Can You Get Car Insurance with a Felony? What to Know

The impact of a felony on your car insurance depends almost entirely on whether the felony was driving-related:

Driving-related felonies have a major impact. Felony DUI/DWI (often a second or subsequent DUI, or a DUI causing injury), vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault, felony hit-and-run, and reckless driving causing death or serious injury all appear on your driving record. Insurers check your driving record for every policy and will see these offenses. Expect: 65-200% premium increases, SR-22 requirement for 3-10 years, possible non-renewal by your current insurer, and classification as a high-risk driver.

Non-driving felonies generally have little to no direct impact. Drug offenses, theft, burglary, assault (non-vehicular), fraud, weapons charges, and other non-driving felonies typically do not appear on your driving record. Most auto insurers only check your driving record and credit history -- they do not run criminal background checks. In most states, insurers are not legally permitted to use non-driving criminal history as a rating factor for auto insurance.

The indirect effects of any felony can matter. Time in prison often leads to: a lapse in insurance coverage (which raises rates), a lapsed or suspended driver's license, damaged credit from inability to pay bills while incarcerated, and loss of vehicle ownership. These indirect effects can raise your rates even when the felony itself is not visible to insurers.

Understanding what information auto insurers actually access helps clarify what affects your rates:

Your driving record (MVR): Insurers pull your Motor Vehicle Report from your state's DMV for every policy application and renewal. This shows: DUI/DWI convictions, traffic violations and points, license suspensions and revocations, at-fault accidents, and any driving-related criminal convictions. Non-driving felonies do NOT appear on your MVR.

Your credit history: In 46 states, insurers use credit-based insurance scores. This shows: payment history, debt levels, credit utilization, and length of credit history. It does NOT show criminal convictions, arrests, or incarceration history directly. However, if you missed payments while incarcerated, that damage will show up.

Your claims history (CLUE report): Shows past insurance claims you have filed. Does not include criminal history.

Criminal background checks: Most auto insurers do NOT run criminal background checks. There is no industry-standard practice of checking criminal records for auto insurance applications. However, a few specialty or high-value insurers might in some states. Even where permitted, it is uncommon for standard auto policies.

The bottom line: If your felony is not driving-related and does not appear on your driving record, most insurers will never know about it when you apply for auto insurance. You are not required to disclose criminal history on standard auto insurance applications (unlike some life insurance or professional liability applications).

Here is a practical step-by-step approach to getting insured after a felony conviction:

Step 1: Check your driving record. Before applying for insurance, get a copy of your driving record from your state DMV. This tells you exactly what insurers will see. If only your non-driving felony appears on your criminal record (and not on your MVR), your insurance shopping experience will be similar to any other driver.

Step 2: Check your credit report. Get your free annual credit reports from annualcreditreport.com. Dispute any errors. If your credit was damaged during incarceration, begin rebuilding (secured credit card, on-time payments).

Step 3: Reinstate your driver's license if needed. If your license lapsed or was suspended while incarcerated, reinstate it before shopping for insurance. Contact your state DMV for reinstatement requirements.

Step 4: Get quotes from multiple insurers. Start with the major companies known to be friendly to non-standard drivers: GEICO, Progressive, State Farm, and Allstate all insure drivers with various backgrounds. Also try non-standard carriers through independent insurance agents: Dairyland, The General, Bristol West, and SafeAuto.

Step 5: Consider a non-owner policy first. If you do not yet own a car, a non-owner policy ($200-$700/year) is an affordable way to start building (or rebuilding) a continuous coverage history. After 6-12 months of continuous coverage, you will be in a better position to get competitive rates when you do buy a vehicle.

Step 6: Be honest but strategic. Standard auto insurance applications do not ask about criminal history -- they ask about your driving record, vehicles, and coverage needs. Answer truthfully. Do not volunteer information that is not asked for.

If you are coming out of prison and need to get back on the road, here is a practical roadmap:

Immediate priorities (first 30 days): Reinstate your driver's license at the DMV. Get a copy of your driving record to know what insurers will see. Check your credit reports for errors. Start calling insurers for quotes -- you can get coverage the same day you call.

Short-term strategy (first 6 months): If you do not own a car yet, get a non-owner insurance policy. This is cheap ($200-$700/year) and starts building your continuous coverage history. Use public transit, rides from family/friends, or car-sharing while you rebuild.

Medium-term strategy (6-18 months): After 6+ months of continuous coverage, your rates will improve. If you are ready to buy a vehicle, shop for insurance first to know what your costs will be. Consider used vehicles that do not require full coverage (comprehensive + collision), which keeps premiums lower.

Long-term strategy (1-3 years): Maintain continuous coverage without any lapses. Keep a clean driving record -- even minor tickets will set you back. Work on improving your credit score, which can significantly lower your premiums. Shop for new quotes annually as your profile improves.

State programs that can help: Many states offer transitional assistance for people reentering society after incarceration. Some provide help with license reinstatement fees, and a few have programs to help with insurance costs. Contact your local reentry program or parole office for state-specific resources.

A non-owner auto insurance policy is one of the best tools available for someone with a felony record who is rebuilding their driving and insurance history. Here is how it works:

What it covers: A non-owner policy provides liability coverage when you drive a vehicle you do not own -- such as a borrowed car, rental car, or car-share vehicle. It covers your liability if you cause an accident (bodily injury and property damage to others). It does not cover the vehicle itself or your own injuries.

Why it is valuable after a felony: It starts building a continuous insurance coverage history, which is a key factor insurers use to determine your rates. After 6-12 months of continuous non-owner coverage, you will get significantly better rates when you buy a vehicle. If you need an SR-22, a non-owner policy satisfies that requirement at a much lower cost than a standard auto policy.

What it costs: $200-$700 per year, depending on your state, driving record, and whether you need an SR-22 filing. This is dramatically less than a standard auto policy.

Who offers it: Most major insurers offer non-owner policies, including GEICO, Progressive, State Farm, and Nationwide. You may need to call directly rather than getting a quote online, as non-owner policies are not always available through online quote tools.

When to upgrade: Once you purchase a vehicle, you will need to switch to a standard auto policy. Your non-owner coverage history will count toward your continuous coverage record, helping you get better rates.

Insurance regulations vary by state, and some states are more favorable than others for people with criminal records:

States that ban credit-based insurance scoring: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan do not allow insurers to use credit scores as a rating factor. If your felony record damaged your credit (due to inability to pay bills during incarceration), these states offer protection from credit-related rate increases.

States with clean slate or expungement laws: Many states now allow expungement of certain felony convictions after a period of time. Once a conviction is expunged, it should not appear on any background check. While this primarily matters for employment and housing, it also provides peace of mind when applying for insurance.

SR-22 states: If your felony is driving-related and you need an SR-22, most states require it for 3 years. Eight states do not use SR-22 (Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania). Florida and Virginia require FR-44 instead.

States with assigned-risk plans: If you cannot find private insurance, every state has a last-resort program. Contact your state Department of Insurance for details.

States with insurance anti-discrimination laws: Some states have specific laws preventing insurers from discriminating based on criminal history for auto insurance. Check with your state Department of Insurance or a consumer advocacy organization to understand your rights.

Non-standard insurer availability varies: Specialty carriers like Dairyland, The General, and Bristol West are not available in every state. Work with an independent insurance agent who can access multiple non-standard carriers in your area.