If I want to add a driver or vehicle to my insurance, do I need to start a new policy?
I started Insurance Blog by Chris™ because I have a passion for insurance. Here at the blog, our job is to educate and inform people about the best insurance for them.
Since then, we have grown into national brands with a large team of researchers helping people understand all forms of insurance.
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Written by
Chris Huntley
Founder of Huntley Wealth & Insurance Services
Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states.
After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health insu…
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Reviewed by
Rachael Brennan
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Feb 8, 2022
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Here’s the Scoop
You can add a new driver or a new vehicle to your policy
New drivers will be given an insurance card
You can shop online to find the best insurance policy for your needs
Quite a few families and even friends are trying to consolidate their resources these days. This has many drivers wondering, “Do I have to buy car insurance to add a driver or vehicle to my insurance policy?”
If you’re in a similar situation, you’ll be happy to learn that you don’t have to buy a new policy if you want to add another driver or even another vehicle onto your existing policy. Now, if you’re currently shopping for cheap insurance coverage, you may be wondering, “Can I find more affordable car insurance and add a driver or vehicle to my insurance quotes if I shop online?”
The answer is, yes, you can. When you shop online you can experiment with different insurance add-ons that could cause a change in your insurance rates. This way you can be prepared when you receive your next insurance bill. This new information may leave you thinking that adding more drivers to your policy could make insurance too expensive, but this may not be the case for you.
Keep reading and discover how you can add a car or a driver to your policy and keep your rates lower than you previously thought possible.
Enter your ZIP code to get free insurance quotes if you’ve ever asked, “How can I add a driver or vehicle to my insurance policy?”
How can new drivers be added to an insurance policy?
Does my car insurance cover other drivers who drive my car frequently?
It does actually, but you will be required to add those individuals as drivers to your insurance policy, which is quite easy and should only take a few minutes of your time to complete. When you contact your insurance company, you must be able to provide:
The driver’s full name
The driver’s birth date
The driver’s age when they received their license
The driver’s license number
Once your policy has been updated with this information, you will be able to see the new driver listed on your policy whenever you log into your insurance account online, and some insurance companies will even allow you to print out new insurance cards at home.
Does adding a driver increase your insurance? It could, but it may not be by a great amount, and there are many other factors that are responsible for changing your rates. For example, take a look at how the average cost of different amounts of coverage could vary if you were to move from one state to another:
Car Insurance Rates by State
StateMonthly Liability-Only Car Insurance RatesMonthly Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates
Arizona$41$81
California$39$82
Georgia$41$87
Illinois$36$74
Indiana$31$63
Louisiana$61$117
Maryland$50$93
Missouri$33$73
Nebraska$29$69
Ohio$31$66
Oklahoma$37$84
Pennsylvania$41$81
Texas$42$92
Utah$39$73
Wisconsin$30$61
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Another question that many drivers want answered is this: Does insurance follow the car or the driver? When you have an active insurance policy, that coverage follows the car, not the driver. This is why you don’t need to worry about adding someone to car insurance temporarily.
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Is it difficult to add new vehicles to an auto insurance policy?
Now, if you are going to purchase a car for the driver you just added to your policy, you’ll need to contact your insurance company again, but this time you’ll need to provide information about the car. To be more specific, you’ll need:
The car’s vehicle identification number
The mileage on the car
The car’s make and model
The lease information if necessary
Once again, you’ll be able to see all the updates made to your policy online via the company website. Of course, you can also request to get new insurance documents sent to you through the traditional mail as well.
After reading all of this you may be left wondering, “Can I keep my current rates with my car insurance company and add a driver or vehicle to my insurance?” Luckily, today’s insurance companies typically have a wide array of discounts available that can help you keep your rates low. You may even find that adding a vehicle has made more discounts accessible to you.
How can auto insurance rates be lowered?
How can I keep low car insurance rates and add a driver or vehicle to my insurance policy at the same time?
There’s no denying that adding a second car or a teenage driver to your insurance policy could raise your rates; however, most insurance companies provide a wide array of discounts to help you combat a rate increase. Below you can see a list of common discounts offered by most insurance companies that you could use to keep your rates low:
Anti-theft Device
Loyalty
Paperless Billing
Paid-in-full
Lane Assist
Driver’s Ed
Defensive Driving
Distant Student
Multi-car
Multi-policy
Forward Collision Warning
Accident Free
Safe Driver
Daytime running lights
Electronic Stability Control
Engaged Couple
Green Vehicle
VIN Etching
Senior Driver
New Graduate
Newlyweds
As you can see, it’s in your best interest to review your policy and make sure that you aren’t missing out on any opportunities to save money on your insurance. Don’t forget to add every discount you qualify for to your online quotes when you shop for insurance so you can verify that you are being offered an accurate rate.
Adding Drivers and Vehicles to Your Policy: The Bottom Line
Can I get cheap car insurance quotes and add a driver or vehicle to my insurance too?
Yes, you can — and your chances of achieving this goal increase when you shop online. Keep in mind, you don’t need to buy a new policy just to add on a new driver or car. If your current policy becomes too expensive after doing so, get some free quotes online to find an insurance company that not only has the coverage you need but can provide the rates you want as well.
When shopping online for insurance, make sure to get at least five quotes so you can make sure that you are picking the best policy for your needs.
Enter your ZIP code to get free insurance quotes if you’ve thought to yourself, “I need to add a driver or vehicle to my insurance and get cheap rates.”
