Do my driver’s license and car insurance have to match states?
Jan 2nd, 2010 by AutoInsGuy
asked:
I currently have a NJ license. I recently moved from there (parent’s house) to an apartment in the Bronx because I’m working in Yonkers, NY. I’d like to keep NJ as my legal address to avoid city resident taxes. However, I want to switch the title, registration, and insurance coverage of my car from my parents over to me. Can I insure a car that’s “principally garaged” in New York if my license says I live in New Jersey?
I don’t need insurance quotes. I don’t need to compare rates or find out what the rate change would be. I would just like to know if I can have New York insurance with a mailing address in New York for a car that I own and drive with a driver’s license from New Jersey – my present legal address.
Shawn
No. You must have a license, insurance and registration from the State you reside in.
You can.
My brother and I recently moved to Texas from Wisconsin and he just got insurance and his car registered in Texas but still has a Wisconsin license.
You have to switch the insurance over first because you’ll need to bring your insurance card to get your car registered.
If it’s in your parent’s name I’m not sure it they have to be there or not to get the title switched over though.
I don’t know if it varies by state but we didn’t have any problems when doing it here. Getting a new license comes last in the list.
However you’d have to get a license where you reside eventually, you wouldn’t be able to continue having one out of state.
Em, For auto insurance the quickest method to get a free quote is do a policy comparison. If you choose the same coverage levels, you can get an fast quote to compare against others. Use the same coverage area, car make and model, mileage and driving history to ensure you get accurate comparison. To get mulitple auto quotes, go to and you can compare the major auto insurance companies.
You can compare how the insurance quotes would change, for example here – autoinsurance.undonet.com