Foreign Nationals & Driving Records

My friend was visiting from Russia, had an accident in my car, and caused $2500 of damage. When I submitted the claim, my insurer asked for my friend’s International Driver’s Permit (IDP). Because he would like to remain in the U.S. and eventually apply for a U.S. driver’s license, my friend is hesitant to provide his IDP. He fears that the claim will work against him in terms of future insurance rates, even though the payout would be from my policy. Would his future car insurance rates be affected by the accident?

Answer

To drive legally in the United States, foreign visitors must obtain an IDP from their home country before they arrive. An IDP verifies that the person has a valid driver’s license in his/her home country. This permit then allows foreign visitors to drive before they get their U.S. driver’s license. In this scenario, the insurance company probably would like to see your friend’s permit in order to make sure he was legally authorized to drive in the United States. It is unlikely that this claim will work against him when he receives a U.S. driver’s license and applies for a car insurance policy. The claim is on your policy, so his future rates should be unaffected.