Auto insurance for foreign drivers-Auto Insurance

Well, you made it to the U.S. Welcome! Whether you're here visiting or starting a brand new life, one of the first things that surely crossed your mind is being able to drive. Clearly, having a driver's license will be the first step. But apart from having a license, and unlike in many other countries, here you have to have auto insurance in order to drive. Don't despair, however — we've gathered helpful information here to assist you. The road awaits. Let's get started.

Here in the U.S., everybody needs to have two things before they can drive: a driver's license and insurance. The rules for both of these are different depending on the state that you live in. Typically the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles — which is in charge of issuing licenses, license plates and vehicle titles) requires that you have a social security number in order to get a license. However, don't get too discouraged if you don't have one. More and more states are able to help people obtain a driver's license. Check the rules of the state that you live in to see if you're eligible.

When it comes to insurance, everything depends on the coverage that you choose, although an insurance company might charge you a bit more at the beginning. It doesn't matter if you have years of experience driving in another country. When you don't have a driving history established in the U.S., you're considered a "new driver."

Have you ever wondered why it's mandatory to have car insurance in order to drive here in the U.S.? While it may seem a bit of an exaggeration, every time a person drives they are exposing themselves to the risk of having an accident. If this were to happen to you and you didn't have insurance, you might have to pay out-of-pocket not only for repairs, but also for medical expenses for both you and the other person. And you've probably found out by now just how much those kinds of things can cost here. In other words, the savings that you've worked so hard for would vanish into thin air. Liability insurance protects you and your family for damages you are at fault for up to the amount of policy limits you choose

The minimum required... it's not the same everywhere

Now, practically all of the states require that you have at least liability coverage, which generally pays for property damage and medical costs for injuries caused by you if you are considered at fault in an accident.

Liability coverage only covers expenses caused by you to others... and not your own. Some states have minimum coverage requirements. Coverage for your own medical expenses is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and in certain states — like Michigan, Delaware, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, etc. — it's mandatory in addition to liability coverage. Incidentally, even if you have PIP coverage your car is not covered in the event of an accident. For it to be covered, you need another type of insurance that has collision coverage, which is not mandatory in any of the states, but you will want to have it in the event that you get in a car crash one day and don't have the money to repair your car. If you'd like to find out more on the topic, State Farm® provides detailed information on every type of coverage to assist you in making the right decisions.

Aside from liability coverage (coverage for property damage and Bodily Injury to others) and PIP coverage, one or more additional coverages are required in states like New York, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota and North Carolina, among others. The most important ones are uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage. With both, the idea is that you are protected in the event that you run into a problem with someone who doesn't have insurance or whose coverage is so minimal that it doesn't cover the resulting damages or medical costs.

What happens if I drive without insurance and I don't get into an accident?

Ok, so suppose that none of this is convincing enough and you think you'll be able to drive without having an accident. You could get stopped by the police for any other reason just the same and, if you're driving without insurance, would have to pay fines ranging from $100 to several thousands of dollars. Even worse: If they catch you doing it more than once, you risk having your license and registration suspended or revoked.

In short, when it comes to insurance in the U.S., there's a lot to learn. You don't need to know it all, though. A State Farm agent can explain to you everything you need to know, often in the language that you speak since there are plenty of agents that are bilingual or that have bilingual staff — all of which are ready to lend a hand.