Car insurance with a foreign license, ITIN or Matrícula Consular
A-MAX Editorial Team
Reviewed by Rajesh Sankaran, Licensed Insurance Agent
Short answer
Yes, you can often get car insurance with a foreign driver's license, an international driving permit, an ITIN or a Matrícula Consular. Insurance companies mainly look at who will drive and what car you have. Accepted documents vary by company, and your state's licensing rules still apply to driving.
If you moved here from another country, are visiting for a while, or simply do not have a U.S. driver's license yet, you may wonder if you can get car insurance at all. In many cases, you can. Plenty of drivers in Texas, California and Arizona get covered with a license from their home country, an international driving permit, an ITIN or a Matrícula Consular.
This guide explains how insurance works with these documents, what to bring when you get a quote, and how the licensing rules differ in each state. It is general information to help you get started, not legal or immigration advice.
Can you get car insurance with a foreign driver's license?
Often, yes. An insurance company mainly wants to know who will drive the car, what car it is, where it is kept and what kind of driving history the drivers have. A valid license from your home country can help show that you know how to drive and give the company a way to identify you.
What changes from one company to another is how they rate a foreign license. Some treat it much like a U.S. license. Others may price the policy as if you have less driving experience in the U.S., because they cannot see your record from home. That is one reason it helps to compare more than one company.
Keep in mind that insurance and licensing are two different things. A policy covers the car and its drivers. Whether you can legally drive on your foreign license is a separate question that your state decides. We cover those state rules below.
What is an international driving permit, and does it help?
An international driving permit, or IDP, is a translation of your home license into several languages, including English. It is issued in your home country, not in the U.S. An IDP is generally meant to be carried together with your valid home license, not instead of it.
An IDP can make it easier for an insurance agent, or a police officer, to read the information on your license. Texas DPS notes that under the international agreements it follows, drivers must have a valid permit, license or international permit translated into English. If your license is already in English or Spanish, you may not need one in Texas, but it can still be useful to have.
Can you get car insurance with an ITIN or Matrícula Consular?
Many drivers do not have a Social Security number. Some insurance companies can quote and write a policy without one, and some will accept an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in its place. Others may simply leave that field blank and use other information to rate the policy.
A Matrícula Consular is an identification card issued by the Mexican consulate. Some companies accept it as a photo ID when you buy a policy. The same goes for a passport or other government ID from your home country.
Which documents a company accepts is up to each company, so the answer can change from one quote to the next. An agent who works with these situations every day can tell you which options fit what you have.
What documents help when you get a quote?
You do not need every item on this list, but the more you bring, the smoother the quote usually goes:
- A driver's license from your home country, an international driving permit, or both.
- Photo ID, such as a passport, a Matrícula Consular or another government ID.
- Your ITIN or Social Security number, if you have one.
- Your address where the car will be kept.
- Vehicle information, like the VIN, year, make and model, or the registration or title.
- Information on other drivers who live with you or will use the car.
- Proof of past insurance, from the U.S. or another country, if you have it. Some companies may consider it.
Can you get car insurance without any driver's license?
Sometimes. If you own a car but do not drive it, or someone else in your home is the main driver, there may be ways to insure it. For example, a licensed family member can be listed as the main driver. Read our guide on whether you can get car insurance without a license to see how this works.
If you drive but do not own a car, non-owner car insurance may be worth a look, depending on what license you have.
Rules vary by state
Each state decides who can drive on a foreign license, how long new residents have to get a local license, and what documents a license application needs. Here is a quick look, based on official state sources.
| State | Driving on a foreign license | New residents | License documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | A valid, unexpired license from a country covered by a reciprocity agreement can be used for up to one year or until you become a resident, whichever comes first | Apply for a Texas license within 90 days of moving | Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence is required |
| California | Check with the DMV for your situation | If you plan to live and drive here, you must apply for a California license | AB 60 licenses are available if you cannot provide proof of legal presence |
| Arizona | Nonresidents 16 or older with a valid home state or country license are exempt from getting an Arizona license | Check with ADOT for your situation | Proof that your presence in the U.S. is authorized under federal law is required |
Texas
Texas DPS says you can legally drive with a valid, unexpired license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canadian province or qualifying country for up to 90 days after moving to Texas. Visitors from countries covered by reciprocity agreements can use a valid foreign license for up to one year or until they become residents.
Foreign licenses not in English or Spanish must be translated. To get a Texas license, you need proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, proof of Texas residency, proof of identity and more.
Sources: Moving to Texas guide, Driving privilege reciprocity and How to apply for a Texas driver license.
California
The California DMV says you are a resident if you intend to live in the state for six months or more in one year, and if you intend to become a resident and drive in California, you must apply for a California license.
California also offers AB 60 driver's licenses for people who are unable to provide proof of legal presence in the U.S. but who meet DMV requirements and can prove their identity and California residency. Applicants still take the knowledge test, which is offered in many languages, and the behind-the-wheel drive test.
An AB 60 license is a valid California driver's license for driving, and many insurance companies treat it like any other California license.
Sources: New to California and AB 60 driver's licenses.
Arizona
Arizona law exempts a nonresident who is at least 16 and carries a valid license from their home state or country from getting an Arizona license to drive a regular passenger car.
To get an Arizona license, an applicant must give ADOT proof that their presence in the U.S. is authorized under federal law. Arizona does not have a license like California's AB 60.
Sources: Arizona Revised Statutes 28-3152 and 28-3158. For questions about when you count as a resident, contact ADOT.
Licensing rules can change. For your exact situation, check with Texas DPS, the California DMV or ADOT. For questions about your immigration status, talk with a qualified immigration attorney.
How A-MAX can help
At A-MAX, we help drivers in every situation, including non-citizens, new arrivals and drivers without a U.S. license. Our licensed agents speak English and Spanish, and they know which options may fit the documents you have. No judgment, just help. Learn more on our foreign license car insurance page. We shop. You choose.
Walk into one of our 240+ offices in Texas, California and Arizona, call 1-800-921-AMAX, or start a quote online. A-MAX Has Your Back.
About this page
Written by the A-MAX Editorial Team. Reviewed by Rajesh Sankaran, Licensed Insurance Agent. We review and update it as state rules and carrier availability change.
Last updated October 29, 2026
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Not always. Some insurance companies can write a policy without a Social Security number, and some accept an ITIN instead. Others use your license, photo ID and address to rate the policy. Requirements vary by company, so ask an agent which options fit the documents you have.
No. An international driving permit is a translation of your home country license. It is usually carried together with your valid home license, not used on its own. It can help agents and officers read your license information, especially if your license is not in English.
Yes. An AB 60 license is a California driver's license issued by the DMV to people who cannot provide proof of legal presence but meet the other requirements. Many insurance companies treat it like any other California license when you get a quote.
It might. Some companies cannot see your driving history from another country, so they may rate you as a driver with less U.S. experience. Other companies treat a foreign license more like a U.S. one. Comparing quotes from more than one company can help you see your options.
Yes. A-MAX helps non-citizens, new arrivals and drivers without a U.S. license every day. Our licensed, bilingual agents can review the documents you have and shop for options that may fit. Call 1-800-921-AMAX, visit an office or start a quote online.
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