you are not covered to drive it.

To make this work for liability coverage, you must list another person — such as a spouse, roommate or family member — as the primary driver on the policy. This satisfies the insurance company's need to assess risk based on a licensed driver's record.

• Important Note: If you are an excluded driver and you take the car for a spin and cause an accident, the insurance company will likely deny the claim. This option is strictly for vehicle owners who will not be behind the wheel.

2. Purchase Storage or "Parked Car" Insurance

If your car won't be driven at all — perhaps you are restoring a vintage vehicle or you have lost your license and the car will sit in your garage for 6 months — storage insurance is a smart solution.

This type of policy typically drops the liability and collision coverage (since the car isn't on the road) and focuses on Comprehensive Coverage. This protects your vehicle against non-driving perils like:

• Theft and vandalism

• Fire and weather damage (hail, floods)

• Falling objects (like tree branches)

Tip: Check with your local DMV before dropping liability coverage. Some states, including Texas and Arizona, require vehicles to have active liability insurance to maintain valid registration, even if the car isn't moving. You may need to file an affidavit of non-use to avoid fines.

3. Add a Co-Owner to the Registration

If you are having trouble getting a policy in your name alone, you might consider adding a licensed driver (like a spouse or domestic partner) to the vehicle's registration. Once they are a co-owner, they have an "insurable interest" in the vehicle and can easily purchase a policy with you listed as an excluded driver.