Can you add someone to your insurance if they live in another state?

Asked by: Jane Rolfson IV  |  Last update: July 23, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (52 votes)

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.

Can you add someone to your insurance if they live in a different state?

Restrictions and Requirements to Add a Non-resident to Your Auto Insurance Plan. Adding a non-resident to your auto insurance comes with different conditions and limitations depending on the insurance provider. Typically, the non-resident must possess a current driver's license and be permitted to drive in the nation.

Can I add someone to my car insurance that doesn't live with me?

They might need to have an insurable interest in the car, like being a co-owner or having your permission to use it regularly. You can add immediate family members or regular drivers to your car insurance policy, even if they don't live with you, depending on your insurer's rules.

Can someone at a different address be on my car insurance?

Legally the only address you can use is where your car is your primary address and often that's your home address. Using someone else's address is considered insurance fraud. Insurers can deny your claims and cancel your insurance if you make a claim and they find out that you weren't truthful about your address.

Can I stay on my parents' car insurance if I live in a different state?

Nope. Your car needs to be registered and insured where you live. Besides that it's fraud, if you used your parents' address when you lived in another state, it would be easy for an adjuster to find out and the claim most likely would not be covered.

How to Add a Person to Your Car Insurance if You Live Together

44 related questions found

Can you have car insurance in a state you don't live in?

Your car insurance policy will cover you for temporary trips out of state. But for long-term stays, you may need to update your policy. In general, you should buy car insurance in the state where you spend most of your time. You can't live in one state and buy car insurance in another.

What happens if you don't update your address with car insurance?

Failing to update the garaging address when moving home. This can impact your insurance coverage as when making a claim, the coverage will be based on your previous address and could result in not being able to claim any money back from the insurer.

Can I have a different address on my license and insurance?

First of all, your insurance policy and your driver's license (as well as your vehicle registration) should use the same address. Depending on which insurance company you have, that will determine how quickly you should get this taken care of, but generally it's around 30-60 days.

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.

Can I insure my son if he doesn't live with me?

Unfortunately, because the car and your child are not located at your house anymore, they cannot stay on your car insurance policy unless they're a full-time student. Car insurance providers require that the insured live at their residence and park their car at their address to be listed on a policy.

Can I add a driver 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.

Do you have to live in the same household for car insurance?

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.

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 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.

Does it cost more to add a driver to your insurance?

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 I add someone to my car insurance that doesn't live with me Progressive?

Depending on your state requirements and your insurer, you may be required to list any drivers that live at your permanent residence, regardless of how often they drive your car. Even if they don't live with you, they should be added to your policy if they regularly drive your vehicle.

Can you add someone to your car insurance that lives in another state?

The specific requirements and restrictions for adding a non-resident to your car insurance vary between insurance companies. Usually, the non-resident must be legally allowed to drive in the country and have a valid driver's license.

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.

Can you insure someone with a different address?

A car insurance company might not allow you to add a friend who lives at a different address to your insurance policy. But the insurer might accept a caregiver who comes to your house regularly and drives your car to bring your children to their extracurricular activities.

Does your car have to be registered where you live?

California allows nonresidents to register a vehicle in the state if the car is based in California or primarily used on California highways.

Does your car insurance have to match your driver's license?

It's very important that you update the address on your driver's license to match your insurance policy. Some insurance companies are very strict about this and will require you to get it updated within the first 30-60 days of moving to a new address.

Do you have to live at the same address for car insurance?

If you and your friend don't currently share an address, then they won't be able to be on your car insurance policy — even if they're planning to move in at a later date. However, as soon as they move in and their permanent address is the same as yours, you can update your policy to add your friend.

Can insurance deny claim for wrong address?

If you changed addresses when you moved into a new house and failed to notify your insurance provider, your insurer could deny a future claim. While this is unfair, this condition is actually stated in your contract with the insurer, so always make sure to read and fully understand your policy's terms and conditions.

Why does address matter for car insurance?

One key question that you'll likely answer, no matter which insurer you choose, is, “What is your address?” The use of your address is an essential part of car insurance because it can show your insurance company where you live and where you'll park your car.