Paul Sanchez
Adding your spouse to your GEICO insurance policy is a straightforward process. In most cases, GEICO requires you to add your spouse to your auto policy once you are married, primarily to provide liability protection for both parties. This is true even if your spouse has their own car and insurance. However, there are exceptions in certain states that allow separate policies for married couples. Adding your spouse as a driver may impact your rates and coverage, as premiums are dependent on both spouses' driving records. To add your spouse, you will need to inform GEICO of your marriage and provide their driver's license, VIN, and driving history. GEICO will then run a background check and issue an updated policy and new premium. It is important to consider the pros and cons, available discounts, and your state's specific laws before making any changes to your policy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to add a driver | If they own or co-own your vehicle, their relationship to you, whether they live with you, and how often they will drive it |
| Driver information required | Full name as it appears on their driver's license, driver's license number, social security number (if requested), vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate number, vehicle registration number |
| How to add a driver | Online via the GEICO Policyholder Service Center, or by calling GEICO's customer service agents |
| Impact on premium | Adding a driver may affect your premium, but not always. Factors that determine the cost of adding a driver include driver relationship, age, driving history, past claims, and driving records |
| When not to add a spouse | If your spouse does not drive your insured vehicles, if you live in a state allowing separate policies for married couples, or if an exclusion form prevents your spouse from driving certain cars |
What You'll Learn
Adding a spouse to your GEICO insurance policy
Steps to Add Your Spouse to Your GEICO Policy:
- Inform GEICO of your marriage and provide spousal information: Notify GEICO of your change in marital status and provide details about your spouse, such as their full name and driver's license number.
- Provide spousal documentation: You will need to submit your spouse's driver's license, Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), and driving history. GEICO may also request their Social Security number.
- Background check: GEICO will conduct a background check on your spouse's driving record.
- Updated policy and premium: Based on the information provided and the background check, GEICO will issue an updated policy with a new premium. The premium may increase or decrease, depending on your spouse's driving record.
- Consider bundling policies for discounts: You may be eligible for discounts if you bundle home, life, or motorcycle insurance policies with GEICO.
It's important to note that there are certain situations where adding your spouse may not be necessary. For example, if your spouse does not drive your insured vehicles or if you live in a state that allows separate policies for married couples. Additionally, if there is an exclusion form preventing your spouse from driving certain cars, you may not need to add them to your policy.
To add your spouse to your GEICO policy, you can either use their online Policyholder Service Center or speak to a customer service agent over the phone. Remember to review the pros and cons, discounts, and your state's specific laws before making any changes to your insurance policy.
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Informing GEICO of your marriage
Step 1: Inform GEICO of Your Marriage
Firstly, you'll need to notify GEICO of your change in marital status. You can do this by contacting their customer service team through their website, mobile app, or by calling them. It's important to initiate this process as soon as possible to ensure you and your spouse are covered.
Step 2: Provide Spouse Information
Once you've informed GEICO of your marriage, you'll need to provide information about your spouse. This includes their full name, as it appears on their driver's license, and their driver's license number. Additionally, you may be asked to provide their Social Security number.
Step 3: Vehicle Information
If you are adding your spouse as a driver to your vehicle, you will need to provide information about the car. This includes the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and license plate number. If you are leasing or financing the vehicle, you may also need to provide additional details, such as whether the vehicle is owned, financed, or leased.
Step 4: Driving History
GEICO will also require information about your spouse's driving history. They will likely perform a background check on their driving record. It's important to provide accurate information to ensure your policy is updated correctly and to avoid any issues in the future.
Step 5: Review Updated Policy and Premium
After providing all the necessary information, GEICO will issue an updated policy and a new premium. The premium may be affected by the addition of your spouse, depending on their driving history and other factors. Be sure to review the updated policy to understand any changes to your coverage and rates.
It's important to note that, in most cases, GEICO requires spouses to be added to your auto policy. This provides liability protection for both you and your spouse and helps prevent coverage gaps. However, there are exceptions in some states that allow separate policies for married couples. Additionally, if your spouse does not drive your insured vehicles, you may not need to add them to your policy.
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Providing your spouse's driver's license, VINs, and driving history
When adding your spouse to your GEICO insurance, you will need to provide their driver's license, VINs, and driving history.
The driver's license number is a crucial piece of information that helps identify your spouse as a new driver on the policy. It is essential to have this information ready when contacting GEICO to make the necessary changes to your insurance plan.
Additionally, you will need to provide the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for each vehicle that your spouse will be driving. The VIN is a unique code assigned to each vehicle and can be found in several places, including the bottom of the windshield, the interior dashboard on the driver's side, the driver's side door jamb, or the vehicle registration documents. The VIN provides information about the vehicle's make, model, and year, which is necessary for GEICO to provide an accurate quote for coverage.
Finally, GEICO will also request your spouse's driving history as part of the process of adding them to your policy. This information will help determine the updated premium and coverage. GEICO will run a background check on your spouse's driving record to assess their driving history, including any past claims or driving-related incidents.
It is important to note that adding your spouse as a driver to your GEICO insurance policy may affect your rates and coverage. Premiums can either increase or decrease, depending on your spouse's driving record. If they have a good driving record, it may even help lower your rates.
GEICO's background check on your spouse's record
When adding a spouse to your GEICO insurance policy, you will need to inform GEICO of your marriage and provide your spouse's driver's license, VINs, and driving history. GEICO will then run a background check on your spouse's record.
GEICO generally checks driving records every 6 to 12 months, when customers apply for a new policy, or renew an existing one. For new customers, GEICO will check driving records to determine insurance rates and how risky a driver is to insure. Once a customer, GEICO will run a check on driving records at least a few weeks before a policy is set to expire. This allows GEICO to reassess the risk and determine the premium.
GEICO gets driving records from state DMVs or LexisNexis, and they check the past 5 years for accidents and moving violations. If your driving record has any new violations since GEICO last checked, your rates will likely increase. For example, GEICO insurance premiums will increase by an average of 60% after an accident and by 50% after a speeding ticket.
Adding your spouse as a driver will likely affect your rates and coverage. Premiums depend on both driving records, so a good driver can lower rates. Discounts may apply by bundling home or life insurance.
It's important to note that GEICO requires spouses to be added to auto policies in most states and situations to provide liability protection for both parties and prevent coverage gaps. However, there are exceptions in some states that allow separate policies for married couples.
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The impact of adding your spouse to your policy
When it comes to car insurance, there are several factors to consider when deciding whether to add your spouse to your policy. Firstly, it's important to note that GEICO and most other insurance companies require you to list your spouse as a driver on your policy once you are married. This is to ensure liability protection for both you and your spouse and to prevent coverage gaps. Not doing so can be considered misrepresentation or fraud and may result in denied claims or policy cancellation.
Additionally, having a joint policy can lead to cost savings and simplify administration. With a joint policy, you only need to manage one policy and pay one premium, and you may be eligible for multi-car and multi-driver discounts. However, separate policies can sometimes result in higher premiums as you may miss out on these discounts. Furthermore, in the event of an accident, managing claims and settlements can be more complex with separate policies.
Ultimately, the decision to add your spouse to your policy depends on your specific situation. It's recommended to review your options, compare quotes, and consider the pros and cons of joint and separate policies before making a decision.
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Frequently asked questions
You can add your spouse to your GEICO insurance online or by speaking with an agent. You will need to provide their driver's license number and social security number (if requested). You will also need to inform GEICO of your spouse's driving history and VINs.
GEICO requires that you add your spouse to your auto policy once you are married. This provides liability protection for both you and your spouse, even if they have their own car and insurance. Adding your spouse as a driver may affect your rates and coverage.
In some states, separate policies for married couples are allowed. You may also not need to add your spouse if they do not drive your insured vehicles or if an exclusion form prevents them from driving certain cars.
Adding your spouse as a driver can either raise or lower your premiums, depending on their driving history and age. If your driving records are similar, you may not see much change in your rates.
If your spouse is not added to your policy, there may be coverage gaps. There will be no liability protection if your spouse drives your car uninsured, and no coverage for their injuries in your vehicle.
