How to Add Someone to Your Car Insurance

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Quick Answer

You can add someone to your car insurance by calling your insurer or using your online account. Check with your insurance company: Drivers in your household may already be covered automatically, depending on the insurer and state law.

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You can add someone to your car insurance by calling your insurer or making the change via your online account. Check with your insurance company about its rules: If the person lives with you, it may in fact be an insurance company requirement to add them to your policy—or they may be covered automatically.

Some insurers don't include household members related to you on your car insurance policy, however, and you'll need to add them yourself. You may also need to add a family member who doesn't live with you if they drive your car often and you want them covered. Here's how to do it.

When Do You Need to Add a Driver to Your Car Insurance?

In the scenarios below, you'll likely be required by your insurance company to add a driver to your car insurance policy. Some insurers may include these drivers automatically in your policy if they live with you and are related to you, but you'll need to make the change yourself for others.

Cases in which a driver should be added to your car insurance include:

  • Your teenage child either starts driving with a learner's permit or has their own driver's license, depending on the state. (In California, for example, teens are covered by their parent's policy when they get their learner's permit.)
  • A roommate or partner moves in.
  • You get married.
  • Your college-age child stays in your home and drives your car during breaks from school.
  • A friend or family member who doesn't live with you drives your car frequently.

There's a difference between adding someone to your car insurance policy and having a joint policy. If you choose to add a driver to your insurance, that person will likely be covered if they drive your car and get into an accident. Purchasing a joint policy, however, means you and the other driver have your own cars and share one insurance policy, which may be easier to manage or save you money if you share finances.

Learn more: How to Get the Best Insurance for Teens and Drivers Under 25

How to Add a Driver to Your Car Insurance

To add a driver to your existing insurance policy, follow these steps:

1. Gather the Required Information

You'll likely need to provide your insurance company with several pieces of data for the additional driver. That includes their:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Driver's license number
  • Date when they first got their driver's license
  • Driving history
  • The vehicle identification number (VIN), a 17-character number that's specific to their car; you'll need this if they have their own car and you'd like your policy to cover both your own car and theirs

2. Call Your Car Insurer

Next, call the insurance company to make the change. Or you can log in to your online account and see if it includes an option to add a driver. You may be able to use the company's mobile app to update your policy or chat online with a customer service representative, depending on what the company offers.

3. Ask About Discounts

When you contact the insurance company, ask whether the additional driver qualifies for any discounts that can lower your car insurance rates. There may be discounts for:

  • Teen drivers with good grades or strong standardized test scores
  • Older adults who have completed a defensive driving course or teens who complete driver's ed
  • Employees of certain companies
  • Members of certain organizations, like alumni associations or the military
  • Drivers with clean driving records, such as no accidents or moving violations within a specific number of years
  • Driving under a certain number of miles per year
  • Homeowners

How Much Does It Cost to Add a Driver to My Insurance?

Adding a driver doesn't cost anything on its own, but it will impact your insurance premium. Many factors influence your car insurance rates, which means the additional driver's accident record, age and gender can all have an effect. But if the additional driver's record means a higher premium—which could be the case with, for example, a new teen driver—discounts could limit the increase in your costs.

Learn more: How to Save on Car Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. There's no specific time frame during which you must add a driver in order for them to be covered by your policy. But if someone will be using your car often, add them as soon as possible so they're covered in the event of an accident.

You can either add your teenager to your existing car insurance policy or buy a separate policy for them. In many cases, adding them to your existing insurance is likely the cheaper option.

If they truly only use the car occasionally and they don't live with you, they don't need to be added to your policy. If someone borrows your car with your permission, that person will typically already be covered under your car insurance policy—but only as long as they don't drive your car regularly. Also, your insurance may not cover them if they use your car to conduct business. Reach out to your insurance company to understand your coverage if you foresee that someone may borrow your car for commercial reasons, such as making deliveries with Postmates or Instacart.

As a general rule, you should add someone to your policy if they drive your car on a regular basis. Even if they already have their own insurance, that's OK—they can be named on more than one policy.

The Bottom Line

Knowing when and whether to add a driver to your car insurance policy often depends on your insurer, and perhaps state regulations where you live. When you decide to add a driver to your policy, the process can be quick, and may not have a major impact on your premium if you and the added driver qualify for discounts. To make sure you're getting the best car insurance deal out there, use a tool like Experian's to compare quotes and even switch your coverage.

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About the author

Brianna McGurran is a freelance journalist and writing teacher based in Brooklyn, New York. Most recently, she was a staff writer and spokesperson at the personal finance website NerdWallet, where she wrote "Ask Brianna," a financial advice column syndicated by the Associated Press.

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