Can you temporarily add someone to your car insurance?

Asked by: Armando Homenick  |  Last update: December 13, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (66 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.

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

If a friend or girlfriend drives your car and causes an accident, the general rule is that the driver who causes the accident is liable for the damages. If the other driver is at fault, their insurance is usually responsible for covering costs.

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.

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.

Should you add a second driver to your insurance policy?

36 related questions found

Can my wife drive my car if she's not on my insurance?

A driver who lives in your household and isn't listed on your auto policy may be denied coverage if they borrow your vehicle and are involved in an accident. Family members who live in your household and drive your vehicle, including a teenager or your significant other, should be listed as drivers on your policy.

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.

Can I add a driver to my insurance anytime?

You can typically make a change to your policy at any time to add a new driver at your residence, such as a teenage child, or a driver that just started driving your car regularly. Adding a driver to your insurance policy means they're an insured driver under your policy when they drive your car.

Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance Progressive?

If you give someone outside your household permission to drive and borrow your car (also referred to as "permissive use") and they aren't rated on your policy, any accident they're involved in may be covered by your insurer, depending on your state and insurer.

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.

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 borrows my car and gets in an accident?

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.

Can I add someone to my 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.

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.

What do you need to add someone to your car insurance?

How to Add a Driver to Your Car Insurance
  1. Their legal name.
  2. Their birth date.
  3. Their gender.
  4. Their marital status.
  5. Their occupation.
  6. Their Social Security number.
  7. Their address, if they don't live with you.

Can I drive my boyfriend's car if I'm not on his insurance?

If you're specifically listed on the car owner's insurance policy, you'll be covered when driving that car – even if it's not your own. If you're not on the owner's policy, applicable coverage will again depend on consent.

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

While there's no fee for adding a driver to your car insurance policy, it may change your rates. Your rates may go up or down depending on who that driver is. For example, adding an experienced driver with a clean record to your car insurance policy typically will not cost you more money.

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 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 someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance Geico?

Some states require the car owner's insurance to cover any accidental damage, so if they're not insured or don't have the right coverage, as the driver you may end up being liable.

Can you add someone to your car insurance without being married?

Most insurers allow you to add a significant other, such as a boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé, or domestic partner, to your car insurance policy if you live together. Depending on the insurer, a significant other can also add their vehicle to a joint policy if both cars are kept at the same permanent residence.

Can I add a driver to my insurance who 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.

Does insurance go up if you add another driver?

Yes, adding a named driver to your policy would affect your insurance premium to account for the named driver insurance risk factor. Additionally, if the named driver gets into an accident, for instance, the claim would go under your shared vehicle policy, impacting your overall premium.

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.