Can I add someone temporarily on my car insurance?

Asked by: Bobbie Ratke  |  Last update: October 27, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (56 votes)

You can usually add a temporary driver for a short-term visit or rental, but it depends on the specific car insurance company and its policies. If you're planning to add a temporary driver, make sure to check with the insurer. Their policies may vary, and some may charge an additional fee for adding extra drivers.

How do I temporarily add someone to my insurance?

If you need temporary car insurance, it's generally because you have to arrange something quickly and don't want to organise 12 months of cover at short notice. Adding a car or driver short term to your existing policy can be done quickly over the phone by our customer service team.

Can I put someone on my car insurance that doesn't live with me?

You typically will not be able to add a non-related driver who does not live in your home to your insurance policy. If you and a friend own a vehicle together but do not live at the same address, you may have trouble obtaining an auto insurance policy.

How much does it cost to add an additional driver to car insurance?

Most car insurance companies won't charge a fee to add more drivers to your policy, but each driver that you add to your policy impacts your policy price.

What happens if my friend is driving my car and gets in an accident?

Insurance Coverage: Generally, the car owner's insurance policy will cover the damages if someone else is driving their vehicle with permission. This means that the insurance could pay for repairs to the car, medical expenses, and liability for damages to other vehicles or property.

Auto Insurance Claims Process: Not-At-Fault Accident

20 related questions found

What happens if you let someone borrow your car and they crash it?

Vehicle Owners Are Liable Under California Law

This law holds a vehicle's owner responsible for collisions caused by the driver of the vehicle – even if the driver is not the owner. Liability is determined by identifying the actual owner of the vehicle.

What if my boyfriend drives my car and has an accident?

If you let someone else drive your car and they get in an accident, your insurance company would likely be responsible for paying the claim, depending on the coverages in your policy. The claim would go on your insurance record and could affect your car insurance rates in the future.

Can I add someone to my car insurance temporarily?

You can usually add a temporary driver for a short-term visit or rental, but it depends on the specific car insurance company and its policies. If you're planning to add a temporary driver, make sure to check with the insurer. Their policies may vary, and some may charge an additional fee for adding extra drivers.

Does your insurance go up if you add another driver?

Typically, adding drivers to your policy can increase your premium. For example, there is a reason adding a teenage or newly licensed driver to an auto policy can result in an increase in insurance premiums.

Can my husband drive my car if he is not on my insurance?

Usually, yes. Your car insurance coverage should be able to extend to anyone else driving your car. Even if someone isn't listed on the policy, they can operate your vehicle. If you explicitly name someone as an excluded driver in your policy, however, none of this applies to them.

Can I add a driver that doesn't live with me?

Most auto insurance policies are designed to cover cars that multiple people in the same household drive. An insurer may allow you to add a driver who doesn't live in your home, but whether or not that happens depends on the insurance company you choose and your state's insurance code.

Can I add a visitor to my car insurance?

Get your insurance agent on the phone. Ask your agent to add your visiting guests to your auto policy temporarily. Your insurance premium should not go up. If you are concerned your premium rate will increase, ask your company if there will be a price adjustment.

What happens if I don't add my teenager to my car insurance?

Failing to add your teenager to your auto insurance can lead to coverage denial, legal penalties and policy cancellation. Lack of driving experience and perceived higher risk contribute to higher car premiums for teen drivers.

Can I add someone to my insurance that does not live with me?

Can I add someone to my car insurance that doesn't live with me? Yes, if the person drives your car regularly, then you should add them to your insurance policy.

When should I add someone to my insurance?

Significant others/partners/fiancés should be added to your policy if they live in the household and regularly operate your vehicle. Teen drivers and college students need to be added to your policy if they have a learner's permit or a valid driver license.

Does adding someone to your car insurance make it cheaper?

If you're considered a risky driver because of your age, you might be able to lower your car insurance costs by adding someone to your policy. For instance, the person you add can be a spouse with a clean driving record.

Can I add a named driver temporarily?

If you want named driver insurance for up to a month, temporary insurance is the ideal solution. Only pay for the cover you want and relax knowing that if something happens, even if you're not in the car, your no claims and existing policy are unaffected.

Can my son drive my car if he is not insured?

Most insurers cover someone else driving the policyholder's car with their permission once in a while. But, if you're going to start driving one of your parent's cars regularly, you'll need to be added or named on their auto insurance. You can't legally drive your parents' car without any insurance at all, either.

What happens if my girlfriend is driving my car and gets in an accident?

When it comes to insurance coverage, policies in California typically follow the vehicle, meaning that your policy would cover damages even if someone else was driving your car. However, there are exceptions to this coverage, which we will discuss in the following subsections.

Is it cheaper to add a temporary driver?

Insurers have become very flexible about adding named drivers to policies temporarily – though it's not always the cheapest option. Depending on your circumstances, it could be more cost effective to add them for the full year.

Does it cost extra to add a driver to insurance?

According to CarInsurance.com, there is usually no charge for adding a driver to your insurance policy. The Automobile Association notes that some insurers charge a small administration fee to update policies. You may also find your premiums change.

Can you add someone to your car insurance if the car is not in your name?

If you're looking for the easiest way to insure a car that's not in your name, you can add the owner of the vehicle to your insurance policy as an additional interest. When you do this, your premiums will not increase as it merely states someone else's insurable interest.

What happens if I let someone drive my car and they crash it?

Usually, a car insurance policy covers the vehicle itself, not the person driving it, and that means the liability coverage (which is required by California law) should cover the friend. California is an at-fault state, which means the driver responsible for an accident is the one whose insurance will be the primary ...

Can my son drive my car if he doesn't live with me?

If your son doesn't live with you but needs to borrow your car, he can do so with your permission. It is known as permissive use, which means that when someone who doesn't live with you gets permission to borrow your car, they are also “borrowing” your auto insurance coverage.

What happens if someone who isn't on your insurance crashes your car Progressive?

Allowing another licensed driver to borrow your vehicle is known as "permissive use," which means you give someone, who isn't listed on your car insurance policy, permission to operate your vehicle. If they're involved in an accident, your auto insurance may pay for the damages and injuries, up to your coverage limits.