Adding a Driver to Your Car Insurance

There are many reasons you should add someone onto your auto insurance policy. If you have a child who has just started driving, or even if you have someone living with you who uses your car frequently, getting them on your policy if they don't have their own coverage protects both of you.

How do you add a driver to your car insurance?

Adding someone to your auto insurance policy is as simple as contacting your car insurance provider. You can call them directly to make the change, but many car insurance companies also offer the option of doing it online through their website.

To add someone to your car insurance, you will need the following information beforehand:

• Their full name
• Their Social Security number
• Drivers license number
• How long they've been driving
• Their driving record, including any accidents or violations

How much does it cost to add a driver to your car insurance?

How much it costs to add someone to your car insurance policy depends on multiple factors, including the provider, the ages of the drivers on the policy and the driving records of the drivers. We compiled the following sample quotes for a 35-year-old driver with a clean record looking for a car insurance through Allstate, as well as three quotes for adding 18-, 35- and 65-year-old drivers, respectively, to a policy.

As you can see, adding a teen driver to your current policy adds almost $1,000 to your premium, while adding someone in the 35-year range or 65-year range results in a comparatively lower hike. These increases depending on age tend to be relatively consistent across providers.

Keep in mind that car insurance companies will offer different quotes depending on multiple factors. It's in your best interest to compare car insurance quotes from multiple providers to make sure you get the best coverage at the best cost.

Does adding someone to your car insurance make your rate increase?

As you can see from the numbers above, adding someone to your current policy can raise your rates. Teen drivers pay the highest rates for car insurance of any age demographic. If you're adding a child who's just started driving to your car insurance, expect a jump in your premium. However, it's still probably going to be cheaper than if the child was to get a policy of their own.

Adding a senior driver to your car insurance can raise rates, simply because of the risk involved with decreased reaction time that affects us all as we age. Still, the increase will be minimal compared to adding a child driver onto a policy.

The driving history of the driver you're adding to your policy can affect your rates as well. If the driver has tickets, accidents or a DUI on their record, you can probably expect to see higher rates.

On the flip side, if you are a young driver and add an older driver to your car insurance policy, it isn't unusual to see your rates decrease.

Which companies allow you to add a driver to your car insurance policy?

The majority of car insurance providers permit policyholders to add drivers to your policy. The key difference between all of them is how much they charge on your premium for you to do so. Again, compare quotes to make sure you're getting your best deal.

Who should you add as a driver to your car insurance policy?

You can usually add the following to your car insurance with relative ease:

• A spouse
• Children of driving age
• Family members living in the household

There are some car insurance companies that will want you to add anyone who lives with you onto your policy if they don't have one of their own and have access to your vehicle. If this doesn't make you comfortable, it's a good time to shop around.

How many drivers can you add to your car insurance policy?

The maximum number of people you can add to your auto insurance policy is going to vary from provider to provider, but most companies will let you add four or five drivers, depending on if they meet the insurer's criteria for coverage.

Can you add a driver to your car insurance temporarily?

It's usually not a problem if you want to temporarily add a driver to your policy, but it may not even be necessary. Many car insurers allow "permissive use." This means that the policy will cover whoever's driving the car, up to a point. Whether or not your car insurance includes permissive use should be noted on the declaration page of your policy.

"Up to a point" are the key words here. The coverage permitted to someone who is not a named driver on your policy can be limited. Also, you may have to pay a higher deductible if you file a permissive use-related claim.

The frequency in which the driver you want to add uses the car should be a consideration in whether or not you add them temporarily. If they're just going to be using the car for a couple hours or a day or two, it probably isn't necessary. If they're driving the car for a week or two, consider adding them on to protect yourself.

What's the difference between a named driver and an additional driver?

A named driver, as the title implies, is listed in your car insurance policy. A named driver gets the full protection of the policy in the event of an accident. An additional driver usually only gets limited liability protection if they're involved in an accident in the insured car. To simplify it, a named driver extends portions of their coverage to an additional driver.

Methodology

The data used in this article is based on a 35-year-old male driver with a clean record. He owns a 2012 Honda Accord LX and drives an average 13,500 miles a year.

References:

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