License and documents checker
If your driving history started outside the United States, or you have never had a policy here, you will hear a lot of guesses about what that means for insurance. Here is what California's own rules say. Choose your situation.
Your situation
Three rules worth knowing
- Years abroad count. The third required rating factor, years of driving experience, is measured as the years you have been licensed to drive in any jurisdiction (10 CCR 2632.5(c)(3)).
- The Good Driver discount has a foreign-license rule. A driver whose history comes from outside the U.S. or Canada is presumed to qualify after 18 months licensed in the U.S. or Canada with a qualifying record for that period (Insurance Code 1861.025(d)).
- No prior insurance is not a strike against you. Its absence, by itself, cannot be used for rates, premiums or insurability (Insurance Code 1861.02(c)).
The DMV's AB 60 page explains how to apply for a license if you cannot provide proof of legal presence.
Sources (official)
- California DMV — AB 60 driver's licenses
- California Code of Regulations, title 10, section 2632.5(c)(3) (years licensed in any jurisdiction)
- California Insurance Code section 1861.025(d) (Good Driver with a license from another country)
- California Insurance Code section 1861.02(c) (no prior coverage)
This explains the rules that apply to every California insurer. Which companies will quote a particular license, and which identity documents each asks for, varies by company — a licensed broker can tell you which ones fit your situation.
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What is an AB 60 driver's license?
A California driver's license for people who cannot provide proof of legal presence in the United States but meet DMV requirements and can prove their identity and California residency (California DMV).
Do my years of driving in another country count for insurance in California?
Years of driving experience is measured as the years you have been licensed in any jurisdiction (10 CCR 2632.5(c)(3)). For the Good Driver discount, a driver whose experience comes from outside the U.S. or Canada is presumed qualified after 18 months licensed in the U.S. or Canada with a qualifying record (Insurance Code section 1861.025(d)).
Can I get car insurance in California if I never had insurance before?
Yes. The absence of prior automobile insurance coverage, by itself, cannot be a criterion for rates, premiums or insurability (Insurance Code section 1861.02(c)).
Is an ITIN the same as a driver's license?
No. An ITIN is a tax identification number; it does not let you drive. To drive you need a valid driver's license, such as a California license, including an AB 60 license.