Cheap Auto Insurance When Homeless in 2024 (Save With These 10 Companies!)

Erie, AAA, and Allstate offer low rates on cheap auto insurance when homeless, with Erie offering the lowest rates possible.

There are also plenty of other cheapest auto insurance companies for homeless car insurance, which we have listed below.

Our Top 10 Company Picks: Cheap Auto Insurance When Homeless

Our guide goes over why these companies are the best and how to get car insurance without a permanent address. Want to find affordable rates today? Compare auto insurance rates with our free quote comparison tool.

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#1 – Erie: Top Pick Overall

Pros

• Flexible Policies: Erie’s policies are flexible, letting customers pick coverage and deductible limits. Read more in our review of Erie.
• Rate Lock: Erie offers a rate lock program, which means rates won’t be raised unless there is a driver, vehicle, or address change.
• Accident Forgiveness: Erie’s accident forgiveness is a great perk for safe drivers.

Cons

• UBI Program Discounts: Erie’s UBI program doesn’t offer a discount on auto insurance but instead offers gift card rewards.
• State Availability: Erie insurance isn’t available nationwide.

#2 – AAA: Best for Roadside Assistance

Pros

• Roadside Assistance: AAA’s roadside assistance is one of the best roadside assistance programs on the market. You can learn more in our review of AAA.
• Non-Auto Insurance Discounts: While AAA offers plenty of auto insurance discounts, it also offers discounts on shopping and travel.
• Coverage Options: AAA coverages can be added or dropped to fit a customer’s budget.

Cons

• UBI Program Varies: Because different clubs sell AAA auto insurance, the UBI programs and discounts vary from club to club.
• Member Fee: AAA auto insurance holders must also purchase an AAA membership, which is often under $100 a year.

#3 – Allstate: Best for Special Discounts

Pro

• Special Discounts: Allstate offers discounts for vehicle safety features, good grades, payment in full, and much more.
• Local Agents: Allstate has numerous agents across the country, so there is a good chance there is an agent nearby who can provide assistance in person.
• Coverage Options: Allstate offers plenty of coverage and deductible options, which you can learn about in our Allstate review.

Cons

• Availability of UBI Program: Allstate’s UBI program is unavailable in California or Alaska.
• Customer Ratings: Allstate is rated average for customer satisfaction.

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#4 – Travelers: Best for Customizable Coverage

Pros

• Customizable Coverage: Travelers makes it easy to customize coverage with different deductible options and add-ons. Learn more in our review of Travelers.
• Accident Forgiveness: Safe drivers can benefit from Travelers’ accident forgiveness policy.
• Multiple Discounts: Travelers offers good student discounts, good driver discounts, and many more.

Cons

• State Availability: A few states don’t have Travelers insurance.
• UBI Availability: Travelers’ UBI program isn’t available in a few states.

#5 – Progressive: Best for Extensive Network

Pros

• Extensive Network: Progressive is widely available and offers local agents. Learn more in our Progressive review.
• Budgeting Tool: Progressive has a useful budgeting tool called NameYourPrice.
• Varying Discounts: Progressive has loyalty discounts, good student discounts, and more.

Cons

• UBI Rate Increases: Progressive’s SnapShot program may raise rates (learn more: Progressive Snapshot review).
• Customer Reviews: Customer satisfaction for Progresssive’s customer service and claims handling is average.

#6 – American Family: Best for Online Access

Pros

• Online Access: Customers can access their policies easily online. Learn more in our American Family review.
• Accident Forgiveness: American Family’s accident forgiveness is a great perk for safe drivers.
• Coverage options: American Family offers basic and add-on auto insurance coverage.

Cons

• State Availability: American Family is available in less than half of U.S. states.
• Rates for High-Risk Drivers: Because American Family is a smaller company, its rates for high-risk drivers aren’t always as competitive.

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#7 – Nationwide: Best for Vanishing Deductible

Pros

• Vanishing Deductible: Safe drivers are rewarded with deductible decreases at Nationwide.
• Pay-Per-Mile Coverage: If you rarely drive, then Nationwide SmartMiles can be a cheap insurance option. Read more in our Nationwide SmartMiles review.
• Discounts: Nationwide has a variety of discounts that you can learn more about in our Nationwide review.

Cons

• State Availability: Nationwide isn’t sold in a few states.
• DUI Rates: Nationwide’s DUI rates aren’t as competitive as at other companies.

#8 – Farmers: Best for Financial Stability

 

Pros

• Financial Stability: Farmers has high financial stability ratings, which means it’s able to keep rates level and pay out claims.
• Availability: Farmers is available across the U.S.
• Coverage: Farmers has add-on and basic coverages. Learn about its coverages in our review of Farmers.

Cons

• Customer Reviews: Farmers has average ratings for customer service.
• UBI Availability: Farmers’ UBI discount is not available in a few states.

#9 – State Farm: Best for Personalized Service

Pros

• Personalized Service: State Farm is able to provide personalized service for customers with its local agents. Read more about its service in our review of State Farm.
• Coverage: Customers can personalize coverages by adding or dropping coverages and adjusting deductibles.
• Financial Stability: State Farm has high ratings for financial stability.

Cons

• No online Purchases: Customers must contact an agent to purchase a policy.
• UBI Availability: State Farm’s UBI discount is unavailable in a few states.

