Car Insurance Without a VIN

While a VIN is usually required to finalize car insurance, there are ways to start the process without one—though you’ll face some limits.

  • You can often get a preliminary quote using just your car’s make, model, year, and trim
  • Without a VIN, expect less accurate quotes and fewer coverage options until you provide it
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By Ava Lynch
Updated November 3, 2025
Reviewed By Beth Swanson
Edited By Renata Balasco
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Ava Lynch

Insurance Analyst

Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior insurance contributor, providing insights and data a…

Credentials
  • 9+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry
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Beth Swanson

Insurance Analyst

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • Associate in Insurance
  • Professional Risk Consultant
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Renata Balasco

Senior Content Strategist

Renata joined The Zebra in 2020 as a Customer Experience Agent. Since 2021, she has worked as licensed insurance professional and content strategist.…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • 5 years of experience in the insurance industry
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Can you get auto insurance without a VIN?

While you can request car insurance quotes without a vehicle identification number (VIN), you cannot purchase a car insurance policy without providing a VIN. Each vehicle carries a unique VIN. This number outlines the car's driving history, including any collisions or incidents. Auto insurance companies use the data provided by VIN analysis to understand the risk associated with insuring a particular car, pricing policies accordingly. 

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  1. What is a VIN?
  2. How to get a car insurance quote
  3. What you need for insurance
  4. FAQs

Car Insurance for Used Cars vs. New Vehicles

Whether auto insurance is cheaper for used or new vehicles depends on the insurance company and the make and model of your vehicle.

What is a VIN?

Your car's VIN– or vehicle identification number – is an alphanumeric string of 17 characters that combine uniquely for each vehicle manufactured. VINs tell insurers and purchasers a host of information about the vehicle, including the manufacturing company, year, engine type, safety features, and collision history. The VIN is listed somewhere on the vehicle; often the driver's side windshield or on the driver's side door jamb on a sticker. You can also find your VIN on the vehicle's title, registration, and insurance cards. 

Auto insurance quotes: what do you need?

Because quotes are just estimates, you do not need as much information as you will when you actually want to bind a policy. Below is common information needed to get a quote.

Gathering quotes is a helpful first step toward deciding on a vehicle and an insurance provider. Every quote comes with a policy number — be sure to record this. Once you find a vehicle and an insurance company you like, use your policy number to fetch the quote before purchasing the policy.

Your insurance premium should not change significantly based on the VIN. If your premium does change after the VIN is entered, that could mean the vehicle was previously in a serious accident or has some pre-existing damage.

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What you need to insure and drive your vehicle legally

Every state (except New Hampshire) requires a minimum of liability coverage to legally drive and park on public roads. In order to get a car insurance policy, you will need the following information:

  • Driver’s license of any driver using the vehicle
  • Address
  • DOB of each driver
  • VIN
  • Gender
  • Marital status
  • *Credit score
  • *Driving history
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*Your driving record and credit score will be calculated after your policy is created and will be adjusted if the premium is greater than or less than your initial quote. However, it always helps to answer as accurately as possible.

You do not need a VIN to get a quote but you do need one to get a policy. If you want to see quotes from top insurance companies but don’t have a VIN, enter your ZIP code below!

Compare quotes from over 100 providers.

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Car insurance without a VIN FAQs:

You can obtain car insurance without a VIN by providing the vehicle’s make, model, year, and estimated value. Some insurers allow temporary or binder policies until the VIN is issued.

If a car has no VIN, it may not be legally registered or insured. Insurance companies typically require a VIN to issue a permanent policy, though temporary coverage may be available.

Yes, a VIN is generally required for a standard auto insurance policy, as it uniquely identifies the vehicle and helps insurers calculate coverage and premiums.

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About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.