Car Ownership for Undocumented Immigrants and DACA Grantees

Buying a new car? In all states that require car insurance, i.e., 48 states plus Washington, D.C., you’ll need insurance before you can drive your vehicle off the lot. You’ll also need a car registration and license plates.

However, you don’t necessarily need a license to get auto insurance, as you’ll see below.

Auto insurance for undocumented immigrants is a bit more complicated than it is for U.S. citizens, especially if you don’t have a license. However, you can get car insurance without a license through the following methods:

• You list yourself as excluded from your insurance policy, meaning it won’t cover you and you can’t drive the car.
• You list someone who is a licensed driver.
• You have a co-owner who is a licensed driver.

Of course, without a driver’s license, you can’t legally drive in the U.S. This means that if you’re driving without a license, car insurance won’t cover you in the event of an accident or other vehicle-related incidents.

What to Do If You Can’t Afford Insurance

If the problem isn’t your lack of documentation but a lack of funds, some states offer programs to help low-income residents get auto insurance. For example, in California, where car insurance is expensive, the state has a Low Cost Auto Insurance Program that provides liability insurance at low rates for eligible families. To qualify, you must:

• Have the following items: a valid California driver’s license; current vehicle registration; an initial deposit for payment; proof of income level, Social Security, and welfare benefits, among other things.
• Be at least 16 years of age
• Have a good driving record or be a new driver, such as a teen driver
• Own a vehicle with a maximum value of $25,000
• Meet the income requirements listed below¹

Check your state’s official website to find out if there’s a similar program that can help you find cheap auto insurance.

If you’re an undocumented immigrant, you can get a driver’s license in 18 states and Washington, D.C.² Check below to see whether or not you’ll be able to get a license, as an undocumented immigrant, in your state (including Washington, D.C.).

What to Do in All Other States

If you live in a state that doesn’t allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses, you can get one through DACA in every state except Arizona and Nebraska.³

What Is DACA?

DACA is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects eligible undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. when they were children from being deported for a two-year period. It also provides these immigrants with work authorization.

Who Is Eligible?

The criteria for DACA eligibility are as follows.

• Age: You must have been under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012.
• When you came to the U.S.: You must have arrived in the U.S. before you turned 16.
• How long you’ve lived in the U.S.: You must have lived in the U.S. from June 15, 2007, to the present day.
• Your current location: You must be in the U.S. at the time you request deferred action.
• Your lawful status: You must not have been a legal immigrant on June 15, 2012, or someone whose immigration status has expired.
• Education or military service: You must either be in school currently, have graduated or completed high school or received your GED, or be an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces.
• Criminal history: You must not have any past convictions of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors. You must also not pose a public safety or national security threat.⁴

If all goes well, you’ll join the 91 percent of Americans who own cars, even as a DACA grantee or undocumented citizen. If you’re unable to get a license or insurance, consider using other forms of transportation, like ridesharing and public transit. Learn more about car ownership for undocumented immigrants below.