Answer:

You're right to be concerned for your son, but he can probably find an insurance policy even if he's been driving without one for some time. The real question is: How much will it cost him?

Before issuing a policy, insurance companies generally do a thorough investigation of a driver's record and prior claims history. They will check to see whether your son has gotten any tickets in the past several years or whether he has reported an unusual number of accidents. When they discover that he doesn't have a prior claims history (because he hasn't had insurance), he'll probably be classified as a high-risk driver--even if he has a clean driving record.

Some insurers might reject his application at that point. An insurance company has no obligation to issue a policy to a driver who they feel poses an unreasonable amount of risk. Other insurers will issue a policy, but it may be at a higher premium than they would charge a driver who is not considered high risk. Some insurers do not penalize a good driver who has gone without insurance, but your son shouldn't count on finding one without a great deal of research.

There are even insurance companies that specialize in high-risk drivers. You've probably seen or heard their advertisements on television, on the radio, in newspapers, and in magazines. These insurers often claim they'll insure anyone, but your son should probably make them a last resort. The premiums on policies issued by high-risk insurers tend to be much higher than those from standard insurers.

If your son lives in a state that has a compulsory insurance law (requiring him to have at least some level of liability coverage), his state may have created an assigned-risk pool to provide coverage for high-risk drivers. If he has trouble obtaining insurance coverage, he can contact his state's assigned-risk pool directly or ask an insurance agent for more information.