Car insurance for foreign drivers with international driving permit
Listen to this articleIt is illegal to drive a car in the United States without a valid license and car insurance. If you are a foreign driver with an International Driver Permit, you should get car insurance for foreigners in the USA before driving on American roads. If you are staying for a short period, the Rental Car Company can help you with the insurance plan. However, if you are planning to stay for a long duration, it is better to take help of an insurer.
The international driving permit available for foreign nationals has the information available in ten languages along with English. It is also proof that your home country has permitted you to drive a vehicle in a foreign country. Please note that International Drivers Permit is not a valid US driver’s license, and it is essential in some states to carry the valid driving license that you have obtained in your home country.
There are two ways to avail car insurance policy in the United States if you already have an International Driving Permit.
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The first way is to approach a rental car company. It is beneficial if you are visiting the US for business or vacation, and there are no plans to become a permanent resident.
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If you are planning to stay for a longer period in case you are a student or want to become a permanent resident, then you should get your car insurance policy from an insurance company.
Car insurance for long-term foreign residents
It is not easy to find a car insurance company that sells insurance plans to drivers with an international driving permit. They ask for a valid driver’s license from the US. The main reason is that they rely on US records to determine if you are a safe driver or not. A driving record has the following information:
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It has the driving history that includes moving violations, for example, speeding tickets.
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It provides information about the accidents you were involved in.
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Some states except California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts require checking your credit history before selling you the insurance plan. The driving record contains information about it.
Based on these records, the car insurance company decides the premium that you have to pay for the car insurance policy. If you are finding it difficult to get your hands on the insurance policy, take the help of an independent agent. Such agents work with different insurance companies, and they have the resources to find the right insurance plan for you. Once they find a suitable insurance company, it gets easier to find the best plan.
Get the US driving license.
If you are planning to stay in the US for a long duration, it is better to get the US driving license. It not only helps in establishing your identity in the country but also provides you a valid document to drive the car freely. Most of the insurance companies prefer to sell car insurance plans only to those who have a valid US driving license. However, if you are in the US only for a short period, car insurance policies are available with car rental companies as well.
Saurabh Sharma is a Digital Marketer and content writer, with of more than 8 years experience in Digital marketing. He is founder of www.guestpostcrew.com. He has a Master in Computer Application (MCA) honors from RTU, Kota. His work is present on the web and still working for the well-being of society. In his free time, he loves to watch cricket, football, and internet surfing.
