Does Marriage Affect Car Insurance?

Getting married can be an exciting time — it can also mean managing a lot at the same time. And if you and your fiancée are living separately, you’ll probably be knee deep in packing up and moving in together, too. Amid that flurry of activity, it’s important to think about the benefits of marriage and car insurance. Yes, marriage does affect car insurance, and in a good way, usually. Premiums can typically decrease because most married couples tend to be safe drivers.

Should You Combine Your Car Insurance After Marriage?

Being married can save you money on your car insurance premiums, in most cases. Reach out to your agent with news of your updated marital status after you’ve sealed the deal and work with them to add your spouse to your policy.

With American Family Insurance, not only will you likely get a discount for your insurance, you’ll also be able to manage billing for both of your cars under one My Account login. Or download our MyAmFam app and add or remove a new policyholder, view your current insurance information, and manage your insurance policies on the go.

Even though you may be afforded a break on your premium, there are certain cases when that won’t happen. If you or your spouse have a driving record with any accidents or violations, it may make sense to keep the policies separate. Sometimes, excluding a spouse from a car insurance policy can be less costly. Insurance rates can increase for both of you in when one driver has had a number of recent moving violations or if they’ve been involved accidents that resulted in the recent filing of a claim.

Another way to reduce your insurance costs is to bundle and save. By combining multiple cars into a single policy or by bundling homeowners insurance with your auto coverage you can leverage even deeper savings.

Car insurance and domestic partnerships

Here’s more good news: if you’re living in a state that officially recognizes domestic partnerships, you and your significant other can qualify for a domestic partnership car insurance discount. At American Family, that reduction in rate is the same as the one we offer married couples.

Getting your coverage right and qualifying for the married rate can mean that you’ll need to revisit your car’s title, in addition to reworking your auto policy.

Here’s what you’ll need to do in a domestic partner states to qualify for a married rate:

Transfer ownership of the vehicle so that both of you are listed as owners on the car
Verify that your title states you both list the same primary residence
Request that your insurance agent list one of you as the primary named insured
Request that your insurance agent list the other as the secondary named insured

How to Add Your Spouse to Your Car Insurance Policy

After you’re married or officially recognized by the state as a domestic partnership, you’ll need to get in touch with your American Family Insurance agent and request an adjustment to your policy. That way, you’ll qualify for the rate reduction and your agent will walk you through the process.

Keep in mind that some states that don’t allow for the discounting of insurance rates based on marital status.

Car Insurance FAQs for Newlyweds

In order to be covered properly, spouses should be added as a driver to one another’s auto policies. In most cases, all licensed, household members should be listed on the policy.
Yes! They can. But you may find that it’s less expensive to have a joint policy when you’re married or in an officially recognized domestic partnership. However, if one or both of you have a less-than-great driving record, your agent may recommend that you keep your policies separate — because that may be the more affordable option.
In most cases, after getting married and moving out of your parent’s home, you’ll need to pick up your own auto insurance policy.
No, you don’t. But good question! Although you don’t need to show proof of marriage to get coverage, you and your partner can receive a rate reduction when you are both undergo a life change like getting married.
Yes, they’re covered — given that you’ve got an active auto policy and you’ve given them permission to drive your car. But if they’re going to be driving your car every day, you should add your fiancée to your policy as an occasional driver.
One great way to save on insurance — as you both build a new life together — is by combining auto policies and other products. With so many ways to save, you’ll find the protection you need for everything that you’ve worked so hard for. So reach out to your American Family Insurance agent and learn about the best ways to line up rate reductions and pricing discounts. You’ll have custom-designed coverage you can understand from an insurance company you can trust.