Car insurance
Car insurance is a contract between you and the insurance company that provides you with specific coverage in terms of paying your premiums. Your car insurance policy is the contract that allows you to make claims in the event of a loss
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When driving in the United States, it is mandatory to have car insurance. This applies to expatriates, students coming to the US on a visa, diplomats, foreigners – any non-US citizen.
When it comes to car insurance, foreign driving licence holders have several options. After reading this article, you will understand the pros and cons of these options, as well as important information about applying for an international driving licence, the laws in this area and more.
Car insurance for drivers with an international driver’s licence…
For those coming to the US on a visa If you are a non-US citizen who has just arrived here, you will probably have to pay much more than the average US citizen. This is not surprising because new drivers do not have a local driving record, which is very important for an insurance company (the insurer needs your driving record as a basis for calculating your premium).
You also have no credit history in the US. Not surprisingly, most insurers will offer you higher rates than for US residents with a comparable history.
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However, some companies specialise in protecting non-citizens and promise not to treat their customers in this way: they calculate your costs based on the driving record of your country of residence. So if it’s clear, you’re more likely to get lower rates.
Here are 3 car insurance options for international drivers.
1-Renting a car that is already insured
This is a wise choice for those who are not going to be in the US for more than six months. Most of these people prefer to rent a car and, in this case, car insurance is usually automatic. However, you will probably have to pay an additional fee.
2-Being added to someone else’s car insurance cover
This option is often used by those who have a family member in the country they are visiting. The family member simply adds you to their own car insurance cover. They will have to pay an additional fee (as adding an international driver is not free), and then you can reimburse them for that money. In any case, it’s much cheaper than buying a separate car insurance policy yourself.
3-Using your credit card
This is another way to get car insurance that International Driving Permit holders can use. If this option is available, it means that you automatically insure yourself when you rent a car with your credit card. This can be very attractive, as it allows you to get
Top Rated Car Insurance Companies for foreigners
|
COMPANY |
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE |
LEARN MORE |
---|---|---|---|
#1 |
USAA »
|
$1,022 | Compare Quotes » |
#2 |
American Family »
|
$1,383 | Compare Quotes » |
#3 |
State Farm »
|
$1,279 | Compare Quotes » |
#4 (tie) |
Geico »
|
$1,250 | Compare Quotes » |
#4 (tie) |
Nationwide »
|
$1,473 | See Review » |
#6 (tie) |
Farmers »
|
$2,078 | Compare Quotes » |
#6 (tie) |
Travelers »
|
$1,355 | Compare Quotes » |
#6 (tie) |
Allstate »
|
$2,135 | Compare Quotes » |
#6 (tie) |
AAA »
|
$1,958 | Compare Quotes » |
#10 |
Progressive »
|
$1,540 | Compare Quotes » |
HOW TO FOUND THE GOOD CAR INSURANCE
At U.S. News & World Report, we are committed to providing unbiased rankings and reviews to help guide our readers through life’s most complex decisions. Our 360 Reviews team utilizes this same objective approach to evaluate the products that you rely on daily.
In conducting our research for this study, we examined over 31 car insurance companies and agencies, analyzed 10 third-party review sources, and surveyed 9,502 consumers who had opened a policy or filed a car insurance claim in the past five years.
Official link : CAR INSURANCE 2023