Yes, you can insure a car with just a provisional licence. In fact, it's a legal necessity in most states if you plan to drive the vehicle. However, securing this insurance will be significantly more expensive than for a driver with a full, unrestricted licence. Insurance companies view provisional licence holders as high-risk due to their lack of driving experience, which directly translates to higher premiums.
The key is to be completely transparent with insurance providers. You must accurately declare that you hold a provisional licence. Misrepresenting your licence type could lead to a denied claim or policy cancellation, leaving you financially responsible for any damages. When you apply, the insurer will ask for your driver's licence number, which will indicate its provisional status.
There are a few ways to approach this. If you own the car, you can take out a policy in your own name. Be prepared for the high cost. A more common and often more affordable method is for a parent or guardian to add you as a named driver to their existing policy. This can be cheaper, but the primary policyholder must be the main driver of the car; a practice known as "fronting" (where a more experienced driver claims to be the main user when they are not) is considered fraud.
To manage costs, consider vehicles in lower insurance groups, opt for a higher deductible (the amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in), and explore discounts for good grades or completing accredited driver's education courses. The table below illustrates average annual premium increases when adding a young driver with a provisional licence to an existing policy.
| Scenario | Average Annual Premium Increase |
|---|
| Adding a 17-year-old male to a parent's policy | $2,200 - $3,500 |
| Adding a 17-year-old female to a parent's policy | $1,800 - $2,800 |
| A 17-year-old taking out their own policy | $4,500 - $7,000+ |
| Adding a 25-year-old with a new provisional | $800 - $1,500 |
