Car Insurance With an AB 60 License or ITIN

The Short Answer

An AB 60 license is a real license — and it can be insured

Since 2015, California has issued driver’s licenses to residents who cannot prove lawful presence, under the law commonly known as AB 60. The card is marked differently from a standard license and is not valid as federal identification, but for the purpose that matters here it is exactly what it looks like: a California driver’s license that authorizes you to drive.

You had to pass the written test, pass the driving test, and prove your identity and California residency to get it. That is the same bar every other licensed driver in this state cleared. And California law prohibits insurers from refusing to issue a policy, or charging a different rate, solely because someone holds an AB 60 license.

So the honest answer to the question people are usually afraid to ask out loud is simply: yes. You can buy a real auto policy, from a real insurance company, in your own name. Not a discount version. Not something second-rate. The same liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage anyone else buys.

Where it gets complicated is that not every insurance company handles these applications well. Some are excellent at it. Some have systems that stumble when there is no Social Security number to enter. That is a practical problem, not a legal one — and it is exactly the problem an independent agency solves, because we know which carriers do this smoothly and we go straight to them.

Myths We Hear Every Week

What people get told — and what’s actually true

A lot of bad information circulates about this, and it costs people money and peace of mind. Here is what we correct most often:

“I need a Social Security number to buy insurance.”
No. An ITIN works, and many carriers can write the policy using your AB 60 license number alone.

“AB 60 insurance costs more.”
Insurers may not charge more because of an AB 60 license. Your rate comes from the normal factors: driving record, vehicle, coverage limits, and how long you’ve been continuously insured.

“Buying insurance puts me at risk with immigration.”
You are buying a financial product from a private company. California law also restricts the DMV from disclosing AB 60 applicant information for immigration enforcement purposes. If you have legal questions about your specific situation, that’s a conversation for an immigration attorney — not an insurance agent, and not us.

“I can only get liability-only.”
Not true. Full coverage with collision and comprehensive is available, and if you’re financing the car, your lender will require it.

“One company said no, so nobody will take me.”
This is the most expensive myth of all. One decline means one company’s appetite — not the market. We shop 30+ carriers, and a decline in one place regularly turns into a good rate somewhere else.

What To Bring

What you need to get a quote

Less than most people expect. Bring what you have and we’ll work with it:

✓  Your AB 60 driver’s license (or any valid CA license)
✓  Your ITIN if you have one — helpful, but often not required
✓  The vehicle information — VIN, or year, make, and model
✓  Your address in Modesto or wherever the car is kept
✓  Anyone else who drives the car and their license info
✓  Your current policy if you have one, so we can compare properly

Missing something? Come anyway, or call. We would rather start the conversation and figure out the gaps than have you put it off for another month while you drive uninsured.

Lowering The Cost

Ways to pay less — including a state program

California runs the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (CLCA), a state program that offers liability coverage at reduced cost to income-eligible drivers. Eligibility depends on your household income, the value of your vehicle, your driving record, and your age. It provides liability only — no collision or comprehensive — so it isn’t right for everyone, and it won’t satisfy a lender on a financed car.

But for a family with an older paid-off car and a tight budget, it can be the difference between insured and uninsured. Ask us whether you qualify — we’ll tell you honestly, and we’ll also compare it against standard-market quotes, because sometimes a regular policy comes in close enough that the broader coverage is the better buy.

✓  Stay continuously insured — gaps in coverage raise your rate for years
✓  Pay in full if you can, or set up automatic payments
✓  Ask about the good driver discount after three years with a clean record
✓  Bundle with renters or home — the multi-policy discount is real money
✓  Raise your deductible only if you could actually cover it tomorrow
✓  Re-shop every year — carriers change their pricing constantly

Why It Matters

Driving uninsured is the expensive option

We understand why people put this off. Money is tight, the process feels intimidating, and somebody told you it wasn’t possible anyway. But the math runs the wrong way fast.

Driving without insurance in California means fines, and it means your vehicle can be impounded — with towing and storage fees that often exceed several months of premium. Worse, if you cause an accident, you are personally responsible for the other person’s medical bills and vehicle damage. A serious injury claim can follow a family for years.

There’s also the part nobody puts on a flyer: a traffic stop is a very different experience when your paperwork is in order. License, registration, proof of insurance — handed over without a problem. That peace of mind, driving to work every morning, is worth a great deal on its own.

Common Questions

AB 60 & ITIN insurance FAQs

Can I get car insurance with an AB 60 license?

Yes. An AB 60 license is a valid California driver’s license, and state law prohibits insurers from denying coverage or charging a different rate solely because a driver holds one. We write these policies regularly.

Do I need a Social Security number?

No. An ITIN works, and many carriers can issue the policy using your driver’s license number alone. If you don’t have either an SSN or an ITIN, call us anyway — there are usually still options.

Does it cost more than a regular policy?

It shouldn’t — insurers may not surcharge you for holding an AB 60 license. Your rate is based on the usual factors: driving record, vehicle, where you live, coverage limits, and whether you’ve had continuous insurance. Comparing carriers still matters, because they price those factors very differently.

Can I get full coverage, not just liability?

Yes. Collision and comprehensive are available, and if you’re financing or leasing the vehicle your lender will require them. We’ll show you both options with real numbers so you can decide.

Can I register a car with an AB 60 license?

Yes — California registers vehicles to AB 60 holders, and proof of insurance is part of that process. Check current requirements directly with the DMV, and we can provide the insurance documentation you’ll need.

A company already told me no. Now what?

Call us. A single decline reflects one company’s underwriting appetite or, frankly, one representative who didn’t know their own guidelines. We shop 30+ carriers and know which ones handle these applications smoothly. Don’t let one “no” leave you driving uninsured.

Do you help in Spanish?

Sí — todo el proceso en español, en cualquiera de nuestras tres oficinas en Crows Landing Road. Llámenos al (209) 523-9100. Le explicamos cada cobertura con calma para que entienda bien lo que está comprando.

Related Pages

More on auto coverage

Our main auto insurance page explains coverage types and California’s minimum requirements in plain language. If your license was suspended and you need a filing to get it back, see SR-22 insurance — we handle those the same way, without judgment.

Driving to Mexico? Your US policy is not valid there — you need Mexican tourist auto insurance, which we can issue before you leave. And bundling renters or life insurance with your auto policy often lowers what you pay overall.