Can You Add Someone to Your Car Insurance Who Doesn’t Live With You?

Most of the time, the people listed on your car insurance policy will reside in your household, like your spouse, partner, or children. But in certain circumstances, you can add someone who doesn’t live with you to your car insurance. For example, you might want to add your children’s caregiver to your insurance because they often drive your car. 

Here’s what you need to know about adding people outside your household to your car insurance policy.

When it makes sense to add someone you don’t live with to your car insurance policy

In a few circumstances, it makes sense to add someone to your car insurance policy if they don’t live with you. A car insurance company might not allow you to add a friend who lives at a different address to your insurance policy. But the insurer might accept a caregiver who comes to your house regularly and drives your car to bring your children to their extracurricular activities.

If someone who isn’t properly insured through your or their own policy drives your car, you run the risk of not having coverage for a claim. Each insurer is different, and so are insurance policies. If you have questions about what situations and who your policy covers, ask your insurance agent what they recommend.

Here are examples of people outside your household who you can typically add to your policy:

• A nanny or babysitter who drives your car

• A nurse or caregiver who is in your household regularly and might borrow your vehicle

• A family member who visits and wants to drive your car

• Neighbors who may borrow your car on occasion

• Children who are away at college

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Types of drivers to add to your policy

Your insurance company will typically require you to list household members of driving age on your car insurance policy. But different driver categories affect your insurance rates in different ways.

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  Rated driver

  A rated driver is a person who lives with you and drives your car. Rated drivers are typically family members or someone who lives with you, like a live-in partner or roommate. This is different from a listed driver, and rated drivers influence your premium rates.

• 

  Listed driver

  A listed driver is someone who is on your insurance policy but doesn’t usually drive your vehicle. Insurance companies will typically ask you to list all household members who are drivers on your policy, but listed drivers won’t affect your premiums. For example, if your spouse has their own car that they drive regularly instead of yours, they may be a listed driver.

• 

  Non-driver

  A non-driver is someone who lives at your address but doesn’t drive and doesn’t have a license. For example, this might include a grandparent who lives with you but doesn’t drive and doesn’t plan to renew their license.

• 

  Other insurance driver

  An other insurance driver is a person who has their own insurance policy. Your insurance company might want proof of their insurance if they live in your household and may drive your car.

• 

  Excluded driver

  An excluded driver is someone you specifically leave off your insurance policy because of the effect their driving history may have on your premiums. For example, if a member of your family has a history of speeding tickets, adding them to your policy because you live in the same home might cause you to pay higher premiums.

  If you exclude them from your policy, they won’t be able to drive your vehicle and have insurance coverage. But it’s possible to lower your car insurance rate by not including them on your policy.

How to add someone to your car insurance policy

To add a friend to your car insurance policy, follow these steps:

1. Contact your car insurance company or agent. Before you gather your friend’s information, contact your insurer or insurance agent to make sure you’re allowed to add your friend to your policy. If you are, move on to the next step.

2. Gather personal information. To add a friend to your policy, you’ll likely need their full name, date of birth, driver’s license number, and anything else your insurer requests.

3. Ask about discounts. You may be eligible for discounts after adding your friend to your car insurance policy. For example, you might be able to secure a safe driver or a good student discount if your friend meets those qualifications.

4. Keep open communication. Once your friend is on your car insurance policy, keep open communication about who’s paying for the policy and how you want them to handle your vehicle if they drive it.

5. Ask about permissive use. Some insurers cover your vehicle after an accident if the driver has permission to borrow the car.^[2] Before lending a car to a friend, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company, as coverage may be limited or not available.  

6. Consider non-owner car insurance. Non-owner car insurance offers liability coverage when a driver gets into an accident operating a vehicle they don’t own. This may be a good alternative instead of adding someone to your policy.

What happens when you add someone to your car insurance policy?

You can add roommates, spouses, and newly licensed teen drivers to your car insurance policy. How it affects the existing policy depends on the driver’s history.

• If you add an inexperienced teen driver or college-aged student to your insurance policy, your premiums may increase, but they could be eligible for a good student discount.

• If the driver you add to your insurance has a poor driving history, your premiums could increase.

• Once someone you add moves out of your home, like a roommate, you can typically take them off your policy.

• Your premiums may go up if a named driver gets into an accident while driving your car. As the policyholder, you may be financially responsible for any damages or injuries not covered by your insurance.

Each time your policy renews, speak with your insurer or insurance agent to see if you’re eligible for any new discounts that can save you money long term.

Adding drivers to your car insurance FAQs