Adding a Driver to Auto Insurance: What You Should Know (2024)
Adding a driver to auto insurance is critical if they live with you and regularly use your car. While adding a driver does increase car insurance rates, you could save up to 30% with a multi-vehicle discount. We'll explain when to add a driver to auto insurance and how it affects your monthly premiums.
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Laura D. Adams
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Laura Adams is one of the nation’s leading finance, insurance, and small business authorities. As an award-winning author, spokesperson, and host of the top-rated Money Girl podcast since 2008, millions of readers and listeners benefit from her practical advice. Her mission is to empower consumers to live healthy and rich lives by planning for the future and making smart money decisions. She rec...
Insurance & Finance Analyst
UPDATED: Sep 10, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Sep 10, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
Adding a driver to auto insurance is required if they live with you and frequently drive your vehicle. Of course, your new driver should carry minimum car insurance for your state to drive legally, so knowing how to add a driver to insurance is important.
Usually, insurance does cost more if you add a driver, but you could save 30% with a multi-vehicle discount.
Read on to learn about adding someone to your auto insurance policy, when to add a new driver, and the cost. You can also enter your ZIP code above to compare quotes from the top providers near you.
- You’ll need the driver’s information and driving record to add them to a policy
- Unless the driver has a clean record, you’ll likely see higher car insurance premiums
- Your child can stay on your policy when they go to school if they don’t take a car
When to Add a Driver to Your Auto Insurance Policy
If a driver meets the following qualifications, you should add them to your auto insurance policy:
- The driver has access to your car on a regular basis.
- The driver lives with you.
- The driver has a valid driver’s license.
Basically, if the driver lives with you and has access to your car, they need to be on your auto insurance policy. Even non-related people living with you who are using your car, such as a roommate, should be on your policy. You will also need to add college students who may be away for most of the year but will drive your car when they are back on a break. Find out if you have to add your child to your insurance policy.
Also, check your state’s requirements for whether a teen with a learner’s permit needs to be added to your insurance policy before or after they get their driver’s license. If you are worried about rate increases when adding a younger driver, make sure to check out the best auto insurance for teens and young drivers to find an affordable rate.
In addition, while you may not think that your nanny or home health care worker would need to be added to your insurance policy because they don’t live with you, you should reach out to your insurance company to find out its guidelines if they’re driving your car frequently.
Read More: Best Rental Car Insurance That Covers Additional Drivers
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When You Shouldn’t Add a Driver to Your Car Insurance
There are a few instances where you don’t need to add a driver to your car insurance policy.
If drivers don’t live with you and occasionally borrow your car, you don’t need to add them. For example, if your babysitter borrows your car once a month to pick up kids from school, your babysitter has coverage without being added to the policy. This is known as the permissive use clause.Michael Leotta Insurance Operations Specialist
Basically, if the person borrowing your car only takes it once in a while, they’re covered. So if your roommate owns their own car but took your car grocery shopping once, there’s no need to add them. With this info in mind, you should never add someone who wants to be on your insurance but who you don’t live with and doesn’t drive your car, as you could get in trouble.
How to Add a Driver to Your Auto Insurance Policy
If the driver meets all the requirements to be added to your auto insurance policy, you can go ahead and add them. To add a driver, you will need to know the following information about the driver:
- Birth date
- Driving record history
- Gender
- Legal name
- Occupation
- Social Security number
- Years of driving
The insurance company will use this information to determine the risk level of the driver you are adding and adjust your rates accordingly.
Cost to Add a New Driver on an Auto Insurance Policy
In most cases, adding a driver to your insurance policy will increase your rates because it means your car will be driven more, which increases the likelihood of an accident.
Fortunately, most insurance companies offer a multi-vehicle auto insurance discount to drivers who insure more than one car with the same company. Check out the table below to find top providers with a multi-car discount:
Multi-Car Auto Insurance Discounts by Provider
| Insurance Company | Discount Percentage |
|---|---|
| 21st Century | 25% |
| AAA | 25% |
| Allstate | 25% |
| American Family | 20% |
| Ameriprise | 10% |
| Amica | 25% |
| Country Financial | 30% |
| Esurance | 25% |
| Farmers | 20% |
| Geico | 25% |
| Liberty Mutual | 25% |
| MetLife | 25% |
| Nationwide | 20% |
| Progressive | 12% |
| Safe Auto | 25% |
| Safeco | 15% |
| State Farm | 20% |
| The General | 25% |
| The Hanover | 15% |
| The Hartford | 25% |
| Travelers | 8% |
| USAA | 10% |
However, if you are wondering exactly how much it is to add someone to car insurance, the answer is it depends upon the driver you are adding and the company. For example, adding a driver to car insurance with Geico may be less expensive than adding a driver to a Progressive policy.
Read More:
Also, if the driver you are adding has a history of accidents and is considered a high-risk driver, you can expect a fairly significant rate hike. On the other hand, if you are adding a driver with an excellent driving record, you may see little to no increase in your auto insurance rates.
Look at the table below to get an idea of what types of drivers pay for auto insurance coverage.
Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Driving Record & Provider
Insurance Company One Ticket Clean Record One DUI One Accident
$195 $166 $303 $237
$131 $116 $177 $167
$139 $111 $201 $175
$176 $140 $191 $199
$217 $177 $325 $237
$145 $120 $252 $165
$143 $109 $147 $190
$102 $91 $124 $107
$148 $107 $230 $157
U.S. Average $152 $123 $218 $177
If you have a teen driver that you are adding to your insurance policy, this will probably raise your rates the most. However, adding a teenage driver to your existing auto insurance policy is much cheaper than having the teenager purchase a separate one. Learn why auto insurance costs more for young drivers.
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More About the Impact of Adding a Driver to Car Insurance
If the driver lives with you and frequently uses your car, you should absolutely add them to your auto insurance policy. Examples of drivers you can add to your insurance include spouses, children, or roommates. If someone just borrows your car occasionally, however, their use of the car would fall under permissive use, and they will still be covered under your auto insurance policy.
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If you’re looking for the cheapest auto insurance companies after adding another driver to your auto insurance policy, you can shop around for auto insurance quotes. Use our free quote comparison tool below to find your area’s best car insurance rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does adding drivers mean they are insured?
Yes, any drivers you add to your auto insurance policy will be insured under your insurance policy.
Can you add someone to your car insurance?
Yes, you can add someone to your car insurance if they live with you, have a valid driver’s license, and drive your car. If the driver doesn’t drive your car and doesn’t live with you, you can’t add them as a driver to your car insurance policy.
Does adding drivers to your insurance lower rates?
While adding drivers usually raises auto insurance rates, there are some cases where rates may actually end up being slightly lower. If the driver you are adding has an excellent driving record, you might actually see a slight decrease in what you pay for car insurance.
If I add a driver to my car insurance, will it go up?
Adding a driver to your car insurance policy can potentially increase your premiums. Insurance companies consider factors such as the driver’s age, driving history, and their likelihood of being involved in an accident when determining rates. If the driver is considered high-risk, it could result in higher premiums. However, it’s essential to consult with your insurance provider to understand the potential impact on your specific policy.
Can I be added to someone’s car insurance?
Yes, you can be added to someone else’s car insurance if you meet the requirements to be a driver on their policy.
Why would I need to add a driver to my car insurance policy?
You may need to add a driver to your car insurance policy for several reasons:
- The driver regularly uses your vehicle and should be covered in case of accidents or other incidents.
- The driver is a household member who is of driving age and needs to be listed on the policy as per insurance requirements.
- The driver is a family member or friend who occasionally borrows your car and should be covered to ensure protection in case of an accident.
Who should I consider adding as a driver to my car insurance policy?
You should consider adding any individual who meets the following criteria:
- Regularly uses your vehicle.
- Resides in the same household as you.
- Is of driving age and possesses a valid driver’s license.
- Has your permission to operate the vehicle.
How do I add a driver to my car insurance policy?
To add a driver to your car insurance policy, follow these general steps:
- Contact your insurance provider: Reach out to your insurance company either through their customer service line or your agent.
- Provide necessary information: Furnish the driver’s full name, date of birth, driver’s license number, and any other requested details.
- Answer questions: Be prepared to answer questions about the driver’s driving history, relationship to you, and frequency of vehicle use.
- Review policy changes: Understand any changes in coverage, terms, or premium that may result from adding the driver.
- Provide documentation: If required, submit any supporting documents, such as the driver’s license or proof of residency.
What happens if you don’t add a driver to your insurance?
If you don’t add a frequent driver that lives with you to your policy, your claim could get denied if they get into an accident.
Does it cost more to add a driver to your insurance with Geico?
Yes, you’ll see higher rates with Geico when adding a driver to insurance, especially if they’re high risk. However, you could save up to 25% with Geico’s multi-car insurance discount.
Does it cost more to add a driver to your insurance with Progressive?
You’ll also see increase rates with Progressive if you add a new driver to your insurance, but its multi-vehicle discount could save you up to 12%. The same is true when adding someone to car insurance temporarily with Progressive.
Read More: How to Add Someone to My Auto Insurance for 1 Week
How much does it cost to add a driver to car insurance with State Farm?
To add a driver to insurance with State Farm, it’ll usually increase rates by around 10% to 20%. However, State Farm offers a multi-car discount that could save you up to 20%.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Laura D. Adams
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Laura Adams is one of the nation’s leading finance, insurance, and small business authorities. As an award-winning author, spokesperson, and host of the top-rated Money Girl podcast since 2008, millions of readers and listeners benefit from her practical advice. Her mission is to empower consumers to live healthy and rich lives by planning for the future and making smart money decisions. She rec...
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.