Car Insurance For Unmarried Couples 2025: Coverage Options

Key Takeaways

Unmarried couples can combine car insurance if they live at the same address and provide documentation like utility bills or lease agreements. Some insurers require adding household members who can access your vehicles, making joint coverage mandatory once you live together.

Multi-car discounts can reduce costs, but adding a high-risk partner often substantially increases rates. If one partner has violations, poor credit, or expensive vehicles, separate policies typically cost less despite losing discounts.

Compare quotes for both scenarios before deciding. Get quotes for your premiums added together versus a combined policy to determine actual savings.

Joint Car Insurance for Unmarried Couples

Unmarried couples can purchase joint car insurance, but most insurers require you to live at the same address. When you combine policies, coverage protects both partners and any vehicles owned by either person.

Your combined premium reflects each driver's record, credit score and other rating factors. You'll both be responsible for premium payments and have equal access to coverage benefits.

Some insurers ask for proof you live together, such as utility bills or lease agreements showing both names. This prevents fraud and ensures you meet their requirements.

Should You Combine Car Insurance?

Combining car insurance as an unmarried couple can save money, but it's not always the right choice. The decision depends on your living situation, driving records and financial profiles.

When Combining Makes Sense

Most insurers only require you and your partner to share the same residential address to combine policies. However, several other factors determine whether joint coverage will benefit your situation and wallet.

You live at the same address (required by most insurers)

Adding your partner when you live together is the safest choice and often mandatory. Some carriers deny claims if you don't name household members who have access to your vehicles. Some insurers require you to add anyone in your household who could drive your car, making joint coverage necessary rather than optional.

You regularly drive each other's vehicles

Some couples frequently use each other's cars, but this doesn't automatically fall under permissive use. Adding your partner to your policy is safer than relying on permissive use coverage, which doesn't apply to regular usage patterns. Otherwise, your carrier might deny your claim if your partner has an accident.

Both partners have clean driving records

When both of you have good driving histories, combining policies typically reduces costs through multi-car discounts. Your shared low-risk profile makes joint coverage financially attractive.

Similar credit scores

If both partners have good credit, combining won't hurt your rates. Some insurers even offer better rates for couples with consistently good financial profiles.

When Separate Policies Work Better

Even if you live together, joint car insurance shouldn't be automatic. Several factors can make separate policies more cost-effective despite the convenience of shared coverage.

Your partner has a bad driving record

Drivers with recent violations face higher premiums. Adding a partner with tickets, at-fault accidents or a DUI can increase your rates by far more than any multi-car discount saves.

You have credit score differences

Your credit score affects your insurance rates in most states. Separate policies often cost less than combining your risk profiles if one partner has excellent credit and the other has poor credit.

You live at different addresses

Couples living at different addresses can't combine policies. Even if you spend most nights together, insurers require the same legal address for joint coverage. In these cases, permissive use coverage protects your partner for occasional driving.

You have different vehicle types

If your partner drives an expensive sports car or luxury vehicle, adding it to your policy increases costs. Insurance companies charge more for vehicles that are expensive to repair or commonly stolen.

Your relationship is uncertain

Joint policies create shared financial responsibility. If you're unsure about a long-term commitment, separate policies avoid complications if you break up.

Quick Decision Test

Before combining coverage, get quotes for both scenarios:

Your current individual premiums added together
A combined policy quote with both drivers and vehicles

If the combined quote is higher, stick with separate policies. If it's lower, calculate the annual savings to see if joint coverage makes financial sense for your situation.

UNDERSTANDING PERMISSIVE USE LIMITS

Permissive use covers your partner for occasional driving, even if they're not on your policy. But there's a catch: "occasional" has limits. If your partner drives your car regularly, like for daily commuting, your insurer won't cover accidents because it considers this frequent use. For couples living separately who share cars often, add your partner as an occasional driver instead of relying on permissive use alone.

Average Cost of Car Insurance for Unmarried Policyholders

Insurance companies don't charge policyholders higher premiums for being single, but married couples typically enjoy lower rates because they're considered lower risk. Understanding individual rates helps unmarried couples evaluate whether combining policies will actually save money.


American National	$628	$378
GEICO	$1,096	$691
National General	$1,232	$814
Progressive	$1,564	$1,092
Travelers	$1,178	$835
USAA	$704	$420
Utica	$1,160	$825
Western National	$1,344	$686

How to Add Your Girlfriend or Boyfriend to Your Car Insurance Policy

Adding your unmarried partner to your car insurance requires more documentation than you might expect. We contacted major insurers to understand their requirements and processes for unmarried couples.

