Updated: April 11, 2025
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In addition to State Farm, international drivers in the US can also find cheap rates from Progressive and Farmers.
Foreign drivers can find the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Virginia at $38 per month, with Idaho offering similarly low rates at $41 per month.
The average car insurance cost for local drivers is $52 per month for minimum coverage and $113 per month for full coverage.
Anyone driving in the U.S. is required to have car insurance, except in New Hampshire and Virginia. If you’re staying long-term and own or lease a car, you’ll need to buy a policy from a car insurance company.
Short-term visitors can usually get coverage through a rental car company without needing a separate insurance policy.
Foreign drivers can get car insurance in the U.S., even without a local license. Here’s what you need to know to get started:
Most car insurance companies require a valid driver’s license from your home country, an International Driving Permit (IDP), depending on the state, identification, such as a passport or visa and vehicle registration, if you already own or lease a car.
Not all insurance providers will offer coverage if you don’t have a U.S. license. Some specialize in working with international drivers or may allow coverage based on your foreign driving history. State Farm, Progressive and Farmers are the best options.
Every state has its own minimum coverage rules. Your policy must meet these legal requirements — no matter your license type. Your insurer can help you make sure you’re compliant to how much car insurance you need.
While minimum coverage gets you on the road legally, it may not be enough to protect you financially after an accident. Consider buying more coverage if:
Getting insured with a foreign license is possible, but it can be more expensive. Over time, switching to a U.S. driver’s license and maintaining a clean driving history can help lower your premiums and make it easier to compare quotes in the future.
If you’re only visiting the United States for a short time, you can usually buy insurance from your car rental company. The three main components of car insurance provided by rental companies include liability insurance, a collision damage waiver and personal accident insurance.
Coverage limits for each of these components may vary depending on the rental company and on your personal preference. Insurance coverage from a rental company may cost up to $50 per day, depending on how much coverage you purchase.
Most visitors from Canada who are driving their own car will be covered by their own insurance company. However, this isn’t true for drivers from Mexico, who will need to purchase additional coverage.
If you are a foreigner driving in the US you can get the most affordable auto insurance in Virginia and Idaho.
The best and cheapest car insurance companies nationally may not be the same as the best and cheapest car insurance companies in your state. Insurance is regulated at the state level, and insurance companies may offer different levels of service across state lines. For this reason, rates from the same insurance company can vary from state to state.
For example, the cheapest car insurance company in California for drivers is Progressive. But that doesn’t mean that Progressive is the most inexpensive in every state. The cheapest car insurance also varies depending on your driver profile, which is influenced by several factors, including your age, gender and driving history. Before purchasing an insurance policy, you should be sure to compare rates from multiple different providers to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.
State Farm offers the most affordable car insurance for international drivers at $93 per month on a full coverage policy. The compny is explicit about offering insurance policies to drivers with international licenses, while Progressive and Farmers both allow applicants to provide information from international driver’s licenses during the application process, indicating that they are open to offering coverage to drivers with a license from abroad.
Company | Full Coverage Policy
Annual Premium | Accepts International License? |
|---|---|---|
$1,114 | Yes | |
$1,226 | Yes | |
$1,459 | Yes |
We highlighted which of the three companies that offer insurance to those holding an international license — State Farm, Farmers and Progressive — are the cheapest on average in each state and in the nation's capital.
State | Cheapest Company | Full Coverage Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
Farmers | $1,088 | |
State Farm | $846 | |
Progressive | $905 | |
Farmers | $865 | |
Progressive | $1,029 | |
State Farm | $1,013 | |
Progressive | $1,075 | |
State Farm | $1,117 | |
State Farm | $1,658 | |
State Farm | $1,282 | |
State Farm | $772 | |
State Farm | $491 | |
State Farm | $868 | |
Progressive | $569 | |
State Farm | $574 | |
State Farm | $806 | |
State Farm | $771 | |
State Farm | $1,964 | |
State Farm | $548 | |
State Farm | $1,888 | |
State Farm | $718 | |
Progressive | $2,952 | |
Farmers | $906 | |
State Farm | $907 | |
State Farm | $823 | |
State Farm | $645 | |
State Farm | $709 | |
State Farm | $1,343 | |
Progressive | $553 | |
Progressive | $1,351 | |
State Farm | $908 | |
Progressive | $2,048 | |
State Farm | $581 | |
State Farm | $554 | |
State Farm | $626 | |
State Farm | $912 | |
Progressive | $916 | |
State Farm | $1,260 | |
State Farm | $715 | |
State Farm | $942 | |
State Farm | $630 | |
State Farm | $762 | |
Farmers | $774 | |
Farmers | $986 | |
State Farm | $648 | |
Progressive | $455 | |
Progressive | $755 | |
State Farm | $1,070 | |
State Farm | $710 | |
State Farm | $717 | |
State Farm | $683 |
Comparing rates from multiple providers is key to finding affordable car insurance as an international driver in the US. This guide explores how factors like visa status and international driving history affect premiums and highlights the most budget-friendly insurance options for non-citizens.
Navigating car insurance as a foreign driver in the U.S. can be challenging, but it’s essential for legal and financial protection. This FAQ addresses key questions about coverage options, eligibility and tips for securing affordable insurance.
If you’re leasing a car for the length of your stay, ask your rental company for insurance. Most renters offer rental car insurance, which may include supplemental liability insurance, personal accidents coverage, collision damage and personal effects coverage.
Yes. Every driver is required to carry coverage before driving out of the garage. Each state has a minimum car insurance requirements, but drivers leasing a car may need to purchase full coverage car insurance.
The monthly average cost of car insurance for local drivers ranges from $52 to $113. However, foreign drivers should expect to pay more for car insurance.
Because international drivers do not have a social security number and providers cannot collect credit history from them, many car insurance companies refuse international applicants.
Study Overview
MoneyGeek used a sample driver profile to gather car insurance quotes and determine national and state averages. We highlighted the cost of liability-only insurance, the price difference between liability insurance and full coverage insurance and the increase that happens to drivers that become involved in accidents or gain tickets.
Data Sources and Depth
We studied car insurance details from state departments of insurance and Quadrant Information Services, evaluating 83,056 quotes from 46 companies across 473 ZIP codes.
Driver Profile
Our team used a sample driver persona to calculate the average annual cost of auto insurance. We assumed these characteristics:
We implemented variations based on location, insurance type and coverage limits to calculate insurance prices across the U.S. for various coverage needs.
Coverage Levels and Deductibles Explained
Before your insurance provider reimburses your claim, you need to pay your deductible out of pocket. On average, comprehensive and collision coverage, commonly referred to as “full coverage” insurance, has the most extensive financial protection.
When it comes to auto insurance, 100/300/100 refers to:
Meanwhile, 50/100/50 stands for:
Our team used 100/300/100 and a $1,000 deductible to gather national averages for full coverage insurance. Meanwhile, we used 50/100/50 and a $1,000 deductible to collate state-specific data.
Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
