Can I Add Anyone to My Car Insurance
Home » FAQ » Can I add anyone to my car insurance policy? (How To Add Drivers)
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| Melanie Musson is the fourth generation in her family to work in the insurance industry. She grew up with insurance talk as part of her everyday conversation and has studied to gain an in-depth knowledge of state-specific car insurance laws and dynamics as well as a broad understanding of how insurance fits into every person's life, from budgets to coverage levels. She also specializes in automa... Full Bio → | Reviewed by Melanie Musson |
UPDATED: Jun 19, 2020
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Here's what you need to know...
- Your car insurance will cover damage to your vehicle regardless of who was driving at the time of the accident
- Only regular drivers of your vehicle need to be added to your car insurance policy
- Excluded drivers won't be covered by your policy and shouldn't drive your vehicle
Are you wondering, "Can I add anyone to my insurance policy?" There are a few reasons this might be necessary. Maybe you need to add your newly licensed child or you've just gotten married and would like to add your spouse to the policy. Perhaps you've fallen ill and need someone to use your car to cater to your needs during this time.
Whatever your reason for adding someone to your policy, navigating the process of doing so doesn't have to be difficult.
In this simple guide, we'll explain how to add someone to your car insurance policy, go through the most common reasons for doing so, and explain how this process can affect the cost of your car insurance policy.
If you want to compare rates for drivers in your household, use our free comparison quote tool right now.
How much extra does it cost to add someone to a car insurance policy?
How much is it to add someone to your car insurance?
How much your rates will increase or whether they will increase at all depends on a variety of different factors. These factors include place of residence, the new driver's driving record, and the new driver's credit rating. Once you submit the new driver's information to your insurance provider, they will be able to tell you how the addition will affect your insurance rates.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), a good review of your insurance policy can save you a lot of money, as well.
If the new driver has a clean driving record, chances are your rates won't increase all that much. On the other hand, if the new driver has a history of reckless driving, multiple traffic tickets, or is a teenage driver, your rates may increase significantly.
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You can also take a look at the website for the Insurance Information Institute for advice on how to lower your insurance costs.
How much does adding a teen driver increase your auto insurance?
If your teenager has a learner's permit, in most cases they will be covered by your insurance policy. The same applies to a teenage driver with a regular driver's license unless they have a vehicle and auto insurance policy of their own. You can find the guidelines for the teen graduated license program by visiting the website for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In most cases, though, you're required to add a teenage driver to your policy if they plan to drive any of your vehicles on a regular basis. The only alternative to this would be for the teenager to purchase their own policy.
Unfortunately, adding a young driver to your car insurance policy is likely to raise your rates significantly. Drivers under the age of 25 pay a lot more for car insurance than other age brackets.
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Younger drivers pay higher insurance prices because they're considered more likely to take risks or make mistakes while driving, meaning they're more likely to file a claim.
Depending on your situation, as a teen driver, you may be asking one of two questions: "Can I put insurance on a car that is not in my name?" or "Can I be on my parent's insurance if my car is in my name?" The answer to both of these questions is yes. In most cases, it actually benefits you to get coverage through your parents whether or not the car is in your name.
As a parent you may also be asking one of two questions, "Can I add a car to my insurance that is not in my name?" or "Can I add someone else's car to my insurance?" If your child's car is in their name, in most cases, you can still add them to your car insurance policy.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) offers some tips and advice for young and new drivers.
Auto insurance rates for young men are even higher than those for young women. Men under 20 pay an average of 14 percent more per year for car insurance than women in the same age bracket. Between the ages of 20 and 24, male drivers pay 8 percent more than their female counterparts.
There are a couple of ways you can save money on your car insurance policy if you have to add a teenage driver. First of all, make sure to check with your insurance company to see if you qualify for any discounts for your child, such as a good student discount.
If your teenager is only in the home part time, you may also be able to save money on your policy. Some companies will offer a discount on your policy during the months that your teenager is away from home.
Maybe your teenager is away at college for part of the year, or maybe you share custody with their other parent. In most cases, when it comes to adding teenage drivers to your insurance, it really comes down to how often the teenager will actually be driving the car. If they spend equal time at both parents' houses, but also drive both parents' cars regularly, it may be a smart idea to add the teenager to both parents' policies.
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Does automobile insurance follow the car or the driver?
Most car insurance policies follow the vehicle rather than the driver. This means that damage to your vehicle will be covered by insurance regardless of who is driving the car at the time of an accident.
Despite this, it's always a wise idea to add a driver to your policy if they have consistent access to your vehicle. Adding a driver ensures that any possible claims will be covered and processed promptly and efficiently, even if this means you have to insure a car this is already insured by someone else.