1
Contact your insurance company
Call your insurer's customer service line or use its mobile app to start the process. Have your policy number ready and explain that you want to add your unmarried partner as a driver.
2
Provide partner's information
You'll need your partner's full legal name, date of birth, driver's license number and Social Security number. Most insurers also require their complete driving history for the past three to five years.
3
Submit required documents
Insurers typically request proof that you live together:
- Utility bills showing both names at the same address
- Lease agreement or mortgage documents with both signatures
- Bank statements or government mail for both partners
- Vehicle registration documents (if adding their car)
4
Review rate changes
Your insurer will provide a revised quote showing how adding your partner affects your premium. Review this carefully before approving the change, as you can't easily reverse it midpolicy term.
5
Update your payment method
Decide whether one person pays the entire premium or if you'll split the costs. Some insurers allow automatic payments from multiple accounts, while others require a single payment source.

What to Do With Joint Car Insurance After a Breakup

Breaking up requires immediate action on joint car insurance to prevent coverage gaps and financial liability. Contact your insurer within 30 days to discuss your options. The legal and financial consequences of driving uninsured far outweigh the temporary inconvenience of handling these changes.

Situation	Action
You keep the car	Contact your insurer to remove your ex-partner from the policy. In some states, you'll need their written consent. Expect rate changes, as you'll lose multi-car discounts and return to single-person rates, which are usually higher. If you're moving, update your address immediately since location affects your premium.
Your ex keeps the car	Ensure your name is completely removed from the policy to avoid liability for future accidents. Request written confirmation of removal. You'll need new insurance before driving any vehicle, so shop for quotes immediately to prevent coverage gaps.
Co-owned vehicles	For jointly owned cars, one person must refinance the loan in their name only, or you'll need to sell the vehicle and split the proceeds. The person keeping the car handles the title transfer through your state's DMV. If you're both on a lease, the leasing company must approve removing one person.
Special considerations	Outstanding claims: Both parties remain responsible for open claims until resolved, regardless of who keeps the vehicle. Grace period: Most insurers offer 30 days to make policy changes after major life events. New coverage tips: Shop with multiple insurers before removal, look for new customer discounts and consider usage-based insurance if you're driving less.

Unmarried Couples Car Insurance Policy: Bottom Line

Unmarried couples can share car insurance policies, but whether you'll save money depends on your living situation, driving records and financial profiles. Joint coverage works best when you live together, regularly share vehicles and both have clean records. However, adding a high-risk partner can increase rates substantially, making separate policies more cost-effective.

Before combining coverage, get quotes for both scenarios and compare the total costs. Start by finding cheap full coverage car insurance options for your situation. The decision isn't just about convenience; it's about finding the right financial protection for your unique relationship and driving needs.

Auto Insurance for Unmarried Couples: FAQ

Car insurance gets more complicated when you're unmarried, from proving you live together to figuring out what happens if you break up. Here are answers to the most common questions about shared coverage for unmarried couples.

Can unmarried couples share car insurance?

Yes, unmarried couples can combine coverage if they live at the same address and provide documentation like utility bills or lease agreements showing both names. Some insurers require adding household members who have access to your vehicles, making joint coverage mandatory rather than optional once you live together.

When should I add my partner to my car insurance policy?

Add your partner if you live at the same address (required by most insurers), regularly drive each other's vehicles, and both have clean driving records and similar credit scores. Some carriers deny claims if you don't name household members who have access to your vehicles. The combination usually reduces costs through multi-car discounts.

When should I not add my partner to my auto insurance policy?

Don't add your partner if they have recent violations (DUI, reckless driving), poor credit when yours is excellent, or drive expensive sports or luxury cars. Adding a high-risk partner can increase your rates by 30% to 60%, far more than any multi-car discount saves. Also, avoid combining if you live at different addresses.

What should I do with joint car insurance after a breakup?

Contact your insurer within 30 days to avoid coverage gaps and financial liability. If you keep the car, remove your ex-partner (you may need their written consent in some states). If they keep it, ensure you're completely removed to avoid liability for future accidents.

Do unmarried couples save money by combining car insurance?

Usually, but not always. Multi-car discounts range from 8% to 25% across major insurers, but savings depend on both partners having good driving records and credit scores. If one partner has violations or poor credit, separate policies often cost less despite losing multi-car discounts.

What documentation do I need to add my partner to auto insurance?

