CarInsurance.com Insights
- The cost of adding a spouse to your car insurance policy in the U.S. will increase your rate by 7%.
- The cost of adding a child to your car insurance policy in the U.S. will increase your rate by an additional 75%.
- The cost of adding a second child to your car insurance policy will increase your rate by an additional 64% in the U.S.
The cost of adding someone to your car insurance policy depends on several factors, including the driver’s age, credit score (in some states), claim history and driving record. Drivers with a high-risk driving profile will cost more to be added to your policy.
For example, adding your spouse with a clean driving record to your car insurance policy probably won’t raise your premium by much. However, your insurer might charge more if you add a driver with recent accidents or traffic violations – or a newly licensed teen.
Will your insurance go up when you add a driver?
Adding a driver to your car insurance policy can increase your premium. However, the actual rate increase will depend on who you add and their unique risk profile.
Younger drivers, especially those under 25, are typically seen as higher risk and can cause a significant increase in insurance costs due to their statistically higher accident rates. If the new driver has a history of traffic violations, accidents or DUI/DWI convictions, these factors can also lead to higher premiums due to the increased risk.
On the other hand, your rate may not increase much if you add an adult driver with no recent accidents or traffic violations and an excellent credit score. To find out how much your premium will increase, you can contact your insurance company and get a new quote.
How much does it cost to add a driver to your car insurance?
According to proprietary CarInsurance.com data, the cost of car insurance goes up 7% when adding a spouse and 75% when you add a third driver – or child – to your car insurance policy in the United States. To add a fourth driver to your policy, your rate would increase an additional 64%.
The exact cost of adding a driver to your car insurance policy depends on the person’s age, driving record, vehicle, gender and other variables.
To give you an idea of how much it might cost to add a driver to your auto insurance policy, we got three sample quotes from Allstate for a family in Florida:
- Single 55-year-old woman: $2,055 per year
- A married 55-year-old woman and man: $2,078 per year
- A married 55-year-old woman and man, and a 16-year-old female: $3,687
Based on this data, you can see that adding a spouse to your auto insurance policy may only increase your premium by a few dollars per year. However, adding a teen could raise your rate by more than $1,500 per year, which is a significant cost increase.
What information do insurers use to calculate your rate?
Insurers determine the cost of adding a driver to a car insurance policy by evaluating several factors related to the new driver and their overall risk.
One of the primary considerations is the driver’s age and experience; younger drivers and those with less driving experience are typically seen as higher risk, which can increase the premium.
The new driver’s driving record also plays a crucial role. Drivers with a history of accidents or traffic violations will increase insurance premiums due to their higher perceived risk.
When should someone be listed on your policy?
Listing an additional driver on your insurance policy is important if someone regularly drives your car. Here’s a look at who you should add:
- Household members: Anyone who lives with you and may drive your car should be listed. This includes family members and partners.
- Frequent borrowers: If you have a friend or relative who regularly borrows your car, it’s wise to list them.
- Teen drivers: If you have teenage drivers in your household, they must be listed once they get their driver’s license. Insurance companies generally require that all licensed family members in a household be listed on the policy.
- Occasional drivers: Depending on your insurance policy’s terms, those who might drive your car occasionally, such as a friend borrowing it for a short trip, probably do not need to be listed. They will be covered under permissive use. However, if this becomes a regular occurrence, they should be added.
In general, anyone who regularly uses your car and lives with you should be listed on your policy to avoid issues with coverage in the event of an accident. It’s always a good idea to check with your insurance provider for specific guidelines and requirements.
People also ask
I am divorced and have joint custody. My son just got his license. His father is adding him to his insurance policy but my agent is advising that he should be added to mine as well. Is that correct?
That’s correct.
“You should typically include any licensed drivers who live in your household, and/or regularly operate your vehicle — more than once a month on a recurring basis — on your car insurance policy,” says Justin Yoshizawa, senior director of product management at Mercury Insurance.
In this situation, it’s also important to consider that car insurance follows the car, not the driver. Even if your son is insured on his father’s policy, he won’t have any coverage when driving other people’s vehicles. You’ll need to add him to your auto insurance policy in order for him to be adequately covered while driving your vehicle when he’s staying with you.
