Auto Insurance And Relationships: Am I Covered If My Girlfriend Drives My Car?

Whether or not your girlfriend is covered by your auto insurance depends on your situation. If you live together, you can add your girlfriend to your car insurance policy. However, it may not always be the best or cheapest option, especially if one of you has a bad driving record or poor credit score. If your girlfriend rarely drives your car and you don't live together, you may not need to add her to your policy. In some cases, your girlfriend may already be covered under your insurance policy's permissive use clause, which covers people who drive your car less than 10-15 times a year and have your consent to do so.

When to add a girlfriend to your auto insurance policy

Adding your girlfriend to your auto insurance policy is dependent on several factors. Firstly, if you live together, most insurance companies will require you to add your girlfriend as a listed driver to your policy. This is because your girlfriend will be considered a member of your household and will have regular access to your vehicle. By adding her to your policy, you ensure that she is covered in case of an accident.

Secondly, consider how often your girlfriend drives your car. If she borrows your car frequently, which is usually defined as more than 10 to 15 times a year, it is advisable to add her to your policy. This is because most insurance companies have a permissive use clause that covers people who drive your vehicle infrequently with your permission. If your girlfriend drives your car more often, she may not be covered by this clause, and adding her to your policy will provide adequate coverage for both of you.

Thirdly, if your girlfriend owns a vehicle, you may want to consider combining your policies. Many insurance companies offer multi-car discounts, so you could benefit from adding each other to your respective policies or even purchasing a joint policy. This is especially true if you live together, as it can be more convenient and affordable to have a shared policy.

Finally, if your girlfriend does not have car insurance of her own, you may want to add her to your policy, especially if she drives your car. This will ensure that she is covered in case of any accidents or incidents.

While these are general guidelines, it is always best to consult your insurance company directly, as requirements and discounts may vary.

When not to add a girlfriend to your auto insurance policy

• Your girlfriend has a bad driving record: If your girlfriend has a history of traffic violations or DUIs, your insurance rates may increase significantly. Similarly, if she has been in an at-fault accident within the last three years, she may be considered a high-risk driver, leading to higher premiums.
• You don't borrow each other's vehicles often: If you and your girlfriend rarely drive each other's cars, it may not be necessary or cost-effective to add her to your policy. Most insurance policies include a permissive use agreement that covers occasional use by unlisted drivers.
• Your girlfriend has a poor credit score: Adding a driver with a poor credit score to your policy can increase your insurance rate. Insurance companies often associate poor credit scores with a higher number of insurance claims.
• You drive an expensive vehicle: Insuring a costly car can significantly increase your insurance rates. Adding another driver, especially one with less experience, can further raise these costs.
• Your girlfriend has less than nine years of driving experience: Inexperienced drivers often result in higher insurance rates.
• You want to avoid potential stress: Adding your girlfriend to your policy may not always be necessary and could cause unnecessary stress in your relationship.

How to add a girlfriend to your auto insurance policy

If you live with your girlfriend or she frequently drives your car, you may want to add her to your auto insurance policy. This is a simple process, but it can be costly and may not always be the best option. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to add your girlfriend to your auto insurance policy.

When to Add Your Girlfriend to Your Policy

Firstly, consider whether you need to add your girlfriend to your auto insurance policy. You can add your girlfriend to your car insurance policy if you live together. If you don't live together, you should add her if she drives your car frequently (more than 10-15 times a year).

When Not to Add Your Girlfriend to Your Policy

If your girlfriend rarely drives your car and you don't live together, you may not need to add her to your policy. Also, if she has a bad driving record, poor credit score, or drives an expensive vehicle, adding her to your policy could significantly increase your rates.

How to Add Your Girlfriend to Your Policy

To add your girlfriend to your auto insurance policy, follow these steps:

• Determine how you want to change your policy: Consider your car usage, driving history, and finances to determine the best option. You might want to add her as a listed driver for occasional use, add her to an existing policy, or purchase a new joint policy.
• Contact your car insurance company: Get in touch with your insurance company to make the change or ask an agent about a new policy.
• Provide information about your girlfriend: You will typically need to provide her full name, date of birth, driving history, and driver's license number.

Benefits of Adding Your Girlfriend to Your Policy

• You may be eligible for multi-driver or multi-vehicle discounts.
• Adding a driver to your policy is usually a quick and easy process.
• You can ensure that you and your girlfriend have adequate coverage, which can help you avoid expensive repair bills.

Drawbacks of Adding Your Girlfriend to Your Policy

• Adding a listed driver or adding your girlfriend to an existing policy will likely increase your coverage costs.
• Your girlfriend's driving record will affect your insurance costs, which can be risky if she has a bad driving record.
• Depending on your living situation and how often you share vehicles, adding your girlfriend to your policy may not be necessary and can cause unnecessary stress.

Excluding a girlfriend from your auto insurance policy

If you share the same address as your girlfriend, your car insurance company will consider her a member of your household and request that you add her to your car insurance policy. However, there are some instances where excluding your girlfriend from your auto insurance policy might be a better option. Here are some scenarios where excluding your girlfriend from your auto insurance policy may be a good idea:

• Your girlfriend has a bad driving record: If your girlfriend has a history of speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or driving under the influence, adding her to your policy could significantly increase your premium. In this case, it may be more cost-effective to keep separate policies.
• You don't share vehicles often: If you and your girlfriend don't regularly drive each other's cars, your policy's permissive use agreement might be sufficient. This agreement typically covers infrequent and short instances when your girlfriend drives your car with your permission.
• Your girlfriend has a poor credit score: In most states, credit history is a factor in determining car insurance premiums. If your girlfriend has a poor credit score, adding her to your policy could increase your rates. Keeping separate policies may save you money in this situation.
• One of you drives an expensive vehicle: Insuring an expensive car can be costly. If there is a significant difference in the value of your vehicles, it might be best to maintain separate insurance policies to avoid a substantial increase in rates.
• Your girlfriend is an inexperienced driver: Insurance companies consider driving experience when setting rates. If your girlfriend is a new driver, adding her to your policy could lead to a substantial increase in your premium.
• Your girlfriend has a recent at-fault accident: If your girlfriend has been in an at-fault accident within the last three years, she may be considered a high-risk driver. Adding a high-risk driver to your policy will likely result in higher insurance premiums.

In these situations, excluding your girlfriend from your auto insurance policy can help prevent a significant increase in your insurance costs. However, it's important to note that if your girlfriend regularly drives your car, you should consider adding her to your policy to ensure adequate coverage for both of you.

Pros and cons of adding a girlfriend to your auto insurance policy

Pros of adding a girlfriend to your auto insurance policy:

• You might qualify for a multi-driver or multi-vehicle discount, which can help you save money.
• Adding a driver to your policy is usually a quick and easy process.
• You can ensure that you and your significant other have the appropriate amount of coverage, which can help you avoid expensive repair bills later.

Cons of adding a girlfriend to your auto insurance policy:

• You might pay more for coverage when you add a listed driver or add a driver to an existing policy.
• Once you add someone to your policy, their driving record affects your car insurance costs, which can be risky if they have a bad driving record.
• Depending on your living situation and how often you share vehicles, adding your partner to your policy might not be necessary and can cause unnecessary stress.

Frequently asked questions