In most cases, if you lend your car to someone, they're considered a permissive driver and your car insurance will cover the costs if they're involved in an automobile accident. There are some exceptions to this rule, however. Unless your spouse or other household members are specifically excluded, they are most likely covered by your policy, as well.
Does your auto insurance cover anyone who drives your car?
Since automobile insurance generally follows the car and not the driver, in most cases your auto insurance coverage will cover anyone driving your car as long as they are considered a permissive driver.
There are some cases in which your insurance company may reject a claim for an incident that occurs while you are not driving your own vehicle. For example, this may happen if a friend or family member borrows your car without permission. If you can prove that this was the case, then they would be liable for any damages they caused.
Who needs to be listed on your personal car insurance policy?
Almost all insurers require that each licensed member of your household be listed, or specifically excluded, from your auto insurance policy. Failure to do so can result in your claim being rejected for misrepresentation if you need to file an automobile insurance claim.
This means that your auto insurance provider will most likely not pay out on your claim since you didn't give the company all of the relevant information to assess your risk when setting your policy price.
If you're newly married, you may want to add your new spouse to your auto insurance policy. When doing so, you can list them as either a co-owner or a named driver on the policy.
If you choose to list your spouse as a co-owner, you're giving them all of the same rights over the policy that you have. They'll be able to make payments, add, remove, or change coverage, and file claims. They'll also be able to take any vehicles listed on the policy to the shop for repairs because the insurance company's payment will be accessible to both owners listed on the auto insurance policy.
If you choose to list your spouse as a named driver, their access to the policy would be limited to their coverage by it. Listed drivers are only on the policy so that the insurance company will know who will be driving the car and so that they can properly assess risk factors and set policy rates.
What is a named driver?
A named driver is any driver who is specifically named as a listed driver. Adding someone as a named driver to your auto insurance means that they are also covered under the policy should they be involved in an incident while they are driving the vehicle.
As we mentioned above, named drivers are only on the policy so that insurance companies know who has access to the vehicle and can set their rates accordingly. Listed drivers have very little control over the policy itself.
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What is an unlisted driver?
An unlisted driver is any driver who is not specifically listed as a named driver or specifically omitted as an excluded driver on your auto insurance policy.
What is the financial consequence if an unlisted driver causes a crash in your car?
In many cases, if an unlisted driver causes an accident while driving your vehicle, your insurance provider will cover the cost of the damages. This is only the case, though, if the driver is considered to be a permissive driver.
There are some cases in which this would not apply, though. Your insurance company may reject your claim if the person driving your vehicle is found to be driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or does not have a valid driver's license.
If the driver does not have an auto insurance policy of their own that would validate the legality of them driving in the first place your claim may also be rejected, and the driver could be on the hook for any damages they caused.
Loaning your vehicle to a friend or family member is always risky. Not only could someone cause damage to your vehicle, but any claims caused by that driver would count against your driving record. The owner of a vehicle is responsible for any damage that the vehicle might cause. You should always be careful who you lend your keys to.
Some car insurance companies are especially strict about unlisted drivers. While most policies will cover a vehicle regardless of who's behind the wheel, some will deny a claim if the driver is not listed on the insurance policy. You should be sure to check with your agent to verify what type of policy you have before you allow anyone else to drive your vehicle. A claim denial could lead to damaged credit and even a suspended license if the damage is substantial.
Can your insurance cover the damage caused by an unlisted driver?
The question of whether an unlisted driver is covered under your insurance policy really depends on whether or not the insurance company considers that driver to be a permissive driver or an unlisted driver.
A permissive driver is normally covered under your insurance policy. A permissive driver is usually defined as someone you've given permission to drive your vehicle who doesn't drive it regularly.
The rules and regulations surrounding the coverage of permissive drivers can get complicated, so it's always best to be cautious. If someone else will be driving your vehicle, it may be wise to simply add them to the policy to avoid headaches in the future and to make sure any accidents are covered.
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Does a named driver have to live at the same address?
Can I add someone to my insurance policy who doesn't live with me? Can I add a family member to my car insurance even if they live elsewhere? While some companies will not allow you to add someone outside of the household to your automobile policy, many will, as it's to their benefit to know who is driving the vehicle.
So, if you're wondering, "Can I add someone to my car insurance that doesn't live with me?" Geico may have one answer while Allstate may have another, so it is best to check with your insurance company to make sure.
There are a number of reasons why you might choose to add someone outside of the family home to your auto insurance policy. While in most cases, temporary permissive drivers are already covered under your existing policy, you'll want to add anyone who will be driving your vehicle with any frequency as a listed driver on the policy to ensure their coverage in case you need to file a claim.
