Sharing your vehicle with a spouse, partner, family member, or roommate? If someone else drives your car regularly, it’s important to make sure they’re properly insured. Adding a second driver to your car insurance policy can protect you financially, help avoid claim denials, and sometimes even save you money. Learn what to consider, when to add someone, and how it affects your premium.
Who Needs to Be Added as a Driver?
You don’t need to add everyone who occasionally drives your car—only those who use it regularly or live in your household. Common examples include:
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A spouse or partner
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A teen or adult child
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A roommate who frequently borrows your car
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A caregiver or live-in relative
Tip: If someone is listed on your vehicle’s registration or title, it’s a good idea to include them on your insurance, too.
What Happens If You Don’t Add a Regular Driver?
If someone not listed on your policy crashes your car, your insurer might:
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Still cover the damages, but at a reduced payout
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Increase your premiums after the claim
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Deny the claim entirely if they believe you withheld information intentionally
Avoid surprises by being upfront about who drives your car and how often.
How to Add a Second Driver
Adding a driver to your policy is usually simple. Just call your insurer or log into your account and provide the following:
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The person’s full name
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Date of birth
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Driver’s license number
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Driving history
In some cases, your insurer may require the second driver to live at the same address. Be honest about their driving habits—whether they drive occasionally or daily—as this can affect your rate.
How Adding a Second Driver Affects Your Rate
Whether your premium goes up, down, or stays the same depends on the second driver’s:
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Age and experience
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Driving record (tickets, accidents, DUIs)
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Credit history (in states where it’s used for rating)
Examples:
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Adding a young or high-risk driver (like a teen) can increase your premium
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Adding a spouse with a clean record may lower your rate through multi-driver or multi-car discounts
Ask your insurer for a quote before officially adding someone so you can weigh the cost.
Alternatives to Adding a Second Driver
In certain cases, you don’t have to add someone to your policy:
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Occasional drivers: If a friend borrows your car once in a while, they’re likely covered under permissive use.
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Rental cars: Don’t add someone to your policy just to let them drive a rental—check the rental company’s rules instead.
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Named excluded drivers: If you don’t want a specific person covered (like a teen with a poor driving record), some insurers let you exclude them from your policy—but this means they won’t be covered at all, even in emergencies.
How to Remove a Driver
If someone no longer drives your car or moves out of your household, you can usually remove them from your policy by calling your insurer. Keep in mind:
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If the driver is a spouse, some insurers may require proof of a separate policy before removal
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Removing a high-risk driver might reduce your premium
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Removing a low-risk driver could cause your rate to go up slightly
It’s smart to review all drivers on your policy annually and update your information if anything changes.
Final Thoughts
Adding a second driver to your car insurance isn’t just a good idea—it’s often necessary for full protection. Whether you’re sharing a car with a spouse, child, or roommate, updating your policy ensures that everyone is covered and claims are processed smoothly. Check with your insurer today to make sure your coverage matches your driving reality.
