How to Get Car Insurance for Exchange Student

Exchange students usually visit the U.S. from 6 to 9 months and might want to drive a car which requires insurance. Foreign nationals can carry an International Driving Permit for a maximum of 1 year from the date of entry into the U.S. Exchange students can also use this permit to get car insurance.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• International Driving Permit issued by your home country
• Valid J-1 visa

1. Check your university brochure. If you come to the U.S. on a J-1 visa (given to exchange students) and want to drive a car, you need to bring an International Driving Permit. Your university will give you a comprehensive insurance policy to register and drive a car.

2. Rent a car if you'd like to drive once in a while. Renting a car is easy with an International Driving Permit. You can either get a non-owner's insurance policy from a local insurance agent or insurance available from the car rental itself.

3. Call for quotes and shop for the best rates on a non-owner's policy. You may not have an established driving history, so your premium is likely to be higher.

4. Get a guardian through your university’s exchange student adoption program. Check the availability of a guardian with your exchange program coordinator. You can then add your name to their existing insurance policy temporarily and pay them for the difference in their premium.

Tips & Warnings

• The length of your stay will probably be limited, so it may be smart not to own a car. As an alternative, you can rent a car or get your name added to a local guardian’s insurance policy. This will be cheaper than buying and insuring a used car. But the cost of renting a car will add up after three months. For a time period of that length, being insured on your local guardian’s policy is best.