Do auto insurance companies need your Social Security number? (Details for 2025)

Do auto insurance companies need your Social Security number? In most states, auto insurance companies require your Social Security number (SSN). However, you can still get car insurance without a Social Security number because some states don’t allow or require companies to use it, although providing a Social Security number might help you get a lower insurance rate

Keep reading to learn why auto insurance companies use Social Security numbers and how it impacts the cost of car insurance. If you’re ready to buy auto insurance without an SSN, check out our guide to the best auto insurance companies that don’t ask for a Social Security number. Then, compare rates with our free quote tool to find the best insurance quotes.

Why Auto Insurance Companies Need Your Social Security Number

You use your SSN to open bank accounts, buy a car, purchase a home, and more. When applying for auto insurance, you might be wondering, do car insurance companies need your social security number or can you get car insurance without a social security number? Why do insurance companies need your social security number? 

Don’t be alarmed if you have an insurance company asking for a social security number. Auto insurers in most states use your Social Security number to check your credit history and criminal record to help determine your insurance rates. 

Based on your criminal background check, the insurance company will be able to see whether you’ve ever committed insurance fraud, vehicular manslaughter, or other crimes that might impact your auto insurance rates. If you have a criminal record, you might need to purchase high-risk insurance. Learn more about how a criminal record affects auto insurance rates.

Providing your Social Security number allows insurance companies to check your credit score. Your rates will vary based on your credit score, as you can see from the rates below. 

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Provider & Credit Score

Drivers with poor credit are more likely to pay higher rates since companies consider them more likely to file a claim. If the insurance company thinks you’re at high risk for filing claims, your auto insurance rates will be higher to compensate for the expense it’ll eventually incur.

How to Get Auto Insurance Without a Social Security Number

So, you want to know, can I get car insurance without a social security number? If you want the best possible rates, you’re going to have to provide your Social Security number to the auto insurance company from which you plan on purchasing a policy.

While not all auto insurance companies require your Social Security number, most of them will. Even if a company doesn’t ask for your SSN, auto insurance will be easier to get if you provide your Social Security number. It’s also the easiest way to prove your identity, and most top insurance companies like Geico, Progressive, and State Farm require it.

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However, not all states require your Social Security number to get insurance. If you live in one of the states below, you aren’t required to provide your Social Security number when applying for insurance.

In some of these states, your credit record can’t be used to calculate your rates, either. Ready to find affordable auto insurance? Compare auto insurance rates by state to find the most affordable coverage in your area.

What You Need to Buy Auto Insurance

All you really need to do is fill out an application and provide some basic information about you, the vehicle you are insuring, and your driving history. You might wonder, how far back do insurance companies check your driving record? And the answer to that really depends on the insurance company; make sure you find out when comparing insurance quotes.

You can get quotes directly from company sites like Geico or use a quote comparison tool. 

Here’s a brief car insurance checklist to help ensure you have everything you need to apply for car insurance:

• Age & Gender
• Driving Record & Annual Mileage
• Location
• Named Drivers
• Make, Model, & Year
• Safety Features
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Gather all the documents you need to buy auto insurance prior to applying and provide it to your auto insurance company when it’s requested.

The Final Word: Do auto insurance companies need your Social Security number?

Why do insurance companies ask for your social security number is a pretty common question. Most companies need your Social Security number to set auto insurance rates, but these providers take precautions to protect private information from potential threats.

But should you give your social security number over the phone? If you are talking to an actual insurance provider, you should be fine (read more: How to Check if an Auto Insurance Company Is Legitimate). However, always be careful when providing sensitive information, such as giving out your Social Security number. 

So, do insurance companies ask for your social security number? Yes, and you should keep in mind that you can probably obtain cheaper auto insurance if you’re willing to share your SSN than if you don’t. However, it would help if you also remembered that finding car insurance without an SSN isn’t impossible.

Use our comparison tool to start comparing free auto insurance quotes today.