Does everyone in a household need to be listed on a car insurance policy?
Generally, you can add anyone that you'd like to your auto insurance policy. Often, drivers listed on the policy must live in the same household as the policyholder, but that's not always the case. Generally, anyone who has frequent access to your vehicle should be added as a driver.
There are a few people that you should definitely add to your policy to ensure they'll be covered if you need to file a claim:
- Teenage drivers
- Other household members who regularly use the vehicle
- Anyone living outside of the home who regularly uses the vehicle
While most policies will cover permissive drivers, this is not always the case, and it's best to include them on the policy to ensure coverage. It's better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to auto insurance.
Should your roommate be listed on your car insurance policy?
Any time you live with another individual, whether as a domestic partner, relative or roommate, that person will be assumed to have access to your vehicle. This means that in the eyes of your insurance, the person you live with must be accounted for on your policy in some way. Generally, this means you'll either need to include or exclude that person as a driver.
Including your roommate as a driver on your policy allows that person to drive your vehicle and ensures that any accidents they cause will be covered. It also extends first-party medical coverage to your roommate, meaning that their injuries would be covered under your insurance. If your roommate has frequent access to your vehicle, this may be the right choice for you.
If your friend is the one with the vehicle and you are wondering "Can I add my friend's car to my insurance policy?" the answer would be yes in most cases, but it is always best to check with your insurance provider to make sure.
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What happens when you add a driver to your insurance?
Once you've decided that it's necessary to add someone to your auto insurance policy, the process of doing so is fairly simple. All you need to do is contact your insurance provider with the proper information about the new driver to add them to the policy. Your insurance provider will let you know what your new insurance rates will be and when the policy becomes effective.
Once the policy is in effect, anyone that you added to the policy as a listed driver will have the same auto insurance coverage that you carry while they're driving the vehicle listed on the policy.
If you think the price you're offered is too expensive, you may choose to gather quotes and compare car insurance companies. When it comes to car insurance, some companies offer better rates than others for new drivers, teenage drivers, and other demographics. Some companies also offer significant multi-driver and other discounts that might make switching to a new car insurance provider completely worth it.
What details are needed to add a named driver?
The insurance company will ask about all the same information for the new driver as it asked about you when you signed up for the policy, such as driver's license number, age, driving record details, etc.
Once you've submitted all the proper information, the insurance company will be able to properly screen the new driver and will let you know what your new policy rate will be. The actual cost of the insurance policy will depend on a number of different factors, including the types of coverage you have and the new driver's driving record, among others.
Do you have to list all drivers on your insurance?
When considering who does and doesn't need to be added to your policy, it really comes down to how often the person will be driving your vehicle. If the driver would be considered a permissive driver, then it may not be necessary to add them to the policy. If they're a regular driver, you'd need to add them to your policy as a listed driver.
It's important to note the difference between a permissive driver and a regular driver.
Imagine if you were driving with a friend and you suddenly fell ill and needed that friend to drive you home, or if you needed to send a friend to pick up supplies for you while you were sick. In both of these situations, your friend would be considered a permissive driver and would most likely be covered under your policy with no need to name them as a listed driver.
However, if your friend's car breaks down and you decide to lend them yours for a couple of weeks to get to work, then your friend would be considered a regular driver and would most likely need to be added to your car insurance policy as a listed driver.
Why should you list people on your policy who drive your car occasionally?
While most insurance companies will cover permissive drivers, some will not, so it's always best to check with your auto insurance agent before letting anyone drive your vehicle. If you're concerned that someone who only drives your car occasionally may not be covered under your policy, check with your insurance agent. If they're not covered, you'll need to add them to your policy.
In some cases, even if your auto insurance company does provide coverage for permissive drivers, you may choose to add them to the policy anyway, since doing so guarantees their coverage in the case of an automobile accident.
Can I add someone to my car insurance for a week if I am lending them my car? Again, you may not need to add the person, but you should verify with your insurance company.
Can you add a driver to your car insurance temporarily?
Many car insurance policyholders add drivers to their insurance policies on a temporary basis. They do so in order to make sure that any driver who is driving their car temporarily is covered under the terms of the policy.
There are a number of reasons that someone may choose to add a driver to their policy on a temporary basis. For example, many parents opt to add their teenagers to their car insurance policies during the summer months only if those children are away at college for the rest of the year and do not have access to the family vehicle.
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What is an excluded driver?
An excluded driver is someone who is specifically excluded from your auto insurance policy and therefore is not covered under the terms of the policy. An excluded driver is different from an unlisted driver since an unlisted driver may be covered under your policy if they're deemed to be a permissive driver.
