Does your insurance go up when you add a driver?

Asked by: Clementina Johns  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 5/5 (39 votes)

You can expect your auto insurance premiums to change if you add a driver to your policy. The change might not be an increase in your rates. In fact, it might bring your premiums down significantly, depending on the primary and secondary drivers on your policy.

What happens when you add another driver to your insurance?

Adding a driver to your policy means they're an insured driver under your policy when they drive your car. So, if they get into an accident, your insurer is more likely to cover the damage than for an unlisted driver. Sharing a policy with someone typically means both of your vehicles are covered under one policy.

Is car insurance cheaper if you add another driver?

How much does car insurance cost with a named driver? Adding a named driver often makes the premiums cheaper because it's assumed you'll spend less time driving, since the car is shared. This reduces your probability of having an accident and making a claim, which is reflected in cheaper car insurance quotes.

Can I drive my wife's car on my insurance?

Can I drive my partner's car? Driving Other Cars (DOC) insurance isn't usually included as part of a fully comprehensive policy. Unless your policy states otherwise, you'll only be able to drive your partner's car if they've added you as a named driver or have a family or any driver car insurance policy.

What happens if an additional driver has an accident?

If another driver thinks you were at fault for an accident, they will make a "third party" claim against your insurance. If you agree with them, your insurer will go ahead and pay out. If you don't agree, you will raise something called a "liability dispute" with your insurer.

Should you add a second driver to your insurance policy?

28 related questions found

Can I put my boyfriend on my car insurance?

Yes, you can add your girlfriend or boyfriend to your car insurance. Generally, if you and your significant other live at the same address, your car insurance company will consider them a member of your household and request that you add your boyfriend or girlfriend to your car insurance policy.

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.

How long does it take to add someone to car insurance?

“It only takes a moment to add a new driver to an insurance policy. As long as your dad can provide your name, date of birth, and driver's license number, he can relay that information to the car insurance company and you will be added right away!

Does a named driver need their own insurance?

No. Being listed as a named driver on someone else's policy does not affect your own car insurance if you are involved in a road traffic accident. If you were to have a car accident while driving another person's car as a named driver, you would need to claim on the main driver's insurance policy.

How do I add a driver to my insurance?

Contact your insurer and tell them you want to add another driver to your policy. You'll probably have to pay a fee for making changes to your policy, even if the price of your premium doesn't change. Your insurer could refuse to cover an extra driver – if they think they're too inexperienced or risky for example.

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

No, you cannot add someone who doesn't live with you to your car insurance in most cases. ... But car insurance companies may deny the claim if they decide that driver should have been listed on your policy because they live with you or had regular access to the car.

Does my insurance cover any car I drive?

The answer to whether insurance follows the car or the driver isn't going to be universally the same for every driver. As long as a driver has the vehicle owner's permission to operate the vehicle, the owner's policy will provide coverage no matter who the driver is.

Can I let a friend borrow my car?

Although you should check your individual policy, most of the time you can let someone drive your car and still have coverage. As long as you give the person permission, and they only drive the car occasionally, there shouldn't be an issue. Accidents, however, are unpredictable and can happen anytime.

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

If you let a friend borrow your car and he or she causes an accident, your auto insurer would be responsible for paying for damages to the other driver and his or her passengers, up to the limits of your policy. If damages exceed your policy limits, your friend's insurance would act as secondary coverage.

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

Yes, if you share a car. If you are living together and sharing a vehicle, you do not have to be married to be on the same car insurance policy. ... But each can be listed as a driver on the other's policy. Adding another person to your auto insurance policy may raise your rates, depending on their driving history.

Can you add someone to your insurance without being married?

In most cases, you can add an unmarried significant other to your car insurance policy if you both share a permanent residence. Sharing car insurance with another person may result in a lower price than purchasing two separate policies.

Can you have 2 main drivers on the same car?

You and your partner can both take out separate policies for the same car. Car insurance policies are for both the vehicle and the driver, so it's perfectly fine, legal and common for two people to be insured on the same vehicle under separate policies. There are a few reasons why you might consider doing this.

How does insurance work if you borrow a car?

In general, when you borrow a car, you borrow car insurance, too. Insurance typically follows the car, not the driver. That means if you are involved in an accident while driving someone else's car (not on your insurance policy), the owner of the car will probably be held responsible for any financial damages.

Are you liable if someone has an accident in your car?

How Your Primary Coverage Works. The bottom line is that when someone to whom you have loaned your car causes an accident that injures another person or damages someone's property, you are liable, and your insurance will be the first in line to cover their costs.

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

Your child likely won't be able to be on your auto policy any longer because he or she doesn't live in your household. ... If you're the parent who isn't listing the child on your car insurance, your child can still drive your car and be covered by your insurance. It works just as if you had a friend borrow your car.

Can I drive my friend's car with my insurance?

Usually, yes — your car insurance coverage should extend to anyone else driving your car. ... This means even if your friend, sister or cousin have the best coverage possible, it would usually be your auto insurance that'd be covering the damages if they were at-fault in an accident while driving your vehicle.

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

What information you'll need to add a named driver. The details tend to be basic when adding a named driver, they will typically include; name, age marital status, address, occupation, driving licence details and information about any accidents or motoring convictions.

Does a named driver get no claims?

Named drivers can't usually build up a no claims discount, although they can accumulate their own if they're insured as the main driver on their own car. Some insurance providers may give a named driver a discount – provided they take out their own policy at a later date.

How much can a named driver use a car?

Any named driver can use your vehicle occasionally. That means they shouldn't be the permanent driver, nor should they be regularly using the vehicle, for example for driving to work. If someone is named as an additional driver but in fact has main use of the car, this is called fronting, which is illegal.

Can someone else drive my car?

You can safely lend your vehicle to someone without worrying about whether that person is named as a driver on your auto insurance policy if the following three conditions are met: ... The person is a licensed driver, legally allowed to operate a motor vehicle in Alberta.