Can illegal immigrants get auto insurance?
Illegal immigrants can get car insurance, although not all companies offer auto insurance policies to undocumented immigrants. Some states do not allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license, but you may be able to get insurance with a foreign license. Illegal immigrants need auto insurance to avoid the risks of driving uninsured.
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Daniel Walker
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Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
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UPDATED: Dec 4, 2023
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We partner with top insurance providers. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Dec 4, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We partner with top insurance providers. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
On This Page
- Some states allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver’s license
- Auto insurance rates for illegal immigrants may be higher due to the lack of driving history
- Six of the top auto insurance companies give policies to illegal immigrants
We’re often asked, can illegal immigrants get car insurance? The answer to that question depends on where you live and what auto insurance companies provide you with a policy.
This short guide explains how to get car insurance as an undocumented immigrant and how much you can expect to spend on car insurance rates per month.
If you’re looking to buy auto insurance for unauthorized immigrants, enter your ZIP code in the free comparison tool to find cheap auto insurance in your local area.
Can undocumented immigrants get auto insurance?
It depends. Illegal immigrants can buy car insurance. However, undocumented immigrants must have a driver’s license.
Most auto insurance companies don’t need a Social Security Number (SSN) for you to get a policy.
Read More: How Car Insurance Works
Some states require you to have U.S. citizenship to get a driver’s license, but several states allow you to get a driver’s license without citizenship or an SSN.
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What states allow illegal immigrants to get a driver’s license?
Here is the list of states that allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver’s license:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
All other states may have a citizenship requirement. Therefore, it may be difficult for you to get car insurance in the other 35 states.
How do you apply for a driver’s license as an illegal immigrant?
Each state that permits you to get a driver’s license without citizenship has a unique set of rules. Get all the information you can on how to get your driver’s license. The best place to start is your state’s DMV.
How should you shop for auto insurance as an undocumented immigrant?
If you’ve received your driver’s license, you start shopping for auto insurance. When you obtain auto insurance quotes, you don’t have to buy with that particular company. You’re still a customer, and you’re entitled to a car insurance policy you can afford.
Finding affordable auto insurance for illegal immigrants may be difficult due to the lack of driving history.
What are the best auto insurance companies?
Are you unsure about where to start? Let’s look at the top auto insurance companies in the United States.
Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates for New Drivers| Companies | Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates for New Drivers |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $189 |
| Farmers | $154 |
| Geico | $106 |
| Liberty Mutual | $186 |
| Nationwide | $110 |
| Progressive | $115 |
| State Farm | $108 |
| USAA | $111 |
Since you’re undocumented, the car insurance company may treat you as a new driver. Therefore, your auto insurance rates may be the same as a teenage driver. It all depends on where you live, your age, and how many miles you plan to drive during the year.
Which auto insurance provider’s serve illegal immigrants?
There are a few companies that serve illegal immigrants. Here’s a list of those companies.
- Alliance United
- Allstate
- Bristol West (A Farmers Group affiliate)
- Infinity Insurance (A Kemper Direct affiliate)
- Progressive
- SafeAuto
Although these companies provide services to undocumented immigrants, the requirements at each company vary.
Can you get state-sponsored auto insurance?
What to do if you can’t afford auto insurance? If auto insurance is too expensive, you can enroll in a state-sponsored auto insurance program. However, government auto insurance is only available in California, Hawaii, and New Jersey. These programs may not be available to an illegal foreign driver, however.
Examine the minimum car insurance requirements for each state-sponsored insurance state.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements for States with Government Auto Insurance Programs| State | Minimum Bodily Injury Liability for One Person Per Accident | Minimum Bodily Injury Liability for Multiple People Per Accident | Minimum Property Damage Liability Per Accident |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $15,000 | $30,000 | $5,000 ($3,000 for low-income drivers |
| Hawaii | $20,000 | $40,000 | $10,000 |
| New Jersey | $15,000 | $30,000 | $5,000 |
When you want to enroll in state-sponsored car insurance in these three states, these will be coverage limits. If you need more coverage limits, you’ll have to talk to the right department to get more coverage.
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What are the penalties for driving uninsured?
It would be best if you got car insurance. As an undocumented immigrant, the repercussions of getting caught driving without auto insurance may result in criminal charges and possibly deportation.
If the courts charge you with driving without car insurance, find car insurance right away to reinstate your license. This will further protect you from getting sued by other drivers or facing more legal problems.
Can you file a lawsuit against an undocumented migrant?
A person who is hit by an undocumented immigrant should get an attorney as soon as possible. These types of cases can be very confusing, and a personal injury attorney can help tremendously. The person may also file under their uninsured motorist coverage provision if they have it.
Auto Insurance for Illegal Immigrants: The Bottom Line
Undocumented immigrants make up 5% of the workforce in the U.S., but many are forced to drive without car insurance, which is a risky move. If you’re in an accident while uninsured, you could be on the hook for any car repairs and medical expenses that result. Undocumented immigrants may also face the prospect of deportation, making the situation even more precarious.
But to make a living, many immigrants take on the risk of driving uninsured. Fortunately, it’s possible for undocumented immigrants to get car insurance.
Allowing undocumented individuals to get driver‘s licenses has economic benefits : Licensed drivers are more likely to purchase motor vehicles and other bigger-ticket items, including homes.
Car insurance can be a hassle, but it’s better to go through the pains of getting auto insurance coverage than to be uninsured. The benefits of auto insurance outweigh the risk of remaining uninsured, even as an undocumented immigrant.
Get auto insurance quotes for illegal immigrants today by entering your ZIP code in the free online quote tool below.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.