Can You Get Insured Using an International Drivers License?

I am moving to the states from England. Do I need to get a new driver's license before applying for auto insurance?

For most people, driving a car means getting a license, purchasing a car (or using your parent’s vehicle), and buying insurance. In almost every state, it is illegal to drive a car without insurance. Although guidelines vary, every state has minimum financial requirements that you need to follow. If you are traveling abroad, the normal procedures for driving a car are a little bit different. You may be driving under an international driver’s license, and may wonder if it’s possible to get insurance. It is possible. How you get insured with an international driver’s license depends on your circumstances.

Situation #1: Borrowing a Friend’s Car

In the United States, insurance is purchased for a vehicle, not a driver. If you’re staying in the United States for a short period of time and will not own a car, you can drive a car legally by getting the owner’s permission. As long as they are insured and you do not belong to a class of people that is excluded from their auto insurance policy (some auto insurance policies will exclude insuring drivers under 18, for example), you will be covered. Your friend who is letting you borrow the car might want to call up their insurance agency and have you added to their policy, especially if you are going to be in the area for a while.

Situation #2: Renting a Car

If you are renting a car in the United States, you will need to purchase insurance for the rental car. Your car insurance policy at home might cover you, but you would want to contact the insurance company ahead of time to make sure. If you will be renting the car for an extended period of time, you might want to purchase rental car insurance from an insurance agency. Not all insurance agencies carry this coverage, but some do. You will provide your international driver’s license information to the insurance company. The other option for rental car insurance would be to purchase the insurance from the rental company, but this could get expensive, especially if you are going to be staying in the country for a while.

Situation #3: Living Abroad

If you are living abroad, you will probably be able to drive with an international driver’s license for a time, but many countries and states require residents to get a license in their host country if they are staying for an extended period of time. Prior to obtaining a driver’s license in the host country, the vehicle that you drive will need to be insured. Check with your insurance company, as well as with the laws in the host country, on your specific situation.

In many of the United States, you can drive for a year without getting a driver’s license in the state that you are living in. Some states have shorter requirements. Many states require you to get a license in their state if you wish to purchase your own vehicle. Once you obtain a driver’s license in the state that you are living in, you can obtain an insurance policy for the vehicle with your state driver’s license.