Can You Get Car Insurance without an Address?

Name: Houston zip codes sample rates
Creator: The Zebra

If car insurance is priced based on your ZIP code, can you get a policy without an address?

Why you can trust The Zebra

The Zebra partners with some of the companies we write about. However, our content is written and reviewed by an independent team of editors and licensed agents. Reference our data methodology and learn more about how we make money.

By Ava Lynch

Updated April 8, 2024

Reviewed By Jean Lucey, CPCU

Edited By Renata Balasco

Car insurance without an address

If you do not have a permanent address, obtaining car insurance coverage can be tricky. Your location is relied upon by car insurance companies as a major rating factor, as it allows them to gauge the risks posed by the area in which you drive most often: the density, number of traffic incidents, and weather can all contribute to this calculation. Without a fixed address, insurance companies can deem you overly risky, and ultimately uninsurable. Let’s explore further why your address is important and how you can find reasonably priced auto insurance.

Table of contents:

What does an address tell an insurance company?
How can you get car insurance without an address?
FAQs
Additional resources

Why is your address important for car insurance?

Some consumers feel it is discriminatory to include permanent address as a requirement of obtaining insurance. From an insurance company's perspective, their reliance on this data point has to do with assessing risk.

An insurance company will use previous claims and population information for your ZIP code to price your policy. Without a fixed location the vehicle, it’s difficult for an insurance company to predict the kind of risk to which they'll be exposed.

See below the difference between two ZIP codes in Houston, Texas. Even though ZIP code is the only unique factor between the two auto insurance applicants, there’s a difference of nearly $300 in car insurance rates.

ZIP Code	Avg. Annual Premium
77339	$2,116
77201	$2,507

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.

The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.

For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.

How to get car insurance without an address

Your ability to get an auto insurance quote without a permanent address depends on a few considerations. If you’re temporarily without an address because you’re waiting to move into a new apartment or home, you still should be able to get coverage tailored to your new residence.

If you’re living temporarily with a friend, you can try to get an insurance policy for the address of your friend. Because that’s where the vehicle will be parked, that counts as your listed address. Once you move to your permanent home, you should update this address.

Homeless car insurance

In order to register your vehicle in many US states, you’ll need proof of insurance coverage. If you’re homeless or living in your vehicle, car insurance can be tough to get. From an insurance company's perspective, a client living in their vehicle poses considerable risk. If you’re homeless and in need of car insurance, keep your vehicle at a friend’s house and use that address for your quote. It's critical that you park the vehicle at this location when it’s not in use.

In the event your insurer discovers you’re not keeping the vehicle at the listed address, they can drop your coverage or deny coverage in the event of a claim.

Decide which car insurance policy is right for you.

Frequently asked questions

Individual circumstances surrounding auto insurance without an address may vary. Consult our FAQs for additional information on getting car insurance quotes without a permanent address.

I am between homes right now and living in a hotel. My insurance agent canceled my policy and I need to get a new policy. Do I have to wait until I move into my new apartment before I can buy one?

This can be tricky until you’re living in your new place. Just like your driving record or credit score, your address is a major insurance rating factor. Without a permanent address, an insurance company may view you as a liability. If you are only living in a location temporarily, and the insurance company is aware of that, they won’t issue a policy because of what they call a “transient risk." Since there is no lease or rental agreement where you are currently staying, there is nothing keeping you in that location for an extended period of time. This creates too much risk for the insurance company to issue a policy. If you plan on moving into your new place within 30 days, most insurance companies will allow you to use that address to start a policy before you actually move in. If that doesn’t work, wait until you have signed your lease agreement.

Is it discriminatory not to allow someone to get an insurance policy without an address? Not having an address should not stop a person from driving. Being homeless is not a crime.

Although it’s frustrating, it's not considered discriminatory or illegal for car insurance companies to price policies using a home address. Car insurance companies rely on location as a primary rating factor, assessing the number of accidents in the area, the location's crime rate, and even the average cost of the vehicles in the immediate area. Many car insurance companies do not want to cover a vehicle being used as a home, as it could increase the likelihood of a claims payout. Frustration is understandable, but insurance providers base their business models on projecting risk.

I am moving out of state and need to register my vehicle but I don’t have an address yet. How do I get registered and find car insurance without an address?

This depends on which state you’re moving to. States may allow a grace period for registration — 30 days, in many cases. Check with your new state’s motor vehicle department or DMV (and don't forget to update your driver's license). Find your residence in your new state before shopping for auto insurance. Because you’re moving out of state, you’ll need an entirely new policy to match your new state’s insurance laws. After you have the proper insurance, you can register your vehicle.

Make an informed decision: compare insurance rates today.

RECENT QUESTIONS

Other people are also asking...

What's the difference between an insurance carrier and an insurance agency?

Great question! The word "carrier" in terms of insurance is just a synonym for company. An insurance carrier is the insurance company that covers your vehicle and is listed on your policy (e.g. Allstate, State Farm, etc.). An insurance "agency" is a business that sells insurance…

Apr 15, 2016 Boise, ID

Do I buy a car first or insurance first?

This can be a bit confusing your first time around so I should be able to help. Your best bet is to first determine which vehicle you will be purchasing. From there you can get a quote on that specific vehicle to know what rate you will be paying on your insurance. After that you will purchase the …

Feb 23, 2016 Nashville, TN

Is there a way to get car insurance quotes without having a car first?

You don't have to physically own or possess a vehicle to get a car insurance quote, but you will at least need a year, make, and model of a vehicle you're interested in purchasing to get a quote.The great thing about The Zebra is that it's easy to compare quotes for any vehicle you m…

Oct 24, 2016 Southfield, MI

Do I need to unfreeze my credit to get a quote?

You should be able to get preliminary rates with your credit still frozen. However, in order to run all of the reports (credit, claims history, violation history, etc.) and finalize your auto insurance rates, many carriers will require a credit check which would require you to unfreeze your credit.…

Jul 22, 2022 Atlanta, GA

Browse All Questions Ask a Question

About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.