You'll need your partner's full legal name, date of birth, driver's license number, Social Security number and complete driving history for the past three to five years. Insurers also typically request proof you live together: utility bills, lease agreements or mortgage documents showing both names at the same address.

What's the difference between permissive use and being on the car insurance policy?

Permissive use covers your partner for occasional driving (a few times per month), while being on the policy covers regular usage. If your partner drives your car regularly like daily commuting, your insurer might consider this frequent use and deny coverage when you need it most.

Can we combine car insurance policies if we live in different states?

Generally no. Most insurers require the same residential address for joint coverage. If one partner moves to a different state, you'll typically need separate policies due to different state insurance requirements and rating factors.

What about co-owned vehicles after a car insurance breakup?

For jointly owned cars, one person must refinance the loan in their name only, or you must sell the vehicle and split the proceeds. The person keeping the car handles the title transfer through your state's DMV. If you're both on a lease, the leasing company must approve removing one person.

How do credit scores affect our combined auto insurance premium?

Your credit score affects rates in most states. If both partners have good credit, combining won't hurt your rates. If one partner has excellent credit and the other has poor credit, separate policies often cost less than combining your risk profiles.

When's the best time to combine our car insurance policies?

Combine policies at your renewal date to avoid mid-term fees. If you need immediate changes, most insurers offer a 30-day grace period for major life events. This gives you time to shop for better rates without coverage gaps.

Car Insurance for Unmarried Couples: Our Methodology

Unmarried couples face unique insurance challenges that married couples don't, from proving you live together to figuring out whether combining policies actually saves money. We designed our research to address these situations by analyzing how relationship status, living arrangements and shared vehicle usage affect your insurance options and costs.

Our Research Approach

Car insurance rates differ greatly based on the insurer, age, gender, vehicle, location, credit score, driving record and more. Our data comes from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance departments and includes 83,056 quotes from 46 companies across 473 ZIP codes.

Driver Profile

We used this baseline profile to determine averages (unless otherwise noted):

40-year-old male
Clean driving record
Comprehensive and collision coverage of 100/300/100 with a $1,000 deductible
2012 Toyota Camry LE
12,000 miles driven annually

When noted, this driver profile was modified by age, gender, geographic location, vehicle, credit score and driving record to determine averages for different driver profiles and needs.

Coverage Analysis

The average rates on this page are determined using 100/300/100 comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

A 100/300/100 policy provides:

$100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person
$300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per accident
$100,000 in property damage liability insurance per accident

A $1,000 deductible means you'd pay $1,000 before your insurance provider covers the rest. Generally, a higher deductible means a lower policy premium.

When different coverage levels are noted, we modified the sample driver coverage to provide average rates for a 50/100/50 liability-only policy and a 50/100/50 comprehensive and collision policy. We calculated average rates based on whether a policy was paid in full annually, every six months or monthly.

Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.

Read Full Bio »

Car Insurance for Unmarried Couples

Key Takeaways

Compare Auto Insurance Rates

Joint Car Insurance for Unmarried Couples

Should You Combine Car Insurance?

When Combining Makes Sense

You live at the same address (required by most insurers)

You regularly drive each other's vehicles

Both partners have clean driving records

Similar credit scores

When Separate Policies Work Better

Your partner has a bad driving record

You have credit score differences

You live at different addresses

You have different vehicle types

Your relationship is uncertain

Quick Decision Test

UNDERSTANDING PERMISSIVE USE LIMITS

Average Cost of Car Insurance for Unmarried Policyholders

How to Add Your Girlfriend or Boyfriend to Your Car Insurance Policy

Contact your insurance company

Provide partner's information

Submit required documents

Review rate changes

Update your payment method

What to Do With Joint Car Insurance After a Breakup

Unmarried Couples Car Insurance Policy: Bottom Line

Compare Auto Insurance Rates

Auto Insurance for Unmarried Couples: FAQ

Can unmarried couples share car insurance?

When should I add my partner to my car insurance policy?

When should I not add my partner to my auto insurance policy?

What should I do with joint car insurance after a breakup?

Do unmarried couples save money by combining car insurance?

What documentation do I need to add my partner to auto insurance?

What's the difference between permissive use and being on the car insurance policy?

Can we combine car insurance policies if we live in different states?

What about co-owned vehicles after a car insurance breakup?

How do credit scores affect our combined auto insurance premium?

When's the best time to combine our car insurance policies?

Car Insurance for Unmarried Couples: Our Methodology

Car Insurance Policy for Unmarried Couples: Related Articles