Auto Insurance for the Homeless (2024)
People experiencing homelessness can get car insurance that meets state requirements. Most insurance companies require a permanent address when applying for coverage to determine risk, but you may be able to use a temporary address or P.O. Box to get affordable auto insurance for the homeless.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Sep 18, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Sep 18, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Obtaining car insurance without a permanent address is difficult but not impossible
- There are a few strategies you can try to get car insurance if you are currently homeless
- Insurance companies have several good reasons for requiring a permanent address, including risk assessment
You can get a driver’s license without a physical address, but what about insurance? Can you get car insurance without a permanent address? The answer depends on your exact situation and the insurance company’s policies.
Most insurers require you to provide a temporary address, and many companies will deny coverage if you live out of your vehicle. From a consumer’s perspective, insurers’ permanent address requirements may seem discriminatory. However, there are several reasons why car insurance companies check your address.
That doesn’t mean finding auto insurance for the homeless is impossible. There are many ways to get the affordable car insurance you need, so keep reading to learn how to register a vehicle without a permanent address and compare auto insurance quotes to get the lowest rates possible.
How to Register a Vehicle Without a Permanent Address
Regardless of your housing situation, if you own a vehicle, you must register it in the state you drive it in. If you do not register it, you cannot legally drive it on public roadways or park it in public parking spaces.
To register a vehicle and obtain a title, you must complete the entire registration application, which includes a field for an address. Every DMV across the country requires vehicle owners to provide an address, as they need a place to mail registration, parking tickets, and other documents. Use our guide to vehicle registration fees by state to find out how much it costs to register a car where you live.
If you are experiencing homelessness or between residences, filling out the application in its entirety may prove difficult. However, it is not impossible.
Depending on state laws, you may be able to use a P.O. box for your mailing address, but you won’t be able to use it as your residence. Now, if your state’s laws prohibit this, you may be able to ask a friend or family member if you can use his or her address.
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How to Buy Auto Insurance Without a Permanent Address
Once you register a vehicle in a state, you must abide by the state’s car insurance requirements. This is the case regardless of your residency. If you violate a state’s car insurance requirements, an officer may cite you and possibly impound your vehicle.
To prevent either of these outcomes and to avoid other costly consequences, it is crucial that you figure out how to insure your vehicle regardless of your living situation.
Using a Temporary Address
The best and most efficient way to get car insurance without a permanent address is to ask a friend or family member if you can use his or her address while you are between residences. Explain that you need an address to which the insurer can mail important documents, such as proof of insurance, invoices, and the like.
Ideally, the address you use will be one you stay at regularly or one at which you were living when you first registered your vehicle. When you do get your own place, update your address with both the DMV and insurer right away.
Some people consider listing a hotel address as their place of residence. Experts advise against doing this. A hotel address indicates to insurers that your residency is temporary. Insurers do not like temporary residents, and you will likely be denied coverage as a result.
Using a P.O. Box
In some states, it is possible to register a vehicle with a P.O. box. However, no insurer will insure an applicant who only provides a P.O. Box as an address. While you can use a P.O. box as an acceptable mailing address, insurers want to see that you have a physical address as well.
How to Get Auto Insurance When You Live Out of Your Vehicle
Say you live in your vehicle — can you get car insurance then? Unfortunately, if you state on your insurance application that you live out of your car, your chances of receiving a denial are almost 100%.
In the eyes of auto insurers, people who live in their cars pose considerably more risk than those who live in actual homes.
The risk of damage goes up the more a person uses a car for his or her “home.” This is because the vehicles of people experiencing homelessness are more likely to be parked in risky locations and become subjects of vandalism, sustaining considerable damage.Zach Fagiano Licensed Insurance Broker
That said, even if you face several hurdles on your path to obtaining car insurance, you must prevail. You are a vehicle owner regardless of your housing situation and, as such, must comply with state auto insurance laws.
You can always list a friend or family member’s address on your car insurance application if such action is legal in your state. If you plan to do so, try to always park your vehicle at this location when you are not using it. If you do not, and if the insurer discovers that you do not live at the listed address, it may deny or drop your coverage. If you file a claim, the company may deny your claim on the basis of a fraudulent application.
Why Auto Insurance for the Homeless Needs a Permanent Address
For one, insurers use applicants’ permanent addresses to assess risk. They pull up information regarding listed ZIP codes to determine the cost of coverage — or even if they want to insure certain drivers at all. Companies look at local:
- Accident data
- Vandalism statistics
- Weather hazards
Insurers also consider where and how applicants park their vehicles at night. Does a driver park on a public street, where it is constantly subject to the whims of other drivers, or a private garage, where it is safe from hazards at least eight out of the 24 hours a day? Insurers also use residency as a means of determining applicants’ individual levels of risk.
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How to Get Auto Insurance for the Homeless
Whether you are between residences, chose the nomadic lifestyle, or found yourself without a permanent residence due to life circumstances, you still need auto insurance if you own a vehicle. Though your journey to obtaining coverage may be more complicated than if you had a permanent physical address, obtaining auto insurance coverage is possible.
Using a P.O. Box or temporary address can get you covered while you’re in between residences, just be sure to update your insurance policy if you move or find a permanent address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get auto insurance without a permanent address?
Homeless individuals can generally obtain auto insurance, provided they meet the necessary requirements and criteria set by insurance companies. Being homeless does not necessarily disqualify someone from purchasing auto insurance.
What do you do if you don’t have a street address?
You can apply for a P.O. Box, which can act as an address to receive important mail and documents, but be aware that some insurance companies may not accept a P.O. Box as a permanent address when you apply for coverage.
Why do insurance companies ask for your address?
Insurers need your address to mail important insurance documents and traffic citations. Companies also use your address to determine the risk of theft and auto accidents in your neighborhood and if they should charge higher rates.
How do auto insurance companies know where you live?
Insurance companies verify your address by checking your driver’s license, utility bills, or using third-party databases to search driver profiles.
How can homeless individuals provide a permanent address for auto insurance?
Some insurance companies may accept alternative addresses, such as a shelter, a friend or family member’s address, or a post office box. It’s best to inquire with the insurance company about their specific requirements regarding addresses for homeless individuals.
Does your address make a difference when insuring a car?
Being homeless itself may not directly affect auto insurance premiums. However, individual circumstances and the absence of a permanent address may influence the auto insurance quotes offered by different companies
Which four factors most often affect the cost of auto insurance for the homeless?
Premiums are usually determined based on factors such as driving record, age, type of vehicle, and location.
Is auto insurance more expensive depending on where you live?
Auto insurance rates vary from city to city depending on the population, traffic, auto accidents, and theft rates.
Are there any benefits or assistance programs available to help pay for auto insurance for the homeless?
Depending on the jurisdiction and specific circumstances, there may be government assistance programs or nonprofit organizations that can help homeless individuals with obtaining auto insurance. It’s recommended to research local resources or contact social service agencies for information on available assistance programs.
Who normally has the cheapest auto insurance for the homeless?
Geico consistently offers the lowest car insurance rates to most drivers in all 50 states, but you should compare quotes online to find the most affordable auto insurance company near you.
What are three factors that lower the cost of auto insurance for the homeless?
Avoiding claims and accidents, driving an older vehicle, and driving less than 10,000 miles per year will help keep auto insurance rates as low as possible.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.