Does Being Married Lower Your Car Insurance?

Does Getting Married Lower Car Insurance?

Married people usually pay less for car insurance because single people are statistically more likely to file auto insurance claims. On top of the discount just for being married, couples frequently benefit from the multi-vehicle discounts many insurance companies offer for insuring more than one vehicle on the same policy.

On average, married people pay $2,122 annually for car insurance, while single people pay an average of $2,413, according to Experian data.

Do I Need to Add My Spouse to My Car Insurance?

There's no law that requires you to add your spouse to your car insurance. However, insurance companies generally require listing all the licensed drivers in your household on your car insurance, including your spouse. (In some states, you're allowed to exclude family members in your household, including a spouse, from your policy.)

If you and your spouse live separately, you must each have your own car insurance policy, since your vehicles are kept at different residences.

Are Spouses Automatically Covered by Each Other's Car Insurance?

Spouses are not automatically covered by each other's car insurance. If you want your spouse to be covered under your auto insurance, you'll need to add them to the policy by contacting your insurance carrier. You should notify your insurance company as soon as possible after getting married to alert them of your change in marital status and make any adjustments to your policy.

Should I Add My Spouse to My Car Insurance?

Adding your spouse to your car insurance generally saves you money compared to having separate policies. Even if you have separate policies, if your spouse lives with you and is a licensed driver, your insurance company will generally require listing them on your policy because they're likely to drive your car at some point.

If your spouse is a high-risk driver or has poor credit, however, adding them to your car insurance could bump up your premiums. A history of unsafe driving or a poor credit-based insurance score can lead to higher premiums for car insurance. In most states, insurance companies can review credit-based insurance scores when setting premiums. These differ from the credit scores lenders use, but are based on similar information. Checking your spouse's FICO^® Score^☉ can give you an idea of where their credit-based insurance score stands—and whether to add them to your car insurance.

If you're concerned that your spouse's driving record or credit score could mean a bump in your premiums, you can compare insurance quotes for both combined and separate car insurance policies to see which option makes more financial sense. Depending on your state's laws and insurance company policies, you may even want to consider listing your spouse on your policy as an excluded driver. This is risky, however, because it means your insurance won't cover them if they drive your car.

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How to Add a Spouse to Your Auto Insurance Policy

Adding your spouse to your car insurance policy is simple. Here's how:

1. Contact your insurance carrier. You can typically do this by phone, on the insurer's website or by using the insurance company's mobile app.
2. Provide your spouse's information. The insurance company will need your spouse's name, birth date and driver's license number. Using this information, the carrier will check your spouse's driving record.
3. Provide your spouse's vehicle information. You'll be asked for the year, make, model, trim style and vehicle identification number (VIN) of your spouse's car, as well as any anti-theft or safety features the vehicle has. Be prepared to provide the vehicle's current insurer, its odometer reading and an estimate of how many miles your spouse drives per year.
4. Pay your new premium. Your insurance premium will be adjusted to reflect your new coverage. You can usually opt to pay your premium in full or make monthly payments. If you've set up autopayments for your car insurance, be sure to update the payment amount going forward.
5. Have your spouse cancel their old car insurance. Once it's confirmed that your spouse is officially on your auto insurance, they can cancel their current coverage. This can usually be done over the phone, although some insurance companies require submitting a written request. Your spouse may be able to get a prorated refund for any unused premium.

Learn more: Step-by-Step Checklist for Getting Car Insurance

Other Auto Insurance Discounts Married Couples May Receive

The following car insurance discounts aren't just for spouses, but married couples often qualify.

• Multi-vehicle discounts: Insuring two or more cars on one policy can save you up to 25% or more. For instance, Progressive's multi-car discounts average 12%, Geico's are up to 25% and AAA offers multi-car discounts of up to 27.3%.
• Multi-policy discounts: Buying more than one type of insurance from the same provider, or "bundling," can save you money. Car insurance and home insurance are frequently bundled, and pairing them typically delivers the biggest savings. However, you may also get a discount for bundling auto insurance with renters, condo or life insurance. For example, State Farm says bundling home and auto insurance can save up to $1,273 annually and bundling auto and renters insurance can save up to $704.
• Homeowner discounts: Some insurance carriers give you a discount on car insurance if you own a home, even if you don't have homeowners insurance with them. Owning a home is seen as a sign that you're financially stable.

Learn more: Top Car Insurance Discounts

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

You've pledged fidelity to your spouse, but you can still play the field when it comes to car insurance. Getting married is the perfect opportunity to compare car insurance options from other providers and see if your current insurance company serves your needs as a couple.

Experian's free car insurance comparison tool makes it easy to shop around for auto insurance. Simply enter your information once to get personalized quotes from top insurance carriers, and see at a glance if there's a better option than your current car insurance.