Can you buy car insurance for UK drivers in the USA?

Though not all insurance companies offer car insurance for foreign drivers, many do, especially larger companies. If you plan to move to the U.S. from the UK for school or study abroad on a somewhat long-term basis, you’ll need auto insurance to drive legally. Regardless of your goals for coming to the U.S., it is important that you understand the country’s auto insurance laws and how to obtain UK student car insurance.

How To Find Car Insurance for UK Drivers in the USA

Finding car insurance for international drivers with a visa in the U.S. is difficult, but not much more so than getting comprehensive coverage as a local citizen or resident. Shopping around for car insurance is a somewhat complex and lengthy process in and of itself. Before deciding on a policy, regardless of your situation, you must do your homework by comparing rates and shopping for discounts.

Read more: Compare Car Insurance for International Visa Holders in the US: Rates, Discounts, & Requirements

The only difference between your car insurance shopping process and that of a U.S. citizen is that you have slightly fewer options available to you. This is because many auto insurance companies cater strictly to low-risk drivers.

For a driver to obtain a “low-risk” designation, he or she must present a valid U.S. driver’s license for the state in which he or she plans to drive. Drivers must also demonstrate their ability to drive safely and follow the rules of the road. Unfortunately, drivers with UK licenses struggle to prove either experience or knowledge. As a result, most drivers with UK licenses can’t obtain low-risk designations.

There are several companies that issue policies for all types of drivers. As an international driver, it may be worth your while to shop around with these companies. Though you can’t know for sure which companies offer high-risk auto insurance, the best thing you can do is call a company and ask. Larger companies, such as Progressive, State Farm, and Geico, are typically willing to assume more risk than their smaller counterparts.

Can you use your UK driving record to obtain a low-risk designation?

Unfortunately, it does not matter how great of a driver you are in the UK — if you don’t have a valid U.S. driver’s license, most insurers consider you inexperienced and, therefore, high risk. A high-risk designation makes it difficult for you to obtain coverage. If you can find coverage, you’ll likely have to pay the high-risk driver surcharge.

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Getting Insurance on a Rental Car as an International Driver

Finding coverage as an international driver may be a non-issue if you plan to rent a car in the U.S. You can rent a car without insurance if you purchase insurance from the rental company. Most rental car companies provide coverage up to the minimum amounts required by the state. These companies also allow drivers to purchase additional insurance for added protection.

If you plan to visit the U.S. for a short period of time, rental car coverage may be all you need. However, bear in mind that most state minimums cover only the cost of damage that you cause to another person’s vehicle. If you cause an accident, you may have to pay for the repair or replacement costs of the rental car. For this reason, you should consider purchasing additional coverage if you plan to be in the U.S. for an extended period.

Obtaining UK Student Car Insurance

As an international student in the U.S., your options for obtaining car insurance are more or less the same as non-students. You must find an insurer that is willing to cover a “high-risk” driver. You probably won’t be able to use your driving experience in your home country to obtain cheaper rates.

Unfortunately, as a student, your path to car insurance may be a bit more difficult. Some car insurance companies require international students to have three years of driving experience in the U.S. before they will cover them.

As an international student, you do have one advantage over non-students. Your Designated School Official can provide you with a list of car insurance companies that cater to international drivers and maintain more lenient requirements.

Do you need car insurance as a UK driver in the USA?

Though car insurance requirements vary by state, the fact is that all but two states require drivers to maintain a minimum amount of coverage. If a police officer catches you driving without the minimum coverage, you face fines, license suspension, and possible jail time.

There are two states that don’t maintain minimum coverage requirements: Virginia and New Hampshire. However, you must obtain an insurance waiver, which you can only do once you present proof of financial responsibility. In other words, you must demonstrate that you can pay up to a certain amount in damages that you may cause in an accident. Moreover, you may also have to pay an uninsured vehicle fee.

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Do you need a U.S. license to obtain car insurance?

You don’t necessarily need a U.S. driver’s license to obtain coverage in the U.S. However, to legally drive in there, you need an International Driver’s Permit. You must obtain the IDP from the country that issued your driver’s license before you arrive in America, as the U.S. does not issue them.

Obtaining an IDP is fairly easy. You need to be at least 18 and have a valid driver’s license from your home country.

Case Studies: Car Insurance for UK Drivers in the USA

Case Study 1: Obtaining Coverage as an International Driver

In this case, John is a UK driver planning to visit the USA and drive a car during his stay. He wants to ensure he has the necessary auto insurance coverage. John discovers that finding car insurance for international drivers with a UK license can be difficult.

However, he learns that some insurance companies issue policies for all types of drivers, including high-risk ones. John decides to shop around with these companies and eventually finds an insurer willing to cover him during his stay.

Case Study 2: Using UK Driving Record for Low-Risk Designation

Sarah, another UK driver, has an excellent driving record in the UK and hopes to use it to obtain a low-risk designation in the USA. However, she learns that most insurers in the USA consider her inexperienced without a valid U.S. driver’s license.

As a result, she is classified as a high-risk driver and faces challenges in finding coverage. Sarah realizes that she may need to pay a high-risk driver surcharge and explores other insurance options available to international drivers.

Case Study 3: Rental Car Insurance for International Drivers

In this case, Mark, a UK driver, plans to rent a car during his short visit to the USA. He wonders how international drivers can obtain insurance for rental cars. Mark discovers that most rental car companies offer coverage that meets the minimum requirements of the state.

He also learns that additional coverage options are available for added protection. Mark decides to purchase insurance from the rental company to ensure he is adequately covered during his rental period.

Case Study 4: UK Student Seeking Car Insurance

Emma, a UK student studying in the USA, needs car insurance for her vehicle. She faces similar challenges as non-students in finding coverage as a high-risk driver.

However, Emma discovers that her Designated School Official can provide her with a list of car insurance companies that cater to international drivers and have more lenient requirements. With this information, she can find an insurer willing to cover her as a student.

Case Study 5: Car Insurance Requirements for UK Drivers in the USA

David, a UK driver planning to relocate to the USA, wants to understand the car insurance requirements in the country. He learns that most states require drivers to maintain a minimum amount of coverage.

Failure to meet these requirements can result in fines, license suspension, and even jail time. David also discovers that Virginia and New Hampshire are the only two states without minimum coverage requirements, but an insurance waiver or proof of financial responsibility is necessary in those states.

Case Study 6: Obtaining Car Insurance Without a U.S. License

Sophie, a UK driver, wonders if she can obtain car insurance in the USA without a U.S. driver’s license. She learns that while a U.S. license is not necessarily required to obtain coverage, an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) is necessary to legally drive in the country.

Sophie finds out that she can obtain an IDP from the country that issued her driver’s license before arriving in the USA.

Car Insurance for UK Drivers in the USA: The Bottom Line

Finding car insurance as an international driver takes a bit more time and effort than if you already have a U.S. driver’s license. However, when you’re armed with the right knowledge and resources, you can find affordable coverage in no time.

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