Published: October 6, 2022Last updated: December 9, 2022

Getting Car Insurance When Moving From Canada to the US

A guide for expatriates seeking insurance in the US

Table of Contents

How to Get Car Insurance When You Move to the US
Will Your Rates Go Up?
Can Canadians Drive in the US Legally?
Car Insurance in Canada vs. the US
Can You Buy a Car in the U.S. With a Canadian License?
Bottom Line
Frequently Asked Questions

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Get car insurance in your new state.

Let our Perfect Policy Connectors do the work for you!

(855) 930-3196 Request a Callback.

Aliza VigdermanDirector of Content

So, you’ve applied for a visa, got a Social Security number, and are ready to move to the United States. But what happens with your Canadian car insurance?

Your foreign auto insurance won’t be valid in the U.S. beyond the first six months of a tourist visa, so you’ll need to obtain a U.S. driver’s license and American car insurance. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about transferring your home country’s car insurance to an American insurance company.

How to Get Car Insurance When You Move to the US

Yellow car next to insurance policy

Apply for a visa: You’ll need a visa to live in the U.S.¹ Find out which type of visa you need, complete the forms, and submit your application to the United States Department of State.
Open a bank account and get a credit card: To establish credit, apply for a credit card and open a U.S. bank account.
Establish residency: States have different requirements for how long you have to live in a place to be considered a “resident.” But typically, only residents are required to get U.S. driver’s licenses in their new state.
Get a U.S. license: The process for getting a U.S. license differs depending on which state you’re moving to. Here is some basic information for each state.

