Does car insurance cover relatives with international driving permits?
You can add your visiting relatives to your car insurance policy, but you may want to consider renting a car if they have less than pristine records.
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
UPDATED: Jan 11, 2024
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UPDATED: Jan 11, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- In many cases, you can temporarily add your visiting relatives to your car insurance
- Fees for this will vary significantly based on your driving record and car insurance company
- In some cases, it might be best for your relatives to rent a car instead of borrowing yours
When relatives visit you from another country, you may want to loan them your vehicle once in a while so they can get around on their own. At the same time, you might be wondering if your insurance will cover your relatives or if you need to purchase car insurance for an international license holder.
This is a great question that you’ll want to answer correctly before turning over the keys. Keep reading to make sure you have the right coverage.
Do I need to add an international driver to my car insurance?
Before your relatives arrive for their visit, call your current insurance company, if you have one, and explain the situation and verify the rules regarding auto insurance for international license holders. You should be able to add your international visitors to your policy temporarily.
In most situations, insurance companies are hesitant to allow drivers unfamiliar with American driving rules and roads to get behind the wheel without adding a charge to your policy. While some car insurance companies accept internationally licensed drivers for a small fee, others may charge higher rates.
Read more: Can I add relatives to my car insurance policy?
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When to Say “No” to Loaning Your Car
Besides potentially paying a hefty fee for insuring your relatives with international driver’s licenses, there are other situations where it might be best not to loan them your car and list them on your policy. For instance, if you are a high-risk driver and already pay for extensive car insurance, this may guarantee a huge fee, or your insurance company might not even allow it.
In addition — and this may be challenging to do — it is crucial to find out what your relatives’ driving records are like because car insurance companies will check them. Ideally, their driving history will be clean. But, if you know that they have had accidents and other traffic issues in their home country, it’s best not to let them use your vehicle.
Consider a Rental Car
If you discover that it’s going to be too expensive to temporarily add them to your policy, you still have a Plan B. Your relatives can rent a car upon arriving at the airport, or you could drive them over to a rental agency close to your home if they only want to have a car for a couple of days. You might find that this is an affordable and stress-free way for your guests to have access to a vehicle.
Note that your relatives will still need to purchase rental car insurance from the rental company. This will be valid for the period of time they have the car and is the easiest way for people visiting the United States to get the proper insurance.
What if they stay for a long time?
All of the tips thus far have been based on the assumption that your relatives’ stay will be short. However, if your visitors plan on staying for a few months or more and need to drive, they will need to get temporary car insurance for international drivers.
The good news is that most insurance companies will allow tourists from other countries to get car insurance during their time in the U.S. They will need to have a valid driver’s license to do so. Depending on where your relatives are from, their original license may work, or they may be asked to apply for an international driving permit (IDP) in their country of residence before visiting the states. According to the official website of the United States government, the IDP isn’t a license but works with their home country’s license to prove they’re allowed to drive internationally.
Drivers from Canada won’t need an IDP to drive in the U.S., but visitors from most other countries will need it.
International Drivers Have Options for Car Insurance
Transportation can be an issue for international visitors, and making sure they’re properly insured is critical. It’s not difficult to get car insurance for people with an international driving permit, and you may even be able to add them to your policy for a small fee. If not, renting a car may be a workable option.
As soon as you know when they are arriving, call your insurance company to review the details of your current policy so you can get everything squared away.
Read more:
- Can you buy car insurance for UK drivers in the USA?
- Can you get U.S. car insurance with a Canadian license?
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Case Studies: Car Insurance Coverage for Relatives With International Driving Permits
Case Study 1: Temporary Addition to Policy
John’s European relatives are visiting him for a month and need to drive. John adds them to his car insurance policy temporarily for a small fee.
Case Study 2: High-Risk Driver
Sarah’s cousin from Asia plans to visit, but Sarah’s high-risk driver status makes it expensive to add her cousin to her policy. They explore renting a car instead.
Case Study 3: Rental Car Option
Lisa’s sister from South America is staying with her for a week. Adding her to the policy is costly, so Lisa suggests renting a car, which proves to be convenient and affordable.
Case Study 4: Extended Stay and Temporary Car Insurance
Mark’s Australian parents are staying in the US for six months. They obtain temporary car insurance for international drivers with a valid license and potentially an international driving permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my car insurance cover a relative with an international driving permit (IDP) if they drive my car?
Whether or not your car insurance covers a relative with an international driving permit (IDP) depends on the specific terms and conditions of your insurance policy. Some insurance policies may extend coverage to drivers with IDPs, while others may have restrictions or require additional steps to ensure coverage.
Do I need to notify my insurance company if a relative with an IDP will be driving my car?
It is important to notify your insurance company if a relative with an international driving permit (IDP) will be driving your car. Insurance companies typically require you to disclose all household members and regular drivers of the vehicle. By informing your insurance company, you ensure that the driver is properly covered under your policy.
Will my insurance premium increase if I add a relative with an IDP to my policy?
Adding a relative with an international driving permit (IDP) to your car insurance policy may affect your premium. The impact on your premium can vary depending on factors such as the driver’s age, driving experience, driving history, and the insurance company’s underwriting guidelines. It’s best to contact your insurance provider to understand the potential premium adjustments before adding a relative to your policy.
Can a relative with an IDP purchase their own insurance policy?
A relative with an international driving permit (IDP) may have the option to purchase their own car insurance policy if they meet the requirements set by the insurance company. However, if the relative is a regular driver of your vehicle and lives in the same household, it may be more convenient and cost-effective to add them to your existing policy. It is recommended to compare the options and consult with insurance providers to determine the best course of action.
Does an IDP replace the need for liability coverage?
No, an international driving permit (IDP) does not replace the need for liability coverage. An IDP serves as a translation of the driver’s license and allows drivers to legally operate a vehicle in a foreign country. However, it does not provide insurance coverage. It is important to maintain the appropriate liability coverage on your car insurance policy to protect against potential damages or injuries caused by the driver with an IDP.
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
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.