Car insurance for UK drivers in the USA

If you’re travelling around the USA and don’t plan to use public transportation, you’re likely going to need a car. To legally drive in most states, you need a minimum amount of car insurance. And depending on whether you’ll be driving a rental car, borrowing one or buying your own, different insurance rules apply.

Do I need car insurance to drive in the USA?

Yes. In order to legally drive in most states, you’ll need to meet the state’s minimum car insurance requirements. Your specific situation as an international visitor will affect the type of policy you’ll need.

Driving a rental car

Rental companies offer insurance coverage on their vehicles. If you’ll be renting a car, you can purchase insurance from the rental company. An alternative to getting cover through the rental company is to get short-term insurance through a provider.

Driving a borrowed car

Many policies cover any driver of the car, not just the owner. How long you’ll be driving the borrowed car will also affect whether you’ll be covered under the existing policy, so check with the provider. If you’re planning to meet up with a friend from the US and road trip in their car, then they, as the car’s owner, might need to temporarily add you to their policy if you’ll be using it on a regular basis for an extended period of time.

Driving a car that you bought in the US

Many visitors to the US opt to purchase a car there for a road trip around the country. Some will sell the car before they head back home to the UK while others export their car back home at the end of their trip. In either case, you’ll need to register it in the US once it’s purchased.

Some states offer temporary registrations. In order to register your car, you’ll need to show proof of insurance, so temporary insurance might be a good option in this case. Alternatively, you can purchase a traditional insurance policy that allows you to cancel cover at any time without fees.

Driving a car-sharing vehicle

Travellers are no longer limited to the traditional, big-name car rental companies. Alternative car-sharing services are popping up all over the country. Most car-sharing vehicles will already be covered under an insurance policy, so you likely won’t be required to obtain insurance.

What kind of cover do I need?

Most states require a basic policy with minimum coverage levels that you’ll need to meet. You can then choose to add optional coverage that offers extra protection against all the other mishaps that might happen while on the road.

Basic coverage usually includes:

• Bodily injury liability. Covers injuries to another person in an at-fault accident including medical care, legal help and funeral costs
• Property damage liability. Covers damages to someone else’s property in an at-fault accident including repairs to vehicles, buildings or fences
• Personal injury protection. Covers health care after an accident regardless of fault, including ambulances, nursing care and lost income
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Covers costs caused by another driver if they have little to no insurance

Optional insurance coverage can include:

• Comprehensive. Ensures you’re covered for the expense of replacing or repairing your vehicle — regardless of fault — for damages that aren’t within your control, including fire, vandalism and flooding
• Medical payments. Helps you with your medical costs resulting from a car accident — no matter who’s at fault
• Collision. If you’re at fault in an accident, your liability insurance kicks in and pays for the other driver’s costs
• Umbrella. Protects you beyond the coverage offered by your insurance

What are the car insurance requirements in the USA?

Cover requirements vary by state, but most require you to have some amount of liability protection. For example, Florida requires all drivers to have US$10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and US$10,000 in property damage liability. However, in New York, the required coverage is far more extensive.

Check with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the particular state you’ll be driving in. If you’re renting a car as opposed to purchasing or borrowing a car, the rental agency can help you with insurance requirements.

What car insurance do backpackers need?

If you plan on backpacking around the country, one of the most cost-effective ways to see the US is to grab a cheap car and take out a temporary insurance policy. Many policy add-ons could be especially helpful to backpackers. Roadside assistance will come in handy when you’re in a remote location and run into car trouble. Consider adding comprehensive if you’re driving on rural roads that aren’t well maintained or have a high chance of animal encounters.

Your car insurance application typically asks for an address, so what address should you use if you’re travelling a lot or staying at campgrounds? You have a few options for setting up your nomadic address.

