author-img
Written by:
Shivani Gite
Contributing Writer
Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.
author
Reviewed by:
Laura Longero
reviewer icon
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

Most car insurance companies require all licensed drivers living in the same household, especially spouses, to be listed on the policy as drivers. This way, the auto insurance company can accurately assess the risk you and your spouse pose as drivers and calculate your premiums accordingly.

Do I have to add my spouse to my car insurance?

You should do it, or you could pay out of pocket for accidents your spouse causes while driving your car. If you fail to inform the car insurance company that you are married and don’t add your spouse to your policy, accidents your spouse causes might not be covered.

An insurer could deny the claim if your spouse drives your car and has an accident. It’s essential to contact your insurer as soon as you get married to make sure your spouse is covered if he or she plans to use your car.

Adding your spouse to your policy can reduce your rates. The rules vary by state and insurer, but many insurance companies charge married couples lower car insurance premiums than single individuals. Insurers say their data shows that married policyholders are safer drivers and have a lower risk of insurance claims. And when two people place both of their vehicles on one policy, they may also receive a discount for insuring multiple cars.

However, adding your spouse to your policy could increase your premiums if your spouse has a poor driving record. Your rate could also rise in some states if your spouse has a low credit score. Suppose their driving record would boost your rates significantly. In that case, you could consider getting a “named-driver exclusion,” which is an endorsement to your policy that states your spouse won’t be covered when driving your car, says Loretta Worters, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute.

These rules can vary by state – some states let you exclude your spouse as a driver, but others don’t exclude family members. Consider this option only if your spouse never drives your car.

How to add your spouse to your car insurance

Contact your car insurance company to add your spouse to your policy after you get married.

Insurers have different formulas for assessing risk, so some may offer a larger discount than others to married drivers. The impact of adding a spouse with a poor driving record can also vary by insurer.

This is an excellent time to compare car insurance quotes from several insurance companies to determine which offers the best rates for you and your spouse.

  — Kimberly Lankford contributed to this story.

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

Ask the Insurance Expert

John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

Ask the Insurance Expert

Leslie Kasperowicz

Managing Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

Ask the Insurance Expert

Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

Please Enter Valid Question. Min 50 to max 250 characters are allowed. Only (& ? , .) charcters are allowed.
Please Enter Valid Email.
Error: Security check failed
Thank You, Your message has been received. Our team of auto insurance experts typically answers questions within five working days. Note that due to the volume of questions we receive, not all may be answered. Due to technical error, please try again later.
Compare top carriers in your area Get quotes near you!
Please enter valid zip
author image
Contributing Writer

Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.