Can You Share Car Insurance if Not Married
| Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo... Full Bio → | Reviewed by Joel Ohman |
UPDATED: Jan 26, 2021
Advertiser Disclosure
It's all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don't influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
Here's What You Need to Know
- Unmarried couples can get car insurance together, though it often depends on your car insurance needs and your provider's requirements
- If you have two vehicles, purchasing multi-car insurance and creating a joint household through your provider may be an option
- If the two of you have different providers, you may need to add each other as an additional driver on your respective policies
- Some insurance providers offer discounts for multiple policies, so you may want to explore this option
- Be sure to compare rates from different providers if you and your partner are looking to purchase insurance together
Purchasing car insurance as a couple when you're unmarried can seem like a daunting process.
However, shopping for new car insurance or adding an unmarried partner to your policy is a simple change. Your needs may vary based on your living situation and how many cars you own.
The first step to joint car insurance for unmarried couples is understanding your car insurance policy. When considering the options, make sure to figure in any potential discounts for switching coverage or adding policies with your provider. Read this guide for steps you can take to get the right insurance for your needs.
If you're looking for affordable joint car insurance for unmarried couples, compare car insurance quotes to find the best policy for your unique needs. Enter your ZIP code into our free rate comparison tool to get started.
Can unmarried couples share car insurance?
The sharing of a household by an unmarried couple is referred to as cohabitation. In a cohabitation situation, can you share insurance? The short answer is yes, but with some caveats, which we'll discuss in this and the following sections.
What is unmarried couple car insurance? Can I add my boyfriend to my car insurance? What about my girlfriend? My domestic partner? Should I add my significant other to my car insurance? Unmarried couples can share car insurance coverage when they're living in the same household or driving the same vehicle.
There are stipulations your insurance provider may place on the policy, though these vary based on the number of cars being insured and the living situation.
Insurance providers often require that you list individuals living in your household on your insurance policy as a driver, regardless of marital status, because your provider assumes someone living in your home may operate your vehicle.
If you don't want to list an individual on your policy and your provider discovers this omission, this could be a red flag they use to consider raising your rates or even not renewing your policy.
Your other option is to specify that the other person in your home is an excluded driver, which means they cannot operate your vehicle.
This label means they are not figured into your insurance coverage premiums, and your policy will not cover the loss if they do drive your vehicle.
When is it a good idea to share an insurance policy with your domestic partner?
If your partner lives with you, you share a vehicle, or they frequently drive your vehicle, it's a good idea to consider sharing an insurance policy. Also, having multiple drivers (and often multiple vehicles) can mean policy discounts that reduce your rates.
When is a good idea to maintain separate car insurance policies?
If you don't live together or don't regularly use each other's vehicles, it may not make sense to share a policy.
In some cases, it may cost you more to share a policy than to maintain separate coverage. For example, if your partner has a poor driving record or some other factor that designates them as high-risk (like poor credit), keeping your policies separate will probably save you money.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What options are there for unmarried couples needing to purchase car insurance?
There are two primary choices for shared insurance households as an unmarried couple; each of these options requires both individuals to be a named insured on the policy.
While your insurance policy may cover individuals that are not listed, a named insured is someone the insurance provider is aware of and can provide additional assistance or information to when a loss occurs.
- One option is to list each other on your respective policies if you own more than one car
- The other option is to have the owner of the shared car list the additional person as a driver
Each option will affect your coverage in different ways, meaning you may qualify for additional discounts or end up paying higher rates depending on how your policy changes.
When two households become one, at least from an insurance provider's perspective, your policies are linked into one joint policy within a single.
Any vehicles listed in the household are assumed to be driven by either household member.
Joining two households into one single household on a single policy works well when there's at least one car per person; you are the primary driver of one, and your partner is the primary driver of the other. However, your insurance provider will consider you both additional drivers on the other vehicles.
There are other benefits to a single household policy, including:
- Easier claim resolution if you are driving another car from the household
- Earning additional discounts for purchasing other product lines
- Multi-car insurance discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same provider
Take a look at this table for specifics on how much you can save with multi-car discounts.
[table "6535" not found /]
Compare RatesStart Now →
Your other option applies to instances where you only have one vehicle or where you and your partner have different insurance providers. For coverage to apply, you can list the other person on your policy as an additional driver, even if they are not in your household.
This provision is allowed since you are not insuring their vehicle; you are merely stating they may drive your car. If you want to purchase joint coverage, this is not the correct option.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How do you remove an individual or vehicle from your car insurance?