State	How long you have after moving to transfer your license	Required documents	Fees
Alabama	30 days	Social Security card Either resident alien card or valid Canadian passport with valid U.S. immigration document Proof of school enrollment/graduation (if under 19) 2 forms of proof for principal residence – utility bill, voter registration card, etc. Employment authorization document Valid visa and supporting documents Valid I-94 arrival/departure record Original I-797 that shows approval of change of status, extension of stay, or timely filing of an extension petition	License: $36.25 Transfer: $5
Alaska	90 days	Canadian driver’s license Proof of legal name, birth date, current address, and Social Security number	Road test: $15
Arizona	Immediately	Proof of identification, age, and authorized presence	License: Ages 16-39: $25 Ages 40-44: $20 Ages 45-49: $15 Age 50 and older, 5 years: $10 Limited license (military or students): $10 Skill test: $15 Vision screening: $5
Arkansas	30 days	Proof of legal presence, identity, and AR residency	License: $40
California	10 days	Proof of identity, residency documents	Application fee (amount not listed)
Colorado	30 days	Identification documents	N/A
Connecticut	30 days	Old license Application for license; proof of Identification	Application: $40 License: $84
Delaware	60 days	Old license Copy of driving record Proof of legal presence 2 forms of proof for DE residency	Motorcycle endorsement: $12
District of Columbia	30 days	Proof of identity Social Security number Proof of current Washington, D.C. residency Proof of legal presence Unexpired out-of-country license	Knowledge test: $10 License: $47
Florida	30 days	Primary identification Proof of Social Security identification Proof of residential address (2 documents)	License: $48
Georgia	30 days	Proof of identity, residential address, and lawful status in the U.S.	License: $32
Hawaii	1 year	License application Old license Social Security card Proof of legal presence in the U.S. 2 documents proving residence address	Application: $4 Written test: $1 Road test: $10
Idaho	90 days	Proof of Idaho residency, age, and identity	License: Age 17, 1 year: $20 Under 18, 3 years: $30 Ages 18-21, 3 years: $30 Age 20, 1 year: $20 Ages 21 and older, 4 years: $35 Ages 21-62, 8 years: $60 Knowledge test: $5 Skills test: $35
Illinois	90 days	Proof of legal name, birth date, lawful status, Social Security number, and residency	Basic driver’s license: $30 Ages 18-20: $5 Ages 21-68: $30 Ages 69-80: $5 Ages 87 and older: $0
Indiana	60 days	Proof of identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and 2 forms of proof for IN residency	Under 75: $17.50 75-85: $11 85 and over: $7
Iowa	Not listed	Proof of identity, residence, and Social Security number	License: $4
Kansas	90 days	Proof of lawful presence, Social Security number, 2 forms of proof for KS residence, and proof of legal name	License: $16-$24, depending on age and license type
Kentucky	1 year	Proof of identity, Social Security number, residency, and clearance letter or operator’s license from Canada	License, 4 years: $21.50 License, 8 years: $43
Louisiana	30 days	Social Security number, proof of residency, old license, primary document (foreign passport, I-571, etc), etc.	License: 69 and younger: $32.25 License: 70 and older: $18.75 Service fee at some field offices: $6 maximum
Maine	30 days	Proof of legal presence in U.S, residency, Social Security number	Application: $35 License: $30
Maryland	60 days	Proof of age, identity, 2 forms of proof for MD residence, lawful status, letter of ineligibility for Social Security number	License: $50
Massachusetts	Must be more than 12 months after moving	Driving record (maximum 30 days old) Proof of valid immigration status	License: $115
Michigan	Can use foreign license as long as it’s in English or has a written English translation with it	N/A	N/A
Minnesota	60 days	Proof of legal first name and birth date, previous license	Class A, regular: $50.25 Class A, under 21: $30.25
Mississippi	60 days	Official immigration documents Application Original birth certificate Social Security card or proof 2 forms of proof for residency	License: $24
Missouri	30 days for commercial licenses Not listed for non-commercial licenses	Proof of identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Missouri residency	License: $26-$52, depending on license type, age, and length of license
Montana	60 days	Proof of name, date of birth, authorized presence, Social Security number, and 2 forms of proof for residency	License: $5.67- $57.17, depending on age
Nebraska	30 days	Proof of lawful status, name, date of birth, and identity, 2 forms of proof for NE principal address, Social Security number	License: 1 year or less: $10 1-2 years: $15 2-3 years: $19 3-4 years: $24 5 years: $29
Nevada	30 days	Proof of identity, Social Security number, 2 forms of proof for residency, existing license	Knowledge and skills test: $25 License: $17.25-$42.25, depending on age, type of license, and length
New Hampshire	60 days	Social Security card and proof of legal residence Valid Canadian license Proof of New Hampshire residency	License: $10 per year, for up to 5 years
New Jersey	60 days	Proof of identification, original title, insurance information, completed applications	Transfer title fee: $60-$110, depending on vehicle financing Registration fee: $35.50- $84, depending on vehicle weight class and model year
New Mexico	Not listed	Proof of identity and age, 2 forms of proof for NM residency, proof of lawful status	License, 4 years: $18 License, 8 years: $34
New York	Only needed if you become a New York resident	Social Security card, proof of name, birth date, and NY residence	License: $64.25- $102.50, depending on age and license class
North Carolina	60 days	Old license Proof of identity, date of birth, Social Security number, physical address in NC, legal presence/lawful status, liability insurance coverage in NC	N/A
North Dakota	60 days	Proof of ND residency, identity, and lawful presence	Knowledge test: $5 per attempt Permit: $15 Road test: $5 Transfer fee: $15
Ohio	30 days	Valid green card, Social Security card if assigned, and proof of Ohio residency	License: Ages 21 or older, 4 years: $24.50 Ages 21 or older, 8 years: $48 Age 20, 4 years: $20.75 Age 19, 4 years: $22 Age 18, 4 years: $23.25 Age 17, 4 years: $24.50 Age 16, 4 years: $25.75
Oklahoma	Not listed	Foreign passport, I-94 card	License: $38.50-$56.50, depending on type of license
Oregon	30 days	Proof of residence, identity	$60
Pennsylvania	1 year	Proof of identity, residency, Social Security card	License, 4 years: $30.50 License, 2 years (age 65 and older): $20
Rhode Island	30 days	Current license or driving record, Social Security number, 2 forms of proof for RI residency, I-20 and I-94, passport	License: $39.50
South Carolina	45 days to transfer vehicle title and registration	Proof of SC address, identity, data and place of birth, authorized length of stay in U.S.	If license is valid for more than 4 years: $25 If license is valid for less than 4 years: $12.50
South Dakota	90 days	Proof of lawful status, Social Security number, 2 forms of proof for residential address	License: $28
Tennessee	30 days	Current license, copy of driving record or other ID, proof of lawful status, 2 forms of proof for TN residency, proof of full Social Security number	License: $8-$55, depending on license period, class, and age
Texas	90 days	Proof of identity, residency, lawful presence, Social Security number, Texas vehicle registration, and proof of insurance	License: Under 18: $16 Ages 18-84: $33 Ages 85 and older: $9
Utah	As soon as you’re a Utah resident (within 6 months of living in the state)	Proof of a prior license, UT residence, identity, full Social Security number, and lawful presence	License: $52
Vermont	1 year	Proof of identity, date of birth, Social Security number, VT residency, lawful status	2-year license: $32 4-year license: $51 Road test: $19
Virginia	Do not need to exchange license; can use valid Canadian license	Proof of identity, residency	N/A
Washington	30 days	Proof of lawful presence, identity, name, date of birth, photo, Social Security number	License, 5 years: $80 License, 6 years: $89 Knowledge test: varies by location Driving test: varies by location
West Virginia	30 days	1 proof of identity, 1 proof of Social Security number, 2 forms of proof for WV residency that include name and address	Class E: $5 per year Class F: $2.50 per year
Wisconsin	1 year	Proof of legal status, name, date of birth, identity, 2 forms of proof for WI residency	Class D, 8 year: $34 Skills exam: $15
Wyoming	1 year	Proof of identity, 2 forms of proof for current WY residency, proof of Social Security number recommended but not required	Class C: $45

Research your state’s minimum coverage: Each state has different minimum coverage to drive in the U.S. The reasons why prices vary by state are due to the different requirements.
Compare providers: Once you have a valid U.S. license, you can shop for car insurance and get quotes from multiple providers using the same information with each insurer so you can accurately compare rates.

Will Your Rates Go Up?

When you change car insurance for a move from Canada to the U.S., your rates may or may not go up; it all depends on your driver profile, where you lived in Canada, and where you’re moving to in the U.S. Take a look at the average rates in Canada by province.

Province	Average annual cost of car insurance in 2019 (low to high)
Quebec	$717
Prince Edward Island	$816
New Brunswick	$867
Nova Scotia	$891
Manitoba	$1,080
Newfoundland and Labrador	$1,168
Saskatchewan	$1,235
Alberta	$1,316
Ontario	$1,505
British Columbia	$1,832

You might’ve paid anywhere from $717 to $1,832 for car insurance in Canada, with an average of $1,143 across all provinces. Here are the average annual costs in the U.S. for comparison.

State	Average annual cost of car insurance in 2019 (low to high)
Maine	$696.37
North Dakota	$703.73
Iowa	$714.86
Idaho	$738.10
North Carolina	$741.70
South Dakota	$745.33
Wisconsin	$767.42
Wyoming	$776.22
Indiana	$777.05
Vermont	$785.37
Ohio	$802.72
Nebraska	$807.30
Kansas	$818.99
Montana	$834.86
Hawaii	$839.87
Virginia	$861.18
Tennessee	$863.39
New Hampshire	$864.35
Minnesota	$892.17
Arkansas	$897.92
Oklahoma	$908.95
Missouri	$929.91
Alabama	$932.14
New Mexico	$932.67
Kentucky	$935.61
Illinois	$939.64
West Virginia	$946.03
Utah	$954.14
Mississippi	$975.58
Oregon	$990.00
Alaska	$991.09
Pennsylvania	$992.33
California	$1,051.79
Arizona	$1,063.93
Washington	$1,066.84
South Carolina	$1,114.90
Texas	$1,143.85
Colorado	$1,174.87
Massachusetts	$1,182.69
Maryland	$1,236.61
Connecticut	$1,237.55
Georgia	$1,259.49
District of Columbia	$1,289.93
Nevada	$1,292.52
Rhode Island	$1,382.64
New Jersey	$1,395.53
Florida	$1,414.17
Delaware	$1,440.58
New York	$1,445.30
Michigan	$1,495.94
Louisiana	$1,557.22²

The average cost of car insurance across the U.S. is $1,070.47, ranging from $696.37 in Maine to more than $1,550 in Louisiana. So while you could save money if you move from British Columbia to the U.S., if you move from Quebec to Michigan, for example, it’s likely you’ll pay more.

Blue car and stack of money in front of graph with arrow going up

Can Canadians Drive in the US Legally?

You can drive legally in the U.S. for six months as a tourist with a Canadian license. However, things change once you’ve established residency. Depending on the state and how long you’ve been a resident there, you may or may not be able to drive legally in the U.S. with a Canadian driver’s license. However, to get U.S. car insurance, you’ll need a valid U.S. license.

Car Insurance in Canada vs. the US

Car insurance	U.S.	Canada
Car insurance/proof of financial responsibility required	Yes	Yes
Must show proof of insurance whenever it’s requested	Yes	Yes
Combination of fault vs. no-fault laws	Yes	Yes
Federal or state/province car insurance requirements	State	Federal
Who pays no-fault claims	Insurers	Government
What happens if you don’t pay your insurance bill	Lose coverage	Lose coverage and registration automatically
What residents call insurance ID cards	Proof of insurance	Pink cards or Canadian Interprovincial Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Cards

Can You Buy a Car in the U.S. With a Canadian License?

You can buy a car in the U.S. with a Canadian license. However, you may run into issues if you want to get the vehicle registered or insured. This is because it typically requires a valid U.S. driver’s license and proof of insurance. To get a license, you’ll need proof of U.S. residency, which differs by state.³

Blue car and yellow car in front of person holding driver license

FYI:

If you’re an American citizen driving in Canada, you can drive for six months without filing any paperwork. Your car insurance will cover you with the same liabilities and limits as it normally would during this time period, provided you have tourist status.⁴

Bottom Line

Moving countries is even more stressful than moving states, but with some careful planning, you’ll be driving in the U.S. in no time — while also following the letter of the law. Learn more in our auto insurance FAQs below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you insure a Canadian car in America?

Yes, you can insure a Canadian car in America with a U.S. car insurance provider, provided you have a valid U.S. driver’s license.

Can Canadians buy and insure cars in Florida?

As long as they have a U.S. driver’s license, then yes, Canadians can buy and insure cars in Florida.

Can you buy a car in the US if you live in Canada?

You can buy a car in the U.S. if you live in Canada, but it would require a U.S. driver’s license and insurance policy. Most states require proof of residence for a license, so you’d need to have a U.S. residence in addition to your Canadian residence.

Can I have a Canadian and Florida driver’s license?

Yes, technically, you can have both a Canadian and a Floridian driver’s license if you have valid proof of residency in both places.

Citations

U.S. Visas. U.S. Department of State. (2022).
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html
2018/2019 Auto Insurance Database Report. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (2022).
https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf
Can I Get U.S. Auto Insurance With a Canadian License? The Detroit Bureau. (2021, June 14).
https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/guides/insurance/can-i-get-us-auto-insurance-with-a-canadian-license/
Commercial Drivers License Reciprocity With Canada, Notice and Technical Amendment to Part 383. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (2022).
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/international-programs/commercial-drivers-license-reciprocity-canada-notice-and-technical-amendment