Can you get car insurance without a license in illinois

State and federal laws require all individuals who own or operate a car to take financial responsibility by having car insurance. Different state and federal mandates have different minimum requirements for coverage. This requirement is beneficial for you as a pedestrian or motorist who may find yourself involved in an accident on the road at some point. While no one expects to get in an accident, it is important to be prepared for the possibility.

While there are standard policies, different vehicles and situations have different insurance requirements. You must understand what type of insurance policy you need and what liability and premiums will best suit your situation. Car insurance is important because it helps with the possible financial burdens that arise with auto accidents, helping with damage to your and other vehicles, bodily injury, medical bills and property damage. Unlicensed drivers may still need car insurance, and car owners who no longer drive may also need coverage.

Can You Get Auto Insurance Without a Driver’s License?

You do not necessarily need a license to insure a car. In the situation where you own a car but do not have a driver’s license, it is possible to get car insurance. In fact, certain laws and guidelines regarding car insurance require you have insurance for your automobile despite the status of your license.

Although you still can get car insurance as an unlicensed car owner, it may be more difficult and more expensive to do so than if you had an active driver’s license. The reason for this is that, regardless of why you do not have a driver’s license, insurance companies will see you as a risk.

One of the first things insurance companies do when you look into getting car insurance is ask for your driver’s license number. This means that, almost instantly, you will run into a setback. Companies want your driver’s license number so they can easily access your driving record and history. They often look at the last three to five years to check for any traffic violations or accidents you may have been in. If you do not have a valid license number, they cannot see your history as easily or you may not even have a driving history, which makes you a risk in their eyes. 

You have many insurance agencies to consider, and if you do not have a license, many of the major chain companies may almost instantly turn you away. Other companies may have modified policies or policies that are much more expensive. Smaller insurance companies may be open to insuring you without a license, but be wary about the rates and coverage they offer.

Because looking for no-license car insurance may be more difficult than it would be for someone with a driver’s license, your best option may be to search for insurance through an ​​insurance broker. They can look through available options to find carriers who offer car insurance to the unlicensed. Since they better understand the industry, an insurance broker can find an insurance company and policy that is most suitable for you and your needs. 

Why Would You Need Car Insurance Without a License? 

If you are a vehicle owner who does not drive, you should still get a no-license auto insurance policy in various situations. Some of those reasons may be:

1. You Have a Permit and Are Working Towards Getting Your License

Getting auto insurance for unlicensed drivers usually means the driver has a learner’s permit. If you are a student driver, that means that you do not officially have your license and are working toward getting it. This requires you to log a certain number of driving hours, so you will be on the road at some point. You will need to be insured before you can do so in case of an accident.

2. A Teenage Driver Uses Your Car

If you are the titleholder of a car and you have a teenager who will drive that car, you need to have insurance for it. Some states do not allow anyone under 18 years old to enter a contract, so their parent or guardian may need to do so. This means that regardless of if you have a license, you will need to have your car insured so that the teenage driver can take the car out on the road.

3. Someone Else Drives You

Similar to the previous scenario, if someone who has a driver’s license plans to drive your car, you need to have it insured. This is true whether you are unable to drive or if you just choose not to. Whether this person is a personal driver, chauffeur or a family member you rely on for transportation, you need to have insurance that will cover the driver in an accident.

4. You Want to Get Insurance for a Vintage or Collectible Car You Do Not Drive

While you may not drive your vintage, classic or collectible car, you still need to have insurance on it. Just like with any expensive assets, valuables or collections, you want to avoid full or partial loss of your investment if something damages or ruins it. Some insurance companies offer classic car insurance, which covers the cost of replacing or repairing specialized parts. In this instance, your car does need to meet certain requirements for it to be considered a classic car and to qualify for classic car coverage. 

5. You Have a Car in Storage

Even if the car you have is not classic or collectible, it is still important to have it insured to minimize monetary loss due to floods, fires, hail, theft, and vandalism. In this situation, consider getting a comprehensive coverage policy, which covers non-collision repairs to your car. 

Can You Get Car Insurance With a Suspended License? 

Even if you have a suspended driver’s license, you might not be dismissed from needing car insurance. Looking for insurance coverage while having a revoked or suspended license, however, often means you’ll be offered a higher rate than if you were looking for car insurance with a driver’s license that’s active and valid. Despite the higher costs, it may be just as necessary for you to have insurance while you do not have your license as it is when you are an active driver.

In some states, you may need car insurance to get a license reinstated after it was suspended or revoked. For example, suppose you want to earn your driving privileges back after having it suspended or revoked from an uninsured accident or another traffic-related offense. In that case, insurance companies may require you to have SR-22 insurance. 

Not actually a type of insurance, SR-22s are forms or certificates filled out by your insurance provider to prove to the state that you have adequate coverage since they may now consider you to be a high-risk driver. Most companies that sell car insurance can help you get your SR-22 forms. The insurance company will electronically file your form with the state to prove to them you have the proper coverage and financial liability, essentially making it legal for you to drive. Depending on the company, they may do this for you for free, while others do it for a fee. 

Primary Drivers vs. Excluded Drivers 

When you go to get insurance on a vehicle, insurance companies assign the primary driver’s title to the car’s main user. The primary driver is not necessarily who owns the car but instead relies on who drives the car the most. They list anyone else in the home who regularly uses the car as a secondary driver. 

Insurance companies factor in the driving records of the primary driver and everyone else listed on the policy to calculate the amount you must pay to have your car insured. Because insurance companies consider everyone in your home who has a driver’s license in your premium, there may be members of the household you want to omit from the policy. This means you would have to make that person a named excluded driver. If you exclude someone from your policy, this means the insurance company does not cover them if they cause an accident or injury, and they should not drive your car. 

There are a few reasons you might exclude someone from your policy. The primary reason to omit someone from the policy is to lower your premium. If they have a poor driving record, the insurer accounts for this in your rates, and your premium will be higher because of them. Another reason to leave someone off your policy is if they have a license but should not be driving. For example, if you live with an older family member who has their license but should no longer drive for health reasons, you can request for them to be an excluded driver. 

Can You Get Auto Insurance Without Owning a Car? 

If you have a driver’s license and do not have a car, you can still obtain liability insurance. Non-owned car insurance gives coverage to people who do not own a vehicle but drive someone else’s by either borrowing or renting them.

A non-owned car insurance policy provides the driver with liability coverage, which pays for property damage or injury. This type of policy does not include collision or comprehensive insurance, meaning that the policy does not pay for the cost of any damage to the vehicle driven by the policyholder and does not cover non-accident damage. The owner of the vehicle is responsible for protection against physical damage of the car. 

Another aspect of a non-owner policy to consider is if you are between vehicles. If you sell the car you own with plans to purchase a new one in the future, it may benefit you to have a non-owner policy in the time in between cars. Because insurance companies see a gap in coverage as a sign of you being a high-risk driver, this can increase your rates. Keeping a policy while between cars can help you keep your insurance premium at a lower price.

Non-owner car insurance policies are generally less expensive than the same amount of liability under a traditional plan. Your age, driving record, how often you drive and the amount of liability you choose will affect your rates.

How Do You Get Car Insurance Without a Driver’s License?

The easiest way to get your car insured without having a driver’s license is by listing someone else on the policy as the primary driver. Whether it be a spouse or child, caretaker or roommate, listing someone else as the primary driver informs the insurance company that you will not be the vehicle’s main driver. 

Along with removing yourself from the primary driver position, you can also ask your insurance agent to list you as an excluded driver, meaning you are not a user at all. 

Another way to get automobile insurance without a license is to opt for a parked car insurance policy. This type of comprehensive policy protects your parked car from damages from vandalism, fires, floods or falling objects. 

Start your search for car insurance without a license by looking for available carriers that accept unlicensed car owners. Although looking at insurance companies online can be useful under average circumstances, most sites require a driver’s license number for you to be able to get a policy quote. 

Before you find yourself having trouble or completely unable to get insurance coverage, consider going through a reputable independent insurance broker. Working with someone who understands the business and can help you figure out what type of coverage will benefit you the most can help you use your time and money wisely. 

Find the Right Car Insurance With David Pope Insurance Services, LLC

At David Pope Insurance Services, LLC, a family-owned insurance agency local to Union, Missouri, we take pride in generating fast and flexible quotes for our customers. Whether you need to find coverage in Tennessee, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, Arkansas, Iowa or Kansas, we are here to help.

Contact us through our website or at 636-583-0800 with any questions or concerns. If you are looking for a quote, request one here to get started today!

If you need to find the right coverage for your specific needs, we can help connect you with the right policy type and coverage for your vehicle or vehicles regardless of your driver’s license status.

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