How do I get the liability insurance required to get a driver's license?

In most states, you do not need proof of insurance just to get a driver's license, though some states require it before a first driving test. Proof of insurance is required to register a car, and driving without insurance is illegal in most states, so you generally need a policy before you can put a car on the road.

Buy an auto liability policy that meets Arizona's minimum liability limits. If the Motor Vehicle Division requires proof of coverage for a reinstatement, you also need an SR-22 filing, which your insurer submits electronically to the MVD; you cannot file it yourself. Contact insurers directly, because online applications usually require a driver's license number.

Buy a liability policy from a licensed insurer: either a standard auto policy on a car you own or a non-owner policy if you do not own a car. Non-owner coverage is liability-only and is a common way to satisfy a financial-responsibility or SR-22 filing or to keep continuous coverage between cars. Nevada's average non-owner premium runs above the national average.

Washington does not require insurance to obtain a driver's license, but it is illegal to drive without liability coverage. To meet the state's financial-responsibility law, buy a policy with at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $10,000 property damage. For a registered vehicle, you may instead use a liability bond or certificate of deposit of at least $60,000, or self-insure with 26 or more vehicles.