Buy Cheap Auto Insurance for Foreigners in 2023
If you're planning to drive in the U.S., you will need to purchase the amount of car insurance coverage legally required in the state(s) where you're planning to drive. Several companies offer auto insurance for foreigners.
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Cynthia Lanctot
Licensed Agent
Cynthia Lanctot is an insurance professional with ten years of industry experience. Cynthia is licensed in several states, and holds an associate in claims law, as well as a bachelor’s degree in English. Cynthia’s experience includes the New England and Northeast states. She currently works as a liability claims professional and an occasional online contributor.
Licensed Agent
UPDATED: Jun 12, 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 auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our auto insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different auto insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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: Jun 12, 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 auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our auto insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different auto insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- You may be able to use an international license to purchase auto insurance in the U.S.
- If you live in the United States for more than one year, you will need a driver’s license issued by the U.S.
- Car insurance rates are often higher for foreigners because there is insufficient information concerning a driving record
If you plan to visit the United States for work, fun, or a mixture of both, you may wonder what you need to do about auto insurance coverage. Of course, if you will be riding with other people during your time in the States, you don’t have to worry about an auto insurance policy. But you’ll need proper coverage if you plan to drive while in the country.
Depending on your home country and the length of time you plan to be in the States, you may be able to purchase an auto insurance policy with an international driver’s license. But if you plan to stay in the U.S. for a year or more, you’ll need a valid U.S. license to drive.
Can foreigners buy car insurance in the U.S.?
Non-U.S. citizens can purchase car insurance if they are traveling to the country. And car insurance for foreigners in the U.S. is not all that difficult to find.
Many major insurance companies offer car insurance for international drivers in the U.S., but you will need a valid driver’s license to purchase coverage.
Major insurance providers may accept your original driver’s license issued in your home country. If not, you can apply for an international driving permit (IDP) to drive legally in the U.S.
If you need to purchase a car insurance policy as a foreign driver, you may find that most companies offer policy terms in either six- or 12-month increments. Still, you may be able to find options with some insurers for temporary policies or shorter options, such as a three-month policy.
If you will only be in the U.S. for a short time and plan to rent a car for the duration of your visit, you should be able to purchase proper car insurance coverage through the rental company.
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Do I need car insurance as a short-term visitor?
Regardless of how long you plan to be in the U.S., you will need proper car insurance coverage if you plan to drive. However, if you will only be in the States for a few days or weeks, your best bet is to purchase coverage through a rental car company. This is often the easiest way to get car insurance for tourists in the U.S.
You may also have the option to purchase auto insurance through your credit card company when you use your card to purchase your rental car, as some credit card companies offer this type of coverage when you book your rental. Here are some of the most popular credit cards to provide auto insurance coverage for rental cars:
- Chase Freedom Flex
- United Club Infinite
- Capital One Venture X Rewards
- U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa
- United Explorer
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Bilt World Elite Mastercard
- Hilton Honors Aspire
Many international travelers find that credit cards offer lower rates for rental car insurance than rental car companies. Keep this in mind when you’re planning your trip.
Should I get car insurance as a long-term visitor to the U.S.?
If you plan to buy or lease a car while spending time in the U.S., you’ll need an insurance policy that meets the requirements of the state you’ll be staying in. Many states require that you get a U.S. license to purchase an insurance policy if you’ll be living and driving in the country for more than six months.
The table below shows the requirements for coverage in each state.
States Insurance Coverage Required Minimum Liability Limits
Alabama Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/25
Alaska Bodily injury and property damage liability 50/100/25
Arizona Bodily injury and property damage liability 15/30/10
Arkansas Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 25/50/25
California Bodily injury and property damage liability 15/30/5
Colorado Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/15
Connecticut Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/20
Delaware Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 25/50/10
Washington, D.C. Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/10
Florida Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 10/20/10
Georgia Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/25
Hawaii Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 20/40/10
Idaho Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/15
Illinois Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/20
Indiana Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/25
Iowa Bodily injury and property damage liability 20/40/15
Kansas Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 25/50/25
Kentucky Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/25
Louisiana Bodily injury and property damage liability 15/30/25
Maine Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, medical payments (MedPay) 50/100/25
Maryland Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 30/60/15
Massachusetts Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 20/40/5
Michigan Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 20/40/10
Minnesota Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 30/60/10
Mississippi Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/25
Missouri Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist 25/50/25
Montana Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/20
Nebraska Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/25
Nevada Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/20
New Hampshire Financial responsibility only 25/50/25
New Jersey Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 15/30/5
New Mexico Bodily injury and property damage liability, 25/50/10
New York Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/10
North Carolina Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 30/60/25
North Dakota Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/25
Ohio Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/25
Oklahoma Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/25
Oregon Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/20
Pennsylvania Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 15/30/5
Rhode Island Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 25/50/25
South Carolina Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/25
South Dakota Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/25
Tennessee Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/15
Texas Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 30/60/25
Utah Bodily injury and property damage liability, Personal injury protection (PIP) 25/65/15
Vermont Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/10
Virginia Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/20
Washington Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/10
West Virginia Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist 25/50/25
Wisconsin Bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, medical payments (MedPay) 25/50/10
Wyoming Bodily injury and property damage liability 25/50/20
As you can see, most states require at least property damage and bodily injury liability. Some states require additional coverage, like personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments (MedPay), and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
If you are traveling in several U.S. states, you should consider carrying more than a liability policy to ensure you’re adequately covered. Adding collision and comprehensive coverage to your liability policy will help make sure your vehicle is covered if you’re in an accident or if your car is damaged due to something like theft, vandalism, or inclement weather.
Is it easy for foreigners to get car insurance in the U.S.?
Plenty of companies in the U.S. offer auto insurance to noncitizens, but everyone applying for an auto insurance policy must have a valid driver’s license.
Each state in the U.S. has laws regarding foreign visitors who plan to drive and insure their vehicles. Some states allow you to drive with an international license, while others require that you get an IDP.
To get an IDP, you should apply before you begin your travels. You will need a valid passport and license in your home country to be eligible for an IDP. Once you apply for an IDP, getting your official permit in the mail could take several months.
Once you have the proper identification, you can purchase a car insurance policy. But don’t be surprised if you pay more for coverage because you’re a foreign driver.
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How much is car insurance for non-U.S. citizens?
Car insurance rates vary for many different reasons. Car insurance companies consider many factors when determining a person’s rates, so there’s no way to know how much you will pay for coverage until you begin your search.
Most companies consider a person’s driving record when determining their rates. But if you are from another country, your driving record may not be accessible to any U.S. insurance companies willing to offer you coverage. Because of this, you can expect to pay anywhere from 10% to 25% more for your car insurance.
You can see the average auto insurance rates based on the coverage type below.
States Average Annual Liability Coverage Rates Average Annual Collision Coverage Rates Average Annual Comprehensive Coverage Rates Average Annual Full Coverage Coverage Rates
North Dakota $282.55 $252.21 $112.74 $741.11
South Dakota $289.04 $251.30 $110.12 $1,206.46
Iowa $293.34 $251.46 $230.65 $819.14
Wyoming $323.38 $270.48 $222.86 $816.71
Maine $333.92 $331.72 $146.77 $1,077.97
Idaho $337.17 $284.92 $117.98 $833.44
Vermont $340.98 $278.38 $118.31 $737.67
Kansas $342.33 $255.33 $130.15 $904.39
Nebraska $349.07 $293.78 $116.79 $1,057.63
North Carolina $357.59 $227.44 $227.64 $737.63
Wisconsin $359.84 $209.93 $126.34 $696.11
Indiana $372.44 $207.10 $171.58 $672.01
Alabama $372.57 $299.10 $146.28 $817.95
Ohio $376.16 $298.21 $201.56 $941.34
Arkansas $381.14 $304.87 $183.36 $869.37
Montana $387.77 $223.50 $206.24 $778.81
New Hampshire $393.24 $365.23 $123.18 $1,353.96
Tennessee $397.73 $290.39 $135.62 $823.74
Missouri $399.41 $254.90 $199.87 $842.54
Virginia $413.12 $264.70 $129.89 $807.71
Illinois $430.54 $237.19 $115.02 $724.65
Mississippi $437.38 $259.65 $166.34 $825.40
Minnesota $439.58 $302.96 $194.74 $935.08
Oklahoma $441.57 $212.47 $89.66 $855.57
Hawaii $458.49 $209 $110.78 $656.95
New Mexico $462.21 $358.45 $156.66 $1,300.09
California $462.95 $364.56 $99.29 $926.79
Utah $471.26 $254.41 $106.57 $832.24
Colorado $477.10 $263.36 $158.34 $898.79
Arizona $488.59 $259.31 $184.20 $932.10
Georgia $490.64 $297.75 $100.09 $856.33
Pennsylvania $495.02 $377.06 $122.17 $1,219.29
South Carolina $497.50 $200.10 $228.59 $717.73
Texas $498.44 $340.51 $186.70 $1,025.64
West Virginia $501.44 $319.10 $195.04 $1,015.57
Kentucky $518.91 $391.03 $208.59 $1,326.78
Alaska $547.34 $360.18 $141.08 $1,048.60
Oregon $553.43 $307.31 $132.01 $934.34
Washington $568.92 $250.13 $104.11 $923.16
Massachusetts $587.75 $383.21 $147.02 $1,252.27
Maryland $599.48 $358.68 $128.92 $1,075.35
District of Columbia $628.09 $449.27 $230.25 $1,307.62
Connecticut $633.95 $348.70 $126.02 $1,108.67
Nevada $647.07 $281.70 $103.03 $777.98
Rhode Island $720.06 $247.62 $165.38 $910.51
Michigan $722.04 $214.02 $173.04 $826.64
Louisiana $727.15 $249 $96.66 $679.56
Delaware $776.50 $296.60 $113.23 $1,186.33
New York $784.98 $264.58 $123 $745.17
Florida $845.05 $320.45 $153.61 $964.70
New Jersey $865.55 $267.48 $166.89 $896.58
If you find that most auto insurance companies in the U.S. charge too much for coverage, you may want to consider a company that markets explicitly to foreign drivers.
What are the best insurance companies for foreigners?
Finding affordable car insurance for people with a foreign license can take some time, but the following companies are known for offering affordable policies to foreign drivers:
- Dairyland
- Hallmark
- Infinity
- Gainsco
- Kemper
- Assurance
If you have questions about your foreign license or how your IDP works, you can speak to a local department of motor vehicles or call the companies listed above and speak to a representative.
Before committing to any insurance company, compare quotes from multiple providers to see which companies offer you the best price for coverage.
Car Insurance for Foreigners: The Bottom Line
If you are traveling to the U.S. and are planning to drive, you need car insurance. You can purchase an auto insurance policy through the rental car company or a credit card company if you plan to rent a car for a few days. But if you plan to buy a car to drive, you’ll need a personal auto insurance policy.
You may be able to get auto insurance with a foreign driver’s license, or you may be required to get an IDP. But if you’ll be in the States for more than six to 12 months, you will likely need to apply for a U.S. driver’s license.
Many companies offer auto insurance policies to foreign drivers with the proper license. Still, you can expect to pay higher-than-average rates because you’re a bit of a wild card regarding a driving record.
The best way to save money on car insurance with a foreign license is to find and compare quotes from multiple insurance companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreigners purchase auto insurance in the country?
Yes, foreigners can generally purchase auto insurance in most countries, provided they meet certain requirements and have the necessary documents.
What documents do foreigners typically need to buy auto insurance?
The specific documents required may vary depending on the country and insurance provider. However, common documents often include a valid driver’s license from the home country, passport or identification, proof of residency (if applicable), and sometimes an international driving permit.
Are there any restrictions on the types of vehicles that foreigners can insure?
Some insurance providers may have restrictions on the types of vehicles foreigners can insure. Certain high-performance or luxury vehicles may have different requirements or limited coverage options. It is important to check with the insurance provider for any specific restrictions or requirements.
Are there any additional requirements for foreigners buying auto insurance?
Additional requirements may vary depending on the country and insurance provider. Some insurers may request proof of address, employment or income information, or a local bank account for payment purposes. It is recommended to check with the insurance provider regarding their specific requirements.
Can foreigners get the same level of coverage as local residents?
Yes, in most cases, foreigners can obtain the same level of coverage as local residents. However, coverage options and policy terms may vary between insurance providers. It is important to review the policy details and discuss your specific needs with the insurer to ensure adequate coverage.
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
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Cynthia Lanctot
Licensed Agent
Cynthia Lanctot is an insurance professional with ten years of industry experience. Cynthia is licensed in several states, and holds an associate in claims law, as well as a bachelor’s degree in English. Cynthia’s experience includes the New England and Northeast states. She currently works as a liability claims professional and an occasional online contributor.
Licensed 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.