• You might be able to set up a PO box to collect your mail and use as your address.
• If an address with a PO box isn’t accepted, some mail forwarding services will give you a street address that still goes to your PO box but looks like a permanent address.
• Some RV clubs also offer mailboxes or mail forwarding services, so you can use your campground’s address.
• Check with your chosen insurer to find out how they handle address requirements. You don’t want to risk invalidating your policy if your insurer thinks you’ve falsified your address.

How do I apply for insurance?

In order to take out a policy from an insurance provider as opposed to a car rental company, you’ll need to meet specific eligibility requirements. Some states only require that you have a valid, unexpired UK driver’s licence.

Other states require an international driving permit (IDP) which must be obtained from Post Offices in the UK before you travel. Regardless, to be eligible for an IDP, you’ll need to meet the following:

• Hold a full UK driver’s licence
• Be aged 18 or over
• Be a permanent resident of the UK

If you’re opting to obtain insurance through a car rental company, they’re likely to handle it for you but it’s always worth checking.

Do I need the additional coverage offered by the rental company?

If you have a vehicle registered and insured in the USA, that coverage will typically extend to a rental car. Check with your provider to find out if this is the case for you, as well as how much coverage applies to the rental car. If you don’t have insurance on a vehicle in the US, you’ll need to get insurance through the rental company.

Licence requirements for visitors to the US

If you plan on driving while visiting the US, you’ll need a valid UK driver’s licence.

In some states, your valid, unexpired UK driver’s licence is sufficient. Other states will require you to carry an international driving permit (IDP). Check with the DMV of each state you’ll be driving in to find out its requirements.

In either case, an IDP can be helpful. IDPs must be obtained in the same country that your driver’s licence was issued, and you must carry both the IDP and your UK driver’s licence. IDPs are valid for one year.

7 tips for UK drivers driving in the USA

For a smoother trip, there are a few things to keep in mind about road safety in the USA.

1. Keep right. Drivers must drive on the right side of the road. Additionally, if there’s more than one lane driving in your direction, slower traffic should stay to the right.
2. Buckle up. Most states require front seat passengers to wear their seat belts at all times. Some states require all occupants to wear their seat belts.
3. Use child safety seats. All children in the US must be safely secured with a child seat or seatbelt. As a general rule, babies and small children are not allowed to sit in the front seat, and children under eight must be in a car seat or booster seat unless they’re over 4’9″ or weigh more than 40 pounds.
4. Don’t drink and drive. US police officers are vigilant about cracking down on drunk drivers. Most states have a blood alcohol limit of 0.08.
5. Watch for red light cameras. If you go through a red light, you might receive a fine in the mail.
6. Know how to use four-way stops. When coming to a four-way stop — an intersection with four stop signs – the car that arrives and comes to a complete stop first can proceed through the intersection first. If two cars come to a stop at the same time, the driver to the right has the right of way.
7. Right turns at a red light. In many states, you can turn right at a red light if you’ve come to a complete stop, there’s no oncoming traffic and there’s no sign indicating no turn on red.

Bottom line

Most states in the US require some amount of car insurance coverage. How you go about obtaining a policy will depend on whether you’re renting a car, borrowing a friend’s or buying one to use on your trip. Check with the DMV in the particular states you’ll be driving in to find out what’s expected of you in terms of coverage amounts and driving permits.

Compare car insurance coverage to learn more about how car insurance works in the US and to get the best cover.

Common questions about driving in the US

• How much insurance should I take out while travelling in the US?

  Each state requires at least liability. However, this only covers damage you cause to another car or person – not you or your car. Keep this in mind when deciding how much coverage to get.

• WiIl my insurance policy in my home country cover me in the US?

  It’s highly unlikely, but check with your provider to be sure. A few insurers might operate in the US but your policy won’t automatically cover you for international driving.

• Is my UK driver's licence valid in the US?

  Each state has its own regulations. Depending on the state you’ll be driving in, your UK licence might be valid. However, some US states require an international driving permit (IDP). If you’ll be backpacking through several states, getting an IDP would be your best option.