How to add drivers to your car insurance policy

Want to cover another driver under your insurance? The process should take no time at all, but it’s important to be aware of the impact of adding or removing a driver could have on your insurance. Let’s take a look.

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

You may not face an extra fee for adding or removing drivers, but you’re likely to pay more on your premiums.

How your car insurance rates are affected will depend on the driver. Insurance providers determine rates based on a range of factors such as the driver’s age, gender, student status and driving history. Being able to prove you have a good driving history may help lower your premium.

Adding a teen driver or driver with multiple accidents or claims will likely raise your premium. Insurance companies deem these drivers a high risk due to driving inexperience or likelihood of filing a claim.

If you have a young driver on your policy, you may be able to reduce your premium by encouraging your teen to have a clean driving record, instal a telematics device and take driver safety courses.

What if I don’t want someone on my policy?

You might not want to give everyone living in your home permission or coverage to drive your car, especially if they’re a new driver or have a history of getting into accidents.

In that case, ask your insurer about excluding certain drivers from using your car. Otherwise, your insurer might assume that anyone living at or visiting your home has permission to drive your car, and any accident they have in your car would go through your insurance.

What are drivers on my policy covered for?

Car insurance typically follows the car, not the driver. Generally, your policy will maintain the same coverage, no matter which named driver is behind the wheel.

Your liability coverage will still cover medical bills and vehicle damage to the other person involved in an accident, even if the secondary driver was at fault. Your collision coverage would cover your own car’s damages, and you’d file a claim with your insurance as normal.

However, check how your insurance handles coverage for secondary drivers, especially with add-ons like medical payments. Some policies will consider your insurance as the primary coverage until you reach your limits, then use your secondary driver’s insurance to cover expenses past your maximum coverage.

What if someone not on my policy borrows my car?

At times, you might choose to lend your car to a friend, coworker or family member not on your insurance. Generally, your liability and collision coverage will still come into effect in this scenario.

If your friend causes an accident, your insurance would kick in to cover the other driver involved in the accident. Your collision policy should also cover your own vehicle damages.

However, personal injury and medical payments will likely not cover a person who isn’t named on the policy. Your friend’s insurance may cover their own medical expenses and act as secondary insurance if damages go above your policy’s limit.

Be sure to check how your insurance company handles these situations before lending out your vehicle.

What if someone borrows or steals my car without my permission?

You might have to use your car insurance if someone uses your car without your permission.

Say a friend or family member borrows your car without permission and gets in an accident. You’ll probably need proof that you denied permission if you’d prefer they pay for damages through their own insurance.

If a thief steals your car and gets into an accident, you’ll most likely need your insurance to pay for damages unless the thief can be found and made to pay up.

Adding a new driver with their own car

If you’re adding a new car and a new driver to your policy, you may be eligible for bundling discounts. But you’ll need to make sure you’re clear with the insurance as to which driver uses which car.

So if a teenager has a car that they primarily drive, for example, the parent shouldn’t be listed as the primary driver. This practice of listing a false primary driver, also called fronting, can lead to denied claims.

Most insurance providers stick to a general rule of one car per driver in a household. And many will require an explanation if you list yourself as the primary driver on multiple vehicles.

Bottom line

You should add a driver to your car insurance policy if they drive your car regularly and live at your address. Most of the time secondary drivers involve family members, but roommates and other regular drivers might need your coverage too.

The process of adding or removing these drivers should be easy. When in doubt, call your insurance. Customer service should be happy to answer questions and take care of changing information for you.

Frequently asked questions

How can I get the best rates after adding or removing a driver?

Check with your insurance company about discounts or programs that may apply in your new situation. Also, you can ensure the best rates by shopping around every two to three years or during changes like moving or adding a new driver.

What’s the difference between removing vs. excluding a driver?

Removing a driver simply takes that driver off your insurance policy as a regular driver. Your coverage will still be active if they occasionally drive your car with permission.

Excluding a driver essentially bans the person from receiving any coverage when using your vehicle, which can be a good idea if that driver has a bad driving record. However, be sure that driver will not be using your vehicle, or you may be liable for all damages after an accident anyway.

Can I add a temporary driver to my insurance?

Some insurance companies offer special coverage for temporary drivers. For example, if your relative is visiting for the summer and wants to drive your car, they can purchase non-owner liability to cover damages if they have an accident.

However, if you’d prefer to cover the driver yourself, contact your insurance company to learn about available options. You could also consider buying temporary car insurance from a company specializing in these situations.