If I want to add a driver or vehicle to my insurance, do I need to start a new policy?

Can I add a driver or vehicle to my insurance? This may be a question you’re asking about your Florida car insurance, and if so, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re wondering about adding someone to car insurance temporarily, asking, “does my car insurance cover other drivers?” or considering what insurance policy additions to make, we’ve got the answers. 

Read this article for everything you need to know about adding drivers and cars to your insurance policy. But before jumping into this overview, why not save on your car insurance by comparison shopping? You can get started right now by entering your ZIP code in the tool on this page to get free quotes from top companies. 

Is buying new coverage necessary when adding a new driver or car to your insurance policy? 

You won’t have to buy a new policy if you add another driver or vehicle to your coverage. Instead, you can work with your insurance company to modify your current policy to add drivers and cars. 

If you want to buy a new policy when adding drivers or cars to your coverage, you could save money because it will give you the opportunity to comparison shop before making a decision. Comparing quotes from at least three companies is the best way to save, and you can do so by using the tool on this page. 

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Are you allowed to add a new driver or car to your insurance policy? 

You can add another driver or vehicle to your policy whenever you need to by calling your insurance company. If an individual who lives with you regularly drives your car, they should be listed on your insurance policy. 

All the vehicles in your name should also be on your car insurance policy, so if you get a new car, you’ll need to add it to your coverage as soon as possible. 

How do you add a new driver or car to your policy? 

Each insurance company will have its own process and specific requirements for adding a driver or car to your policy, but the basics are consistent. You can call your insurance company directly, and many companies may also allow you to modify your policy through the website or app. 

Be prepared to provide some basic information on the driver or the car. For drivers, you’ll need the following: 

• Name
• Age
• Martial status
• Address
• Occupation
• Driver’s license number
• Current driving record (i.e., any recent accidents or traffic tickets)

For cars, you’ll need to gather information such as: 

• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• License plate number
• Make
• Model
• Vehicle mileage 
• Current vehicle condition 

Does adding a driver increase your insurance? What about adding a car? Keep reading to find out. 

How much does adding a driver or car to your existing policy cost? 

When you add drivers and cars to your existing policy, changes to your rates will vary based on your situation and who and what you’re adding to your coverage. When it comes to additional drivers, the perceived risk of the driver will have the most significant impact on your rates. What do we mean by that? 

If you add an experienced driver with a clean driving record who is older than 25, your rates probably won’t change much. Higher-risk drivers will have a more severe impact on your rates. For example, parents of teen drivers could face an increase of up to 160% because insurance companies classify young drivers as high risk. 

When you add a vehicle, you might qualify for a multi-vehicle discount, which could save you money. However, you may face higher rates, depending on your car. The more valuable, expensive to repair, and likely to be stolen (i.e. if your vehicle is listed in the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Florida) your car is, the higher the chance that your rates will increase.  

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Should you add another driver or car to your policy? 

If someone lives in your home and regularly drives your vehicles, they should be listed on your insurance. However, permissive use will apply if someone only uses your vehicle occasionally (especially if they don’t live in your home). Essentially, your insurance will cover them when using your car, so you don’t have to add them to your policy.

In some circumstances, you may be especially concerned about how someone else’s record could affect your rates. In this case, if you don’t want an individual to drive your vehicle or be covered by your policy in any way, you can work with your insurance company to list them as excluded drivers if permitted by state insurance laws. 

If they’re in your name, cars should always be added to your policy. The only exceptions are if: 

• The vehicle isn’t drivable
• The vehicle is being stored (in this case, you may still need coverage, but depending on your insurance company, you could qualify for a significant discount on rates) 
• The type of vehicle requires classic car insurance or some other special coverage 

Keep reading to learn more about how insurