Hi, I am an exchange student and I have been in Amherst for ten months now. My dad wants me to have my own car but he worries about me not getting a student auto insurance in New York for some reason. As a foreign national, can I get student auto insurance in New York?

Jose

Amherst, New York

If you are carrying an International Driver’s permit, you can drive a car in the US for one year. Using the same permit that you have, you can purchase a student auto insurance in New York. There are a few things that you have to do to make sure that you are doing the right thing though.

Check with your university. If you came with a visa given to exchange students and an International driver’s permit, then your university can give you a comprehensive insurance policy so that you can register and drive a car.

If you want to save money and you think you don’t really need to drive a car every day, then think of renting a car instead. You can always use your International driver’s license. If you still want a student auto insurance in New York even for just renting a car, then there are a lot of insurance brokers who can give you a non-owner’s policy. Try asking the car rental if they can give you student auto insurance in New York too.

One easy thing to do and which will save you money as well is to get a guardian through your universities “adopt a student” program. Once you get a guardian, then you can add your name to your guardians insurance policy.