Excluding a driver means that they are never allowed to drive your vehicle. Their driving history will not affect your insurance premiums and any accident they cause with your vehicle would not be covered by your insurance.
Because these claims would be denied, it's imperative not to allow excluded drivers to use your vehicle. If your roommate is a bad driver, or has a history of DUI convictions and/or other driving infractions, and they never drive your vehicle, you may want to exclude them from your policy.
How do you exclude someone from your car insurance?
Excluding someone from your car insurance is a fairly easy process. You simply need to contact your insurance agent and ask them to list the person as an excluded driver.
Your insurance agent will provide you with the proper paperwork and let you know what information they need. Doing this will ensure that the excluded driver's information will not be used to determine your car insurance rates.
Can you exclude your spouse from your car insurance?
You may choose to exclude your spouse from your car insurance policy. It's important to remember, however, that excluding your spouse from your auto insurance means that they are not allowed to drive your vehicle and will not be covered under your car insurance policy.
How long is a driver excluded from a car insurance policy?
When you exclude someone from your car insurance policy, that exclusion will last until the policy ends or is canceled or until you contact the insurance company and ask for the person to be removed as an excluded driver. You can remove someone as an excluded whenever you'd like, though it may take some time for the changes to go into effect on your policy. You'll need to check with your car insurance agent to find out how long after removing the excluded driver the changes will go into effect on your policy.
Does an excluded driver affect the cost of insurance?
Excluding a driver from your car insurance means that they will not be covered under the policy and are not allowed to drive the vehicle listed on the policy.
This also means that the insurance company will not take any of the excluded driver's information into account when setting your car insurance rates since the excluded driver will not be covered. Therefore, the excluded driver has absolutely no effect on the cost of your car insurance.
How do you make an excluded driver eligible to drive again?
You can contact your car insurance company at any time and have an excluded driver added to your policy as a listed driver. This change would mean that the previously excluded driver would now be covered under your policy. It also means that the previously excluded driver's information will be used to calculate your car insurance rates.
If an excluded driver has moved out of your household, you can also have them removed from the policy completely by contacting your car insurance agent.
Why would you have an excluded driver on your car insurance policy?
In many cases, car insurance providers require that all members of your household with a valid driver's license be listed as either named drivers or excluded drivers on your car insurance policy.
The reason for this is that car insurance companies expect that anyone in your household will have access to your vehicle. By requiring you to list them as either a named driver or an excluded driver, they avoid having to determine whether or not they are a permissive driver in the event that they drive your vehicle and are involved in an accident.
If the licensed drivers in your household will not be driving your vehicle or have an auto insurance policy of their own, you may choose to list them as excluded drivers rather than add them to your policy.
What states allow driver exclusion?
Listing someone on your policy as an excluded driver is usually done for one of two reasons. The first is that your car insurance provider requires anyone in your household to be listed as an excluded driver or a named driver. The second is that you have chosen to exclude a high-risk driver from your auto insurance policy.
However, there are a few states that do not allow driver exclusion at all. Those states are Kansas, Michigan, New York, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Their reason for not allowing exclusions is that they believe excluded drivers may drive the vehicle anyway, and that by allowing them to be excluded they are creating a group of uninsured drivers.
Can you remove a driver from your insurance?
You can remove a driver from your auto insurance policy at any time simply by contacting your car insurance agent and asking that the person be removed from your policy.
In some cases, if the driver still resides in your home, the insurance company will require that the driver be listed as an excluded driver if they are removed from the policy to avoid liability in the case of an automobile accident.
What is the difference between excluding a driver and removing one?
Excluding a driver from your car insurance policy means that they will not be covered under the terms of the policy under any circumstances. Excluded drivers are not allowed to drive your vehicle.
Removing a driver from your car insurance, however, only means that they are no longer a named driver on the policy. It is possible that they may still be covered under the terms of your car insurance policy. For example, if your child moves out and into their own place, you may remove them from your policy. However, if they come to visit and you lend them your vehicle, your car insurance company may still cover them as a permissive driver if they are involved in an accident.
Use our free quote tool to start comparison shopping for car insurance and compare rates for the drivers in your household now.
Why does adding a named driver sometimes make your car insurance cheaper?
When car insurance companies decide which rates to issue to their customers, they do so based on an assessment of risk. Because of this, it's possible you might actually get cheaper car insurance rates by adding someone to your policy.
For example, if a high-risk driver were to add a low-risk driver to their policy, it is highly likely that the price for the policy would go down instead of up since the overall risk in the eyes of the car insurance company has decreased.
Can I Add Anyone to My Car Insurance
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