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What happens if you add a driver to your car insurance?
Mary Van Keuren has written for insurance domains such as Bankrate, Coverage.com, and The Simple Dollar for the past five years, specializing in home and auto insurance. She has also written extensively for consumer websites including Reviews.com and Slumber Yard. Prior to that, she worked as a writer in academia for several decades.
Maggie is the managing editor for Bankrate insurance. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the insurance editorial team, she leads a team of licensed insurance experts who craft insurance content that makes complex information about home, auto, pet, renters and life insurance accessible and easy to understand.
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Adding a driver to your car insurance policy can be an exciting time, as it is generally associated with tying the knot, getting a new roommate or your teenager passing their driver’s license test. However, what happens to your insurance bill may be exciting or disappointing, depending on how the driver impacts your policy’s change in overall risk. For example, according to data from Quadrant Information Services as of March 2025, married couples who share one insured vehicle pay an average annual rate of $2,495 for full coverage insurance, as compared to the national average of $2,678 per year for single drivers. Conversely, adding a newly licensed 16-year-old causes the average premium for married drivers to jump to $5,757 per year due to the added risk. We outline some common requirements for adding a driver to your insurance policy and identify our picks for the top insurance providers for multi-driver policies.
Can multiple drivers share a car insurance policy?
Yes, multiple drivers can share a car insurance policy under certain conditions. With most auto insurance companies, you are required to list all household members, including spouses and children, on your policy if they have a valid driver’s license and access to your vehicle.
If someone you are not related to lives in your household, you may have to add them as a driver depending on how often they drive your vehicle and your car insurance company’s guidelines. For example, a few companies require roommates to be listed, but others do not have that requirement if your roommate has their own insurance policy.
Don’t be surprised if your insurance company requires you to add all licensed (or permitted) household members to your policy, even if they don’t drive your car. This practice is standard for many carriers because anyone with access to your car keys may pose a risk. However, you may be able to exclude certain household members from your policy, such as non-drivers or drivers with their own insurance policy. For more information, please get in touch with your insurance company directly.
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Compare auto insurance rates
Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Compare auto insurance rates
Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Can you add someone to your car insurance policy that doesn’t live with you?
It’s important to note that you cannot add drivers from outside your household to your car insurance policy unless they regularly drive the vehicle, share ownership of the vehicle or meet your carrier’s specific requirements.
How to add a driver to your car insurance policy
Adding a driver to your car insurance policy is a fairly simple process. Start by reaching out to your insurance agent via phone or email, or, if available, you may be able to make changes to your policy directly through your provider’s website or mobile app. Be ready to answer questions related to the driver’s full name, date of birth, driver’s license number and the reason for adding them.
After adding a driver to your car insurance policy, your provider will likely adjust your premium. With multiple drivers on the same policy, premiums are based on each driver’s risk factors. Insurance companies will pull everyone’s motor vehicle records and claims history to determine overall risk. In turn, insurance companies will calculate your new premium.
If you’ve already pre-paid for six or twelve months of coverage, this update to your premium may come as a surcharge or a refund, depending on how the new driver impacts the overall risk profile of all drivers listed on the policy.
Best car insurance companies for multiple drivers
The best car insurance companies for multiple drivers may be different for everyone. Getting the best deal on car insurance is based on several rating factors, including driver-specific information such as age and gender (in most states), driving experience, marital status and driving history. The carriers below may be some of the best options based on our holistic evaluation of average car insurance rates for married drivers on one policy.
We also took into account additional metrics about each company, including coverage options, digital presence and things like customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power and financial strength ratings from AM Best to assign each insurer a Bankrate Score out of a possible 5.0 points. These Scores are designed to give you a quick way to compare insurers as you start your search.
*Premiums displayed are average annual rates from Quadrant Information Services as of March 2025 based on married policyholders with a single vehicle.
With Amica, you could save up to 25 percent by insuring multiple vehicles and up to 30 percent by purchasing additional insurance products alongside your auto policy, such as home, umbrella and life. Amica offers a loyalty discount for staying insured with the company for at least two years, as well as a legacy discount to children under the age of 30 whose parents have been Amica policyholders for at least five years. There are several other opportunities to save with Amica, like being claims-free or taking advantage of student-related discounts. Amica has a reputation for excellent customer service, as is evidenced by its first-place finish among national providers in J.D. Power’s 2024 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. To discuss a quote with Amica, those interested can contact the company over the phone or by visiting www.amica.com.
In addition to having some of the lowest average rates on our list for married drivers, you can add multiple drivers to your car insurance policy with Geico and save up to 25 percent by insuring more than one vehicle on your policy, according to the carrier. Good drivers may save even more, with a potential discount for remaining accident-free for five years. Even if you’re adding a driver to your policy with a less-than-perfect record, Geico is still worth considering — it was named the best auto insurance company for high-risk drivers in the 2025 Bankrate Awards, thanks in part to its fair premiums despite tickets or accidents. However, Geico placed the lowest of any of our chosen companies in the J.D. Power 2024 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, so it may not be the best option for drivers who value customer service.
If you have a young driver in your household, State Farm offers several discounts that might make it more affordable to insure this age group. The Steer Clear telematics program is specifically designed for young drivers to encourage good driving habits, rewarding them with a discount upon completion. Developing responsible driving habits early can be beneficial, especially for those planning to stay with State Farm long term, as it earned a 2025 Bankrate Award for its strong savings opportunities for safe drivers. Additionally, you may save up to 20 percent with the multi-vehicle discount, according to State Farm. The insurer has local agents nationwide and ranks above average in the J.D. Power 2024 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, indicating that it prioritizes customer relationships.
Nationwide offers a multi-car discount, plus a multi-policy discount if you insure your home, renters, boat, life insurance or motorcycle with the company. Married couples with a single car may also enjoy the low full coverage premiums that Nationwide offers. Eligible drivers may also stack accident-free, good student and safe driver discounts to save even more. And affordability does not come at the expense of service, as Nationwide had a well above-average ranking in the J.D. Power 2024 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.
While it doesn’t advertise the specific percentage off, Liberty Mutual offers discounts both for insuring multiple vehicles and for having more than one insurance policy type with the company. Safe drivers may be eligible for accident-free and violation-free discounts for maintaining a clean record. If you know you’ll be adding a driver to your policy in the near future, it may be worthwhile to take advantage of Liberty Mutual’s early shopper discount. Our data did not collect premiums for married couples with a single car, so you may have to request a quote directly from Liberty Mutual. However, we can tell you that the insurer placed above average in the J.D. Power 2024 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, meaning it has a history of being recognized as a reliable provider when you need to utilize your coverage.
How to find cheap car insurance for multiple drivers
One of the best ways to find cheap car insurance for two people or more is to shop around with different carriers. Each company has its own risk guidelines, discounts and rate structures that can change how much you pay for car insurance, especially when insuring multiple drivers. Each person’s driving record and claims history will be reviewed, so if one driver has a risky driving history, it could increase the cost of the entire policy or affect eligibility with a particular carrier.
While there is an increased likelihood of risk, a multi-driver policy may also make you eligible for more savings opportunities. You may be able to keep the price low with other discounts, like insuring more than one product, being affiliated with an organization, being a safe driver, having low annual mileage and driving a car with safety features. Additionally, if another household member has a clean record and an experienced driving history, it can beneficially impact the rate.
Frequently asked questions
The number of drivers you can have on your insurance policy depends on the company. Most companies allow up to a certain amount of vehicles and drivers on a single policy, but if you exceed the number allowed per policy, you can usually get a second policy with the same company. Some providers may allow a higher number of insured vehicles than others. If you are unsure how many drivers or cars you can add, ask your insurance company.
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.
Adding another driver usually affects your rates, but whether or not your auto premium goes up depends on the other driver’s personal factors. In some cases, adding an older driver with a clean driving record could actually reduce your premium, especially if you’re a driver under 25 or someone with infractions on their license.
Yes, it is likely that adding a driver to your policy who has moving infractions on their driving record, such as a speeding ticket, will result in an increase to your premium. Perhaps the most serious moving violation is a DUI/DWI. According to Bankrate’s research, a driver with a DUI pays roughly 90 percent more for full coverage than a driver with a clean record. Adding a driver with a DUI or DWI to your license, therefore, is almost always going to cause your rate to increase for at least three to five years, if not more.
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze March 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability per person
$300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
$50,000 property damage liability per accident
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
$500 collision deductible
$500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
Status: Rates were evaluated based on the following marital/family status: single (base), married, 40-year-old married man and woman with a 16-year-old teen driver. Marital status is not a rating factor in HI and MI.
Our 2025 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s cost of coverage, product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We grouped these factors into three essential categories — cost and ratings, coverage and savings, and support — which we then weighted in a tiered approach.
Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.
Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, our team analyzed average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways a home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored in a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.
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APA:
Van Keuren, M. (2025, March 19). What happens if you add a driver to your car insurance? Bankrate. Retrieved March 26, 2025, from https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/multiple-drivers/
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Van Keuren, Mary. "What happens if you add a driver to your car insurance?" Bankrate. 19 March 2025, https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/multiple-drivers/.
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Van Keuren, Mary. "What happens if you add a driver to your car insurance?" Bankrate. March 19, 2025. https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/multiple-drivers/.
