When it comes to people living in your household, vehicle insurance companies typically want to know everyone of driving age, regardless of whether they have a driver’s license, actively drive the insured vehicle, or are related to you. Normally, only individuals living with you who hold a valid driver’s license have an influence on your car insurance rates, even though other individuals of driving age may be listed on your policy. If you don’t want them to have an impact on your automobile insurance costs, you may be able to exclude them from your policy, depending on their relationship to you, the company and state.
When obtaining car insurance quotes, it’s advisable not to make assumptions about the relevance of the questions and instead answer them to the best of your knowledge. This approach minimizes the risk of encountering issues in the future. For instance, it’s not advisable to overlook mentioning someone in your household just because they cannot currently drive. Vehicle insurers typically do not factor in individuals without a driver’s license when determining rates, so listing them on the policy may not incur extra costs.
If such an unlicensed listed person is involved in an accident with your car in the future, your insurer may or may not cover the damages, depending on the company, and whether they were rated or not. Nevertheless, by listing them on your policy, you avoid the possibility of your insurer canceling your policy on the grounds that you concealed a material fact. As a general guideline, if a question appears on a car insurance quote form, the related information is deemed important for auto insurance purposes.
People who live with you are relevant for the purpose of auto insurance even if they aren’t related to you. These could include your spouse, children, siblings, relatives or even a roommate. By living with you, they have easy access to your car keys that increases their chances of driving your car, even if it is only on occasion.
Do You Have to List All Drivers on your Auto Insurance?
In general, drivers residing in your household must be included in your vehicle insurance policy before they are allowed to drive your car. Most insurance companies require them to be either listed on the policy or explicitly excluded from coverage through a named driver exclusion clause.
On the other hand, individuals who do not reside with you may still be able to use your car occasionally with your permission, even if they aren’t listed on your policy, provided your policy includes “permissive use” coverage. In the United States, standard auto insurance policies typically include “permissive use” coverage, but it’s always a good idea to double-check.
Problems with Hiding People Living with You from Your Insurer
You might be concerned about the possibility of your car insurance rates increasing due to someone living in your household, but concealing information from your insurer is not a recommended course of action. If these individuals drive your car and your insurer is unaware of them, it can lead to several consequences. Your insurer may deny any claims if these individuals are involved in an accident while driving your vehicle, and they could cancel your policy, citing misrepresentation of material facts. Additionally, you could face charges for insurance fraud because by hiding a driver, you effectively obtained cheaper car insurance.
For instance, if your teenage child has recently obtained a driver’s license, it’s true that adding them to your auto insurance policy can result in a substantial premium increase. However, failing to inform your insurer about them means they won’t have any coverage while driving your car. Moreover, the discovery of such information can put the policy at risk, as mentioned earlier.
An unlicensed driver in your household typically shouldn’t affect your vehicle insurance rates because they are legally not allowed to drive. However, if you notice that your rates increase after informing the insurer about an unlicensed driver in your household, it may be necessary to explore other insurance options to find a better quote. This advice holds true if listing a driver leads to substantial premium hikes as well. In fact, it’s a good practice to shop around whenever there’s a significant change in your circumstances, such as adding a teenage driver to your vehicle insurance policy.
Excluding a Driver from Your Car Insurance
If you have a high-risk driver in your household who significantly increases your auto insurance rates, you may have the option to exclude them from your policy, thereby avoiding the additional premium associated with their risk. However, it’s essential to only exclude individuals if you are certain they will not be driving your vehicle at all, as they will have no coverage under your policy if they are explicitly excluded by name.
The possibility of named driver exclusions depends on various factors, including the state you reside in, the insurance company you’re with, and the individual’s relationship to you. For instance, many insurance companies may require the excluded driver to have their own car and insurance before agreeing to the exclusion. Additionally, some companies may not permit the exclusion of your spouse from your vehicle insurance policy, or your state may have regulations against it. Therefore, it’s crucial to have a discussion with your insurer to understand the specific options and limitations regarding named driver exclusions in your situation.
It’s always advisable to have an open and honest discussion with your insurance agent or insurer about your circumstances and concerns. Avoiding communication with them due to fear of potential car insurance premium increases is not the best approach. Instead, work collaboratively to find the most suitable solutions. There are often alternative ways to reduce your vehicle insurance costs, such as exploring available discounts and actively shopping around to find the best rates.