Question: I recently had someone added to my car insurance. Can I now remove him from my insurance policy if I don’t want to pay for him anymore?
Answer: It depends. Does the person still drive your car regularly? Is the person a licensed household member? If the person has access to your vehicle or frequently operates it, then it’s unlikely that your car insurance company will let you take him off of your policy.
Car insurance companies rate your policy based on the risk you — and those who drive your vehicle — possess, so if he’s still driving your car, you’re stuck. But, if the situation has changed since you put him on your policy, then it may be possible to remove him from your policy.
For instance, if this person was your boyfriend, but you broke up, and he no longer drives your vehicle. Or, if it’s a child who moved out and doesn’t use your vehicle. In these scenarios, the person wouldn’t be driving your car regularly, so your car insurance company would be more likely to remove the person from your auto policy.
To remove a person from your car insurance policy, especially if the person used to live with you, you might have to prove that the person has moved out of your residence and/or has his own car insurance policy.
If the person still lives with you or has access to your vehicle, then removing him from your policy isn’t an option unless he has turned in his license or has obtained a car insurance policy of his own.
If you just don’t want to pay for that driver — say he now has a DUI on his record, and you know your raises will increase at the next renewal — then you can see if your state and car insurance carrier will allow you to exclude him from your policy.
When a named driver exclusion is allowed, your insurer will note the person as an excluded driver on your policy and won’t rate that individual. In return, the insurer won’t extend coverage to that person if he or she drives your insured vehicle, even in an emergency.
To see if your car insurance company will allow you to remove the person from your policy, contact the company directly.
— Penny Gusner contributed to this story.
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