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#10 – Liberty Mutual: Best for Competitive Rates

Pros

• Competitive Rates: Liberty Mutual’s rates are usually competitive as a larger auto insurance company. Learn about its rates in our Liberty Mutual review.
• Discount Options: Liberty Mutual offers multiple discounts, ranging from bundling discounts to safe driver discounts.
• Ease-of-Use: Liberty Mutual’s app and website are well-rated and make policy management easy.

Cons

• Customer Reviews: Liberty Mutual’s customer ratings are just average.
• UBI Availability: Liberty Mutual’s UBI discount is not available in all states.

How to Register a Vehicle Without a Permanent Address

How do you register a car if you are homeless? Regardless of your housing situation, if you own a vehicle, you must register it in the state you drive it in. If you do not register it, you cannot legally drive it on public roadways or park it in public parking spaces.

Read more: Does your car need to be registered to get auto insurance?

To register a vehicle and obtain a title, you must complete the entire registration application, which includes a field for an address. Use our guide to vehicle registration fees by state to find out how much it costs to register a car where you live.

Every DMV across the country requires vehicle owners to provide an address, as they need a place to mail registration, parking tickets, and other documents.

If you are experiencing homelessness or between residences, filling out the application in its entirety may prove difficult. However, it is not impossible once you read up on how do you register a car if you’re homeless.

Depending on state laws, you may be able to use a P.O. box for your mailing address, but you won’t be able to use it as your residence. Now, if your state’s laws prohibit this, you may be able to ask a friend or family member if you can use his or her address.

How to Buy Auto Insurance Without a Permanent Address

Once you register a vehicle in a state, you must abide by the state’s car insurance requirements. This is the case regardless of your residency. If you violate a state’s car insurance requirements, an officer may cite you and possibly impound your vehicle.

To prevent either of these outcomes and to avoid other costly consequences, it is crucial that you know how to get car insurance without an address.

Using a Temporary Address

When it comes to how to get car insurance if you are homeless, the best and most efficient way to get car insurance without a permanent address is to ask a friend or family member if you can use his or her address while you are between residences. Explain that you need an address to which the insurer can mail important documents, such as proof of insurance, invoices, and the like.

Ideally, the address you use will be one you stay at regularly or one at which you were living when you first registered your vehicle.

When you do get your own place, update your address with both the DMV and insurer right away.

Some people consider listing a hotel address as their place of residence. Experts advise against doing this when getting homeless car insurance. A hotel address indicates to insurers that your residency is temporary. Insurers do not like temporary residents, and you will likely be denied coverage as a result.

Using a P.O. Box

In some states, it is possible to register a vehicle with a P.O. box. However, no insurer will insure an applicant who only provides a P.O. Box as an address. While you can use a P.O. box as an acceptable mailing address, insurers want to see that you have a physical address as well.

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How to Get Auto Insurance When You Live Out of Your Vehicle  

Say you live in your vehicle — can you get car insurance then? Unfortunately, if you state on your insurance application that you live out of your car, your chances of receiving a denial are almost 100%.

In the eyes of auto insurers, people who live in their cars pose considerably more risk than those who live in actual homes.

That said, even if you face several hurdles on your path to obtaining car insurance, you must prevail. You are a vehicle owner regardless of your housing situation and, as such, must comply with state auto insurance laws.

You can always list a friend or family member’s address on your car insurance application if such action is legal in your state. If you plan to do so, try always to park your vehicle at this location when you are not using it. If you do not, and if the insurer discovers that you do not live at the listed address, it may deny or drop your coverage. If you file a claim, the company may deny your claim on the basis of a fraudulent application.

How to Save on Auto Insurance When Homeless

If you purchase minimum auto insurance instead of full coverage, your rates will be cheaper. However, the companies with car insurance for the homeless also have affordable full coverage rates. Full coverage provides the best protection for drivers, covering your accident bills in a number of different situations.

Auto Insurance Monthly Rates When Homeless From Top Provider

These top companies for homeless car insurance also offer plenty of auto insurance discounts, which can lower rates even more.

Safe driving discounts can be one of the best ways to save on car insurance for homeless drivers. However, even small discounts like payment-in-full or safety feature discounts can help reduce costs.

Why Auto Insurance for the Homeless Needs a Permanent Address

For one, insurers use applicants’ permanent addresses to assess risk. They pull up information regarding listed ZIP codes to determine the cost of coverage, which you will see even when you get quotes from cheap companies like Erie. 

Some other factors that affect auto insurance rates are local:

• Accident data
• Vandalism statistics
• Weather hazards

Insurers also consider where and how applicants park their vehicles at night. Does a driver park on a public street, where it is constantly subject to the whims of other drivers, or a private garage, where it is safe from hazards at least eight out of the 24 hours a day? Insurers also use residency as a means of determining applicants’ individual levels of risk. 

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How to Get Auto Insurance for the Homeless

Whether you are between residences, chose the nomadic lifestyle, or found yourself without a permanent residence due to life circumstances, you still need temporary auto insurance if you own a vehicle. Though your journey to obtaining coverage may be more complicated than if you had a permanent physical address, obtaining auto insurance coverage is possible.

Using a P.O. Box or temporary address can get you covered while you’re in between residences, just be sure to update your insurance policy if you move or find a permanent address. Want to find affordable rates today? Use our free tool to compare rates.

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