Can I Add Someone to My Car Insurance Who Doesn’t Live With Me?
Most auto insurance policies are designed to cover vehicles driven by multiple members of the same household. An insurer may allow you to add a driver who does not live in your home, but whether or not this occurs is determined by the insurance company you choose and the insurance code in your state.
Who Can I Add to My Car Insurance?
Car insurance policies are typically designed to cover everyone in your household, including your partner or spouse, licensed teenagers, and other relatives who live with you. You can add a new driver to your policy if they move into your home.
You may need to add a non-relative who lives in your home in some cases. For example, if you rent a room in your house, you may decide to share your car with your roommate. If you and your roommate each have a car, you'll probably need separate policies. If you share a car, consult with your insurance agent about the best way to insure the vehicles.
Who Do I Need to Add to My Car Insurance?
All people who regularly drive the insured vehicle should be added to your policy. A typical car insurance policy would list family members who have driver's licenses, such as a husband and wife, domestic partners, and dependent children. As a general rule, only list drivers who have regular access to your vehicle.
If your teen obtains a driver's license, you have the option of adding them to your policy or purchasing them their own policy.
If your teen leaves for college and drives the insured vehicle, you must notify the insurance company. In most cases, the insurer will allow you to keep your college student on your policy even if they attend school in another city. However, because providers set premiums based on location, the move may affect your insurance rate. If your child attends school in another state, you must modify your coverage to meet the state's mandatory insurance requirements.
Insuring Drivers Who Don’t Live With You
Your car insurance coverage isn't limited to the drivers listed on your policy. Coverage may be extended to people who drive your vehicle on occasion but do not live with you, such as:
- A friend who shares the driving with you during a trip
- A family member or friend who needs to borrow your vehicle for a few days while theirs is being repaired.
- Family or friends who stay in your home, such as cousins visiting for the holidays
Your policy is unlikely to cover someone who borrows your vehicle for paid or commercial purposes, nor will it cover people you list as "excluded" drivers on your policy.
If your auto insurance policy covers an occasional, non-listed driver, it also depends on whether they have your permission to drive the car.
Permissive Use
Car insurance policies typically only cover drivers who have your permission to use your vehicle for a limited time. Unless the policy includes a provision that limits coverage on borrowed cars, permissive use typically extends the policy's full coverage. So, if your car is stolen while a friend is driving it and you have comprehensive coverage, the loss will most likely be covered by your policy.
Non-Permissive Use
If someone steals your car without your permission, they are most likely not covered by your policy. For example, if your teen's friend drives your car without permission and totals another driver's car, they are liable for the damages, not you.
Can I Add Someone to My Car Insurance Who Doesn’t Live With Me?
Most providers will not let you add a non-related driver who does not live with you to your policy. Car insurance typically covers the vehicle's owner as well as family members living in the same household. Adding a driver who does not live with you can be difficult and frequently depends on your insurer and state insurance laws.
When adult children go off to college and drive a family car, insurers will often allow them to remain on their parents' auto insurance policy. However, some insurers may charge extra fees once the adult child reaches a certain age. Furthermore, if the college-bound dependent purchases their own policy, they are no longer eligible to remain on the parent's plan. When a child leaves for college with a family vehicle, check with your insurance agent to see how it will affect your coverage.
What Happens When I Add Someone Else to My Policy?
Adding someone to your auto insurance policy should not be taken lightly, as you may face unexpected consequences. Insurers assess the risk of having to pay a claim, so carefully consider each driver before adding them to your policy. For example, if you add a roommate with bad credit, a history of filing insurance claims, or a history of traffic violations to your policy, your rate may rise.