Car insurance for married couples

On average, married couples pay lower premiums than singles. Why? In general, insurance companies consider married couples to be more financially stable and less risky to insure. When you get married, your coverage needs may change as well. Because marriage has an impact on your finances and your insurance is designed to protect your finances, getting married is a good time to review your car insurance needs.

The insurance editorial team at StrongInsurance looked at average rates for married couples to help you understand how marriage affects your premium. We also investigated the complexities of how getting married can affect your car insurance policy, such as whether you need to add your spouse and whether new discounts are available to you. Our information may give you more confidence when making changes to your policy.

Does being married get me better car insurance rates?

Married couples typically have lower insurance rates than single drivers. The national annual average cost of car insurance for a single driver is $1,674, while the national average cost of car insurance for a married couple's policy is $1,625 for one vehicle. These are average rates, and your individual premiums are determined by factors such as the vehicle you drive, your driving record, and your claims history. By shopping around with some of the best car insurance companies on the market, you may be able to find lower rates.

Do I have to add my spouse to my car insurance policy?

Yes, you will almost certainly need to add your spouse to your car insurance policy. For the most part, this could be a good thing — by consolidating your cars on one policy, you may be able to lower your premiums and make it easier to manage your insurance. However, if your spouse has a less-than-perfect driving record, your premiums may rise.

Named driver exclusion

The general rule is that if a driver lives in your household, they must be listed on your car insurance policy. Depending on your insurance provider, you may be able to avoid premium increases by listing your spouse as an excluded driver on your car insurance policy. Most companies, however, do not allow spouses to be excluded drivers.

If you choose this option, your spouse will not be covered if they drive your vehicle. If they are involved in an accident while driving in your vehicle and are listed as an excluded driver, your insurance company will most likely deny the claim.

Marriage discounts

Most insurance companies provide a variety of car insurance discounts to help you save money on your premium. While there is no such thing as a "marriage discount," you may have access to discounts that you did not have before you married.

Multi-car discount: You may be eligible for a multi-car discount if you add your partner and their vehicle to your policy.
Marital status: Another possible discount based on your marital status change. When you change your personal information from "single" to "married," your rate may drop by $50 per year on average. Whether true or not, married people are thought to be more stable drivers who likely share driving responsibilities.
Multi-policy discount: As newlyweds, you may be moving in together –– whether renting or buying a home or condo –– which may provide an opportunity to combine all of your insurance policies with one company, potentially leading to discounts.

Should my spouse and I have separate policies?

If your spouse has a poor driving record or has little experience as a licensed driver, there is usually no way to avoid this affecting your premium when you combine policies. Marriage legally binds you to another person, so it is unlikely that you will be able to obtain car insurance without listing your spouse.

However, it may not always be a good idea to combine your car insurance policies with those of your new spouse. However, many auto insurers require combined policies, so if you and your spouse want to keep your policies separate, you'll need to check with both insurance companies.

Frequently asked questions

Can I exclude my spouse from my car insurance?

Unlikely, but it depends on the insurance company you choose. Even if spouses want to keep their finances separate, they must usually be listed as drivers on each other's car insurance policies. This means that your spouse's driving record will most likely have an impact on your insurance premiums.

How do I add my spouse to my car insurance?

As soon as you get married, you can add your spouse to your car insurance policy. When applying a married discount to your policy, some insurers also consider engagement and common law marriage. You may want to get quotes when deciding which car insurance policy to keep. Is it more cost-effective to keep your policy or your partner's policy? You can add your spouse as a driver on your policy once you've decided which car insurance policy to keep. It makes no difference which driver is listed first.

Can you combine car insurance policies if you are not married?

As long as each vehicle is kept at the same household overnight, you can share a car insurance policy with multiple auto insurers. That means you can share a car insurance policy with drivers who aren't related to you. Many carriers, for example, recognize common-law marriages, which means car insurance will work the same way as it would for a traditional married couple. If couples are engaged, some insurers will even allow them to combine policies and apply the married discount.

Methodology

StrongInsurance analyzes 2021 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. using Quadrant Information Services. The rates quoted are for a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit, and the following full coverage limits:

Liability for bodily harm of $100,000 per person
Liability for bodily injury of $300,000 per accident
Property damage liability per accident is $50,000.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury per person: $100,000
Uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident: $300,000
The collision deductible is $500.
The total deductible is $500.

StrongInsurance used minimum coverage limits that meet each state's requirements to determine minimum coverage limits. Our typical driver owns a 2019 Toyota Camry, commutes five days a week, and drives 12,000 miles per year.

Rates were calculated using the following marital/family statuses: single (base), married (40 year married man and woman with a 16-year-old teen driver), and married (40 year married man and woman with a 16-year-old teen driver).

These are sample rates that should only be used for comparison.