“If you don’t list your son on your policy, your insurer may deny a claim or refuse coverage if he causes an accident, even if he has your permission to drive the car,” Yoshizawa says. “In some cases, an insurer may still pay for damages but then raise your rates or refuse to renew your policy later on.”
What happens if you don’t list someone as a regular driver?
Some insurance policies may deny coverage if an unlisted driver is involved in an accident. This could mean that the cost of damages and injuries may not be covered, leaving the policyholder or the unlisted driver legally and financially responsible for the damages.
An unlisted driver using your car may be considered a violation of the policy terms. It could result in a premium increase, policy cancellation, or nonrenewal of the policy.
How do you add someone to your policy?
To add a driver, contact your insurance company and provide them with the driver’s information. Your insurer will then review this information and adjust your policy accordingly.
Depending on the new driver’s driving record and other factors, this might change your insurance premium. Adding a driver ensures that everyone who drives your car is covered in case of an accident.
When adding a driver, your car insurance company will typically want to know the following about the person you are adding to your policy:
- Name
- Age
- Marital status
- Address
- Occupation
- Driving record, including tickets and accidents
- Driver’s license number and state
What if the person doesn’t live with me?
You might be able to insure a driver who doesn’t live in your household, but it depends on your insurance company’s rules. Typically, you can add anyone who has an insurable interest in your vehicle, as well as drivers who occasionally borrow your vehicle.
If you have a young driver on your policy who attends college away from home, they can usually stay insured on your policy, even if they’re living in another state. However, once they graduate and permanently move out, they will probably have to get their own car insurance policy.
Can you add someone temporarily?
It’s possible to add a driver to your car insurance policy temporarily. For example, if you have a family member staying with you for several months, it might be a good idea to add them to your policy if they’ll be driving your vehicle frequently.
However, adding a driver temporarily can still affect your premium, regardless of how long the person will be insured on your policy.
People also ask
Can I add my son to one of my vehicles temporarily while his vehicle is being fixed?
Most likely, you’ll be able to add your son to your auto insurance policy while his vehicle is being fixed. If you son plans to borrow your car — either frequently or occasionally — your insurance company will probably allow you to insure him temporarily, even if he doesn’t live with you.
Auto insurance companies normally allow policyholders to insure other people that have permission to borrow their vehicle. That secondary driver gets the same coverage as the policyholder, which is important if they get into an accident while borrowing the car.
However, adding your son to your car insurance policy, even for a few weeks, might affect your premium. If your son is a newly licensed driver, or has a complicated driving record, your rate could go up significantly. If your son is an adult driver with a clean record, your premium might only increase slightly.
Do I need to add someone to my policy who only drives my car occasionally?
It’s a good idea to add someone to your policy who drives your vehicle occasionally. That way, the driver is fully protected if they get into an accident while driving your vehicle. Some insurance companies require policyholders to add any driver that has access to the vehicle, even if they only use the vehicle once or twice a month.
Consider talking to your insurance provider about its specific rules for insuring occasional drivers.
Is it cheaper to add someone or get a separate policy?
Whether it’s cheaper to add someone to your policy or get a separate policy depends on a variety of factors.
“Adding a driver to your car insurance policy is usually more affordable than purchasing two separate policies. Many car insurers don’t charge a fee to add a driver to your policy, but your premium may go up depending on the driver’s age and driving history,” Yoshizawa says.
If you’re thinking about insuring a teen driver, it’s almost always cheaper to add them to a parent’s policy. And if your teen is under 18, most insurance companies won’t sell them an individual policy because they can’t sign a legal contract.
You can use CarInsurance.com’s InsureMyTeen calculator to see how your premium might change after adding a teen to your policy, and how you can potentially save money.
Ultimately, the best way to find the most affordable auto insurance for your situation is to compare car insurance quotes for one policy with two drivers and two separate policies. You can also get new quotes from different insurers to see if you can find a better rate than you’re currently paying.
Final thoughts
Adding a driver to your car insurance policy can influence your premiums. Factors such as the driver’s age, experience and driving history play a crucial role. For instance, younger drivers or those with a history of accidents may lead to higher insurance costs compared to older, more experienced drivers or those with clean records.
Since each situation is unique, contact your insurer for a precise quote to understand how much adding a driver will affect your policy’s cost.
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