When it comes to changing your policy, removing an individual or a vehicle is fairly straightforward. This change can occur when you move out of the house or decide you are no longer a couple.
Removing a driver follows the same process as adding a driver. Contact your insurance provider to remove the individual from your policy. You can choose to remove a vehicle in the same way.
If you are currently sharing joint policies with another person, it's important to make sure the other party has insurance before you cancel their coverage.
Even when two people decide to part ways, it's important to end the agreement amicably.
Remember that your insurance provider may be providing you a discount if you have multiple policies, so be prepared for a possible increase if you remove a vehicle (or driver) from your insurance policy.
What are the pros and cons of joint car insurance for unmarried couples?
To help you decide if a joint policy is right for you and your partner, we've compiled some pros and cons of this approach.
Pros:
- You can save money with multi-vehicle, multi-driver, and even bundling discounts if you choose a joint policy
- A joint policy can be more convenient if you share a household with your partner, as you'll receive and pay a single insurance bill, rather than separate ones
Cons:
- If your partner receives any driving citations, it will affect the overall cost of your insurance since you share a policy
- If you decide to end your relationship, separating insurance can be complicated depending on how the relationship ends, which partner is the primary holder of the policy, and whether you can agree on a specific timeframe for removing the individual/vehicle from your policy
Only you and your partner can decide if a joint policy is right for your needs. We have a few more tips for you, so keep reading for more.
What are some final tips about joint car insurance for married couples?
If you insure someone on your policy who has moved out or is no longer part of your household, your insurance provider may choose to take different courses of action.
This scenario does not include an added driver since these are people that may operate your car but do not need to live in your home.
There are a few reasons why someone may want to remain part of your household after they've moved, such as:
- Cheaper insurance pricing due to your address
- An inability to locate coverage through an alternative provider
- Discounts they qualify for with multiple policies
In many instances, if your insurance provider is aware that someone on your policy no longer lives in your household, an agent will update your policy by removing them and notifying you of the change.
However, according to the Insurance Information Institute, your insurer may also choose to pursue fraud charges if you've left this person on your policy for too long or if you've tried to claim losses that should not have been covered.
If a claim has already been paid out, your insurance provider may even require the settlement amount to be paid back.
Although uncommon, deliberately fraudulent activities can even lead to fines and jail time. If you have questions about insuring another person on your policy, speak to your insurance provider.
It's better to check ahead of time instead of putting yourself in a potentially illegal position.
Joint Car Insurance for Unmarried Couples: The Bottom Line
Unmarried couples can purchase insurance coverage together (a joint policy), or they can alter their current policies to meet their needs.
With joint coverage, all your vehicles and both you and your partner are covered under a single policy, enabling you to have a single insurance bill. This may be difficult, however, if the primary policyholder doesn't own all the vehicles.
If you live together and have multiple cars, purchasing multiple policies, and sharing a household through your insurance provider is another option.
This allows you to have a policy for each vehicle while ensuring you may drive any vehicle on the policies.
If you have only the one vehicle or are not living together, then listing the other person as an added driver may be your only choice.
Car insurance providers can list someone as an additional driver on your policy if you believe they will regularly operate your car.
Make sure to shop around for coverage before making your choice, regardless of which path you pursue. Some insurance providers offer better discounts for multiple lines of insurance or safe driving records, so compare three or four quotes beforehand.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Frequently Asked Questions: Joint Car Insurance for Married Couples
Do you still have questions about quotes for joint car insurance for unmarried couples? Read these frequently asked questions for more information.
#1 – Is there a GEICO marriage discount?
No, there isn't. However, GEICO offers several other discounts.
#2 – How does car insurance work if we're living together, unmarried, and sharing a vehicle?
If you share a vehicle, you should both be listed on the insurance policy. One of you will be considered the primary policyholder, and it will be that person's responsibility to work with the insurance company to add the other partner to the coverage.
#3 – How does car insurance work if we're living together, unmarried, but own and drive different vehicles?
If you each own your own vehicle, it will be difficult to purchase joint auto insurance. In most cases, the insurance company requires the primary policyholder to be the owner of both vehicles. In this situation, your best bet is to add each other as drivers on your respective insurance policies.
Ready to buy joint car insurance for unmarried couples? Enter your ZIP code in our free tool to begin comparing rates for joint car insurance for unmarried couples today and save on your rates.
Related Links
Can You Share Car Insurance if Not Married
Source: https://www.carinsurancecomparison.com/joint-auto-insurance-for-unmarried-couples/