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- Reporting timeline matters. Insurers generally require notification soon after divorce finalization to keep policy details accurate and valid.
- Discounts often change. Divorce typically removes married-driver discounts and can affect multi-car or bundled policy savings.
- Separate policies become necessary. Once spouses live apart or garage vehicles separately, individual auto insurance policies are usually required.
- Unreported changes carry risk. Outdated driver, address, or ownership details can trigger claim denials or unexpected policy cancellations.
- Ownership updates protect you. Retitling vehicles and removing yourself from cars you no longer own prevents future liability exposure.
If you and your spouse have divorced, you must inform your car insurance company about this change in marital status and advise them of any changes that need to be made to your policy. State laws and policy terms vary, but typically, you must inform your insurer within 30 days after your divorce is finalized.
Will it change the rate I pay?
Most companies offer a car insurance discount to married couples of 5% to 15%, so getting a divorce will remove this discount. Also, you may lose out on multi-car discounts (up to 25%) and multi-policy discounts (around 10%). However, other factors may lower your rates; for example, if your ex-spouse has tickets or accidents, the surcharges will follow them, not you.
Generally, all vehicles on one policy must be garaged at the same address, so you and your ex-spouse can’t keep a policy for the cars that you insured together when married and living together.
Your car insurance company will require that you report any changes in your household, including moving because these are important rating factors.
If you fail to inform your car insurance company of the divorce and changes of garaging location for the insured cars, your car insurance policy could be canceled, and claims could even be denied.
Other items to do after a divorce
Ensure that your name is removed from the title and registration of any car your ex-spouse keeps after the divorce to avoid being legally liable for anything that happens with that vehicle.
Also, ensure that your ex-spouse doesn’t takes insurance off of a car that still has your name on it to avoid a lapse in insurance. Your divorce attorney will help you finalize car ownership as part of the divorce process.
Inform your car insurance company of your divorce as soon as it is final. But make sure to comparison shop early so that you find the best car insurance rates and are ready to start a new policy right away.
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