Insurance Car Insurance

Adding a Driver to Your Car Insurance Really Is This Easy

Add a partner, roommate or family member to your insurance with one phone call or by filling out an online form.

Two people driving a car after adding a driver to car insurance
Updated Sept. 23, 2024
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The process of adding a driver to your car insurance policy is usually simple and can be done either over the phone or through your online account. Either option should be a straightforward and relatively quick process.

Let’s explore the two methods for adding a driver to insurance and the potential impact on your insurance premiums.

How to add a driver to your car insurance

Many insurance companies make the process of adding a driver to your insurance policy simple, whether by making a phone call or completing a form online.

Before you begin, make sure you have important information about the driver, such as:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Marital status
  • Age they received a driver’s license
  • Driver’s license number
  • Issuing state of their driver’s license
  • Whether they need an SR-22 financial responsibility certificate
  • Any applicable discount information, including whether they’re a student or have taken a defensive driving course

Add a driver online

To add a driver online, you can log in to your account, select a policy, and choose the option to add a driver to your account. Enter the information about the driver, such as name, date of birth and driver’s license number, and submit the changes.

Add a driver by phone

If you can’t or don’t want to add a driver online, you can also do it by phone. To add a driver to your insurance policy over the phone, locate the phone number of your insurance provider on your insurance card, in your online account, or on the company website. Inform the insurance agent of your intention to add a driver, and they will guide you through the next steps.

Who should you add to your car insurance?

A general rule of thumb is that you should add anyone who lives in your household and drives your vehicle. This will help ensure that any applicable damages are covered by your insurance if there’s a car accident. You could even risk losing your coverage if a household member is behind the wheel when an accident occurs but isn’t listed on your policy, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Keep in mind
Your ability to add a driver to your car insurance policy may vary depending on your insurer and the state you live in. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to understand their guidelines and the laws in your state.

People who you may want to add to your car insurance as a driver might include:

  • Spouse
  • Partner or significant other
  • Child who’s a licensed driver
  • Roommate
  • Friend, if they live with you

When should you add someone to your insurance?

It’s a good idea to add someone to your auto policy if they might drive your car more than occasionally. Occasionally borrowing your car is typically covered under a “permissive use” clause, but not every insurer includes this clause, which grants you the right to permit someone to use your car and still be covered by your policy.

A few examples of when you might want to add a person to your policy include:

  • When they live with you: Roommates, housemates, and other people who share long-term living arrangements with you could be considered to have access to your car.
  • When you’re moving in together: If you and your significant other are moving in together, it makes sense to add them to your policy as a named insured.
  • When you get married: You can add your spouse to your policy after you get married, even if they retain their own car insurance.
  • When they earn their driver’s license: When your child, roommate, or family member becomes a licensed driver, they’ll need to be insured to drive legally.
  • When they’re your caregiver: If someone regularly drives you places, such as to appointments, using your car, you may want to add them to your insurance.

Keep in mind that not every type of vehicle use requires adding the user to your auto policy. For example, the following situations don’t require adding someone to your insurance:

  • A friend who borrows your car when they visit every once in a while
  • A roommate who has their own car
  • A family member who helps you drive on a road trip
  • A child at college who has their own vehicle
  • A partner or significant other who has their own place and means of transportation

How much does it cost to add a driver to an insurance policy?

The actual car insurance cost of adding a driver to your policy depends on various factors, including the driver’s age, gender, driving history, and driving experience. You also have to consider whether the new driver is adding a vehicle as well.

Keep in mind
Because these factors vary by situation, you can’t predict how much adding a driver to your car insurance will cost. That’s why you may want to get a quote online or reach out to your agent to find out how much your premium could change.

Adding a driver doesn’t always mean your car insurance premiums will drastically increase. For example, if you’re a younger driver, adding an experienced older driver with a good driving record may not significantly impact the premium.

On the other hand, adding a teen driver or a driver who doesn’t have a clean driving record (considered a high-risk driver) typically increases your premium.

Your premium will typically increase if you add a driver to your insurance policy along with their vehicle.

If adding another driver to your policy will increase your rates, you may want to review your coverage to make sure it’s still appropriate for your needs. Increasing your deductibles can lower your car insurance rates. It’s typically best to find a balance between having sufficient coverage and decreasing your premiums.

Learn the difference between liability versus full coverage auto insurance to decide the exact level of protection you need.

FAQs

Does adding a driver increase the insurance cost?

Adding a driver to your auto insurance policy may increase the cost of your premium. Whether it increases your insurance rate depends on a few different factors, including the person’s driving record and whether you’re adding another vehicle as well.

Your auto insurance rates will likely increase if the additional driver doesn’t have a clean driving record. Adding another vehicle to your policy typically increases your insurance cost as well.

Can you have two main drivers on car insurance?

Yes, you can have two main drivers on a car insurance policy. It’s common for multiple drivers to share a car insurance policy if they live together or regularly drive the vehicles on the policy. For example, a married couple might have one shared policy rather than two separate policies because they both use the vehicles and live at the same residence.

Who is responsible if a driver I added to my policy crashes my car?

If a driver you added to your car insurance policy crashes your car, your insurance company will typically be responsible for covering the costs of the accident based on your coverage.

If you have liability coverage, the insurance company will normally pay for the other driver's medical bills, property damage, and other related expenses up to the limits of your policy. If you have comprehensive coverage, the insurance company will also pay for your vehicle's damages.

That being said, as the policyholder, you will generally be responsible for paying any applicable deductibles when a driver you added to your policy causes an accident. Additionally, your insurance premiums may increase in the future as a result, because insurance companies use past claims history when setting premiums.

Bottom line

The process for adding a driver to your insurance is often straightforward and can be done over the phone or online. However, it might not make sense to add another driver to your policy if they rarely use your vehicle, have their own vehicle, or don’t live with you.

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Author Details

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®, is credit cards specialist. For over a decade, he's leveraged credit card points and miles to travel the world. His expertise extends to other areas of personal finance — including loans, insurance, investing, and real estate — and you can find his insights on The Washington Post, Debt.com, Yahoo! Finance, and Fox Business.

Author Details

Mary Beth Eastman

Mary Beth Eastman is a personal finance writer and editor specializing in credit cards, loans, banking, and real estate. She’s been published by major national brands, including Bankrate, U.S. News & World Report, and Newsweek Vault, among others. Previously, she worked as an award-winning copy editor and newspaper designer for daily news outlets in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio.