Summary: Although car insurance for married couples is often less expensive, other partnerships have options to save. Furthermore, when you are married, there are ways to maximize savings and coverage by comparing carriers available in your area. Estimated Read Time: 3 mins
How you protect yourself and your property changes once you tie the knot. Finding car insurance for married couples is important for anyone joining their union and is often necessary to avoid coverage gaps. Learn how to save on premiums and the best way to insure your vehicles as a couple.
Which Group Pays More for Car Insurance Married or Single?
Car insurance for married couples often provides lower premiums because insurers perceive them as more stable and less risky drivers. This stems from studies showing fewer accidents and claims among married individuals.
Additionally, bundling policies, like combining car insurance with renters or homeowners insurance, often leads to extra discounts for married couples. These factors combined often result in substantial savings on car insurance for married vs. single.
Can I Add My Girlfriend to My Car Insurance?
Many insurers permit adding a significant other to your car insurance if you cohabit. Carriers may also allow adding your vehicles to a joint policy if both cars are at the same address.
Unmarried couples can share a joint policy or list each other as drivers on separate ones, but it’s essential to check with your insurer for the best option. Here are a few ways to add your partner to your auto insurance policy:
● You can share a policy if there is a vehicle or multiple vehicles at the same residence, in many cases. This can provide you with the opportunity for multi-car discounts and lower your average insurance cost.
● Partners can also keep separate policies but add each other as listed drivers if they drive each other’s vehicles on a regular basis.
● Finally, adding a partner to your policy who doesn’t have the best driving history may raise your rates. Rather than adding them to your policy, you can exclude them, but in this case, they cannot drive your vehicle without being liable for damages out of pocket. This varies from state to state and carrier to carrier.
Car Insurance for Unmarried Couples
The requirement to add a partner to your car insurance policy varies by insurer. Typically, insurance companies want to know about all licensed drivers residing in your household who have access to a vehicle.
If your partner regularly uses your car, your insurer may mandate adding them to your policy as a driver.
Once you and your partner are married and living together, insurers often expect couples to share a policy, eliminating the option for separate coverage.
In case of a breakup when sharing car insurance, both parties must obtain separate policies promptly to avoid being uninsured. This ensures each individual has coverage for their vehicles and driving needs.
How To Find the Best Car Insurance for Married Couples
Protecting your vehicles and liability as a couple is important, but you’ll need to shop around to find the right carrier for your needs as a whole. Here’s how to find car insurance for married couples that saves on premiums and provides personal coverage:
Determine Your Coverage Needs as a Couple
To find the best car insurance for married couples, evaluate your joint coverage needs before enrolling.
Consider factors like the number of vehicles owned, driving records, commuting habits, and future drivers in the family.
This assessment helps determine the necessary coverage types and levels to protect both spouses and assets effectively.
Compare Carriers
Once you’ve identified your coverage requirements, gather quotes from multiple insurers. Evaluate the coverage options, premiums, and available discounts from each provider.
When shopping for auto insurance for married couples, look beyond just the price, considering factors such as customer service reputation and claim processing efficiency.
Look for Bundles and Discounts
Finally, to save more on joint car insurance for married couples, you’ll want to search for bundles and discounts among carriers.
If you only compare the initial price of your coverage, you may be overpaying for coverage.
Be sure to look at the potential bundles that combine your home or renter’s insurance with an auto policy, along with discounts that you personally qualify for.
For more information about bundles and discounts on car insurance for married couples, contact an agent to search for auto coverage in Texas available near you.
Sources:
1. Motor vehicle driver injury and marital status…, NIH. Accessed February 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1756540/