Reader question:

We have an exchange student from Korea living with us and he wants to be able to drive while he’s here. How do we get student auto insurance coverage?

Amy

That is a very interesting question, Amy.

I suppose it all depends on your situation, Amy. The United States has stricter requirements than most countries for getting a driver’s license if you are not here permanently and with a social security number. With all of the recent debate regarding secure borders and immigration, it has been difficult in many states even for legal immigrants who have social security cards and green cards and the works to take their driver’s test and get a license. It really depends on the state, so while I will give you some general advice, it is very important for you to go to your state’s department of motor vehicles to find out what their policy is regarding this.

First of all, does your exchange student have an international driver’s license? While this cannot be used in place of a state issued U.S. driver’s license, it does help when it comes to the training in order to prove that the student already has driver training. In a few states, the requirements are more lax for those who already have a non United States driver’s license, although they still need to prove that they understand U.S. traffic laws.

Many states require that you have a social security number in order to get a driver’s license. This puts many immigrants who are here as students in a bind, especially if they are going to college and thus don’t get an exchange family to help get them from point A to point B during those four years. Most of the states, I believe it’s a total of forty, will work with people who are legally present but are not in the class of immigrants who get a social security number. Things such as the alien number can be given in many cases. Find out from your state DMV what is required. Being a student without an SSN can be tough, but it can be done.

In one state, Tennessee, drivers who are not immigrating to the U.S. permanently have another option to add to all of the above. They can train and take their driving test and everything. However, they cannot be issued a driver’s license. Instead, they are issued a driving certificate. This allows them to drive in the state of Tennessee and it can also be used for identification in many places just like a driver’s license could. This is, of course, a temporary license and does not last as long as a regular driver’s license would. Another state, California, is working on a law that would make it possible to obtain a license without a social security number. While it is primarily targeted at undocumented immigrants, it also stands to benefit many here on temporary work permits and H1B student visas who in some states find themselves making do with the bus.

Once he has a license, it’s easy to get student auto insurance coverage. With a license to drive, he will be treated like any other teenager, even if he has a previous driving record in Korea. That will not be considered in the U.S. Your rates will be higher, but you will be able to add him to your own policy or get him a student auto insurance policy of his own, although it is cheaper to add him to yours. As some advice, AIG auto insurance company is a very good one for foreign born drivers, as they have a special international driver policy for those in this situation.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.