Insuring Husband Too Costly

While it is not mandatory to add a spouse to your auto insurance policy, it is a good idea to do so. Married couples are generally considered more financially stable and safer drivers, which can result in lower insurance premiums. However, if your spouse has a poor driving record or a low credit score, your premiums may increase. In such cases, you may want to exclude your spouse from your policy or consider separate policies, although this is not always allowed by insurance companies or state laws.

Adding a spouse to your policy can save money with lower premiums and multi-car discounts

In most cases, it is a good idea to add your spouse to your car insurance policy. Many insurers require you to do so if you share a household, and failing to notify your insurer may result in a denied claim. While adding a spouse to your policy may increase insurance costs slightly, the benefits usually outweigh any drawbacks.

Lower Premiums

Married people tend to pay lower premiums than single people. This is because insurers consider married couples more financially stable and safer drivers who are less likely to file a claim. If both partners have clean driving records, the savings can be significant. Married couples with clean records on the same policy typically pay about 4% to 10% less than safe, single drivers.

Multi-Car Discounts

If you and your spouse share a vehicle, your spouse needs to be added to your coverage. If you consolidate your current policies under the same insurer, you will likely qualify for a multi-car discount. With this, you’ll probably pay less for your combined policies than you pay individually with separate policies.

Convenience

Bundling two policies under one account is more convenient. You can manage your car insurance coverage in the same place and pay your bill together, rather than juggling multiple companies and providers, each of which may have a different claims process and billing cycle.

However, there are some instances when adding your spouse to your policy may not be the best option. If your spouse has a poor driving record or low credit score, adding them to your policy could increase your premium. In this case, you may want to exclude your spouse from your coverage – but only if they never plan to drive your car.

You can exclude your spouse from your policy if they have a poor driving record or low credit score

If you are struggling to afford to insure your husband on your auto insurance policy, you may be able to exclude them from your policy. This is dependent on a few factors, such as your state laws and insurance company guidelines.

Firstly, if your spouse has a poor driving record or a low credit score, you may be able to exclude them from your policy. This is because a spouse with a poor driving record or low credit score can increase your insurance premiums. If they are excluded from your policy, you may be able to avoid this increase. However, if they ever drive your car and are in an accident, your insurance company may refuse to cover the claim, so it is a big risk to take.

Secondly, if your spouse has their own car and insurance policy, you may be able to exclude them from your policy. In this case, your insurance company may require an affidavit from your spouse's auto insurance company to confirm their policy and coverage information.

Thirdly, if your spouse does not have a license, they can be listed as "unlicensed" and marked as unrated, so they won't affect your insurance rates. However, if they take your car and have an accident, your insurance company may non-renew you at the end of your policy period or require you to add your spouse to the policy and pay a premium for them.

Finally, if you and your spouse are living in separate households, you will need to have separate insurance policies, as the vehicles are housed in different locations.

It is important to note that most insurance companies require policyholders to list all licensed household members on their policy, and failing to do so can be deemed misrepresentation, a form of fraud. Therefore, it is essential to check with your insurance company and understand your state laws before excluding your spouse from your policy.

You must add your spouse to your policy if you live together

While auto insurance companies don't require you to add your spouse to your policy, it's important to note that state laws differ, and most insurance providers will mandate that all licensed household members be listed on the policy since they usually have access to the vehicle(s). Failing to disclose this information can be deemed misrepresentation or a form of fraud in some states.

If your spouse has a poor driving record or a low credit score, you may want to exclude them from your policy, as this can reduce your premiums. However, if they ever drive your car and are in an accident, your insurance company may refuse to cover the claim. In such cases, it's advisable to shop for insurance that allows named-driver exclusions.

On the other hand, if your spouse has a clean driving record, adding them to your policy could save you money. Married couples with clean records on the same policy typically pay about 4% to 10% less than safe, single drivers. Additionally, insurers generally charge lower premiums for married couples than for individual drivers, as they are considered more stable and less of a risk.

If you live together and share a vehicle, your insurance company may simply add your spouse as a driver to your existing policy. However, if you want to keep separate policies but plan on driving each other's vehicles, you'll need to contact each company and add the other spouse as an authorized driver on each policy.

You may be able to keep separate policies if you live separately

If you and your spouse live separately, you may be able to keep separate auto insurance policies. Before a couple gets married, they usually have separate car insurance policies if they both have their own cars and live in different places. After marriage, they may be able to keep these separate policies, but they will usually need to be listed on each other's policies if they move in together.

If you and your spouse live in separate households, it is necessary to have distinct auto insurance policies because the vehicles are garaged at different locations. This rule also applies to married couples who are legally separated.

However, it is important to note that state laws differ, and some states will only allow spouses to be excluded from a policy for certain reasons, such as not having a license or already having their own policy. Therefore, it is essential to check the specific regulations in your state.

You can exclude your spouse as a driver if they never plan to drive your car

If you're struggling to afford auto insurance for your husband, you may want to consider excluding them from your policy. While most insurance companies require policyholders to list all licensed household members on their policy, you can exclude your spouse as a driver if they never plan to drive your car. This is known as a named-driver exclusion and can be a way to reduce your premiums if your spouse has a poor driving record or low credit score. However, it's important to note that named-driver exclusions are not allowed in some states or by all insurance companies, so be sure to check with your insurer.

Inform Your Insurer

If you decide to exclude your spouse from your policy, be sure to notify your insurance agent or company. Let them know that your spouse is licensed but doesn't plan to drive your vehicle. This is important because driving your car while excluded from your policy could void your coverage.

Spouse's Insurance

If your spouse has their own vehicle, they will need to have their own insurance policy. In this case, excluding them from your policy can be a good way to save money if they have a bad driving record.

Affidavit of Coverage

If your spouse already has insurance coverage for their own car, you may be able to request that they are kept off your policy. However, you will likely need to provide an affidavit confirming their coverage and policy information to your insurance company.

Spouse's Driving Record

Keep in mind that if your spouse has a poor driving record or low credit score, excluding them from your policy may be the only way to prevent your rates from increasing. Traffic violations, accidents, and DUI convictions can all impact your insurance rates.

Separate Policies

Even if you exclude your spouse from your policy, you may still want to consider keeping separate policies. This is especially true if your spouse has a negative driving history, as giving them the least expensive car to insure can help you avoid a significant increase in your rates.

State Laws and Insurance Company Guidelines

Finally, be sure to check your state laws and your insurance company's guidelines to ensure that named-driver exclusions are allowed. If they are not, you may need to shop for insurance that meets this criterion.

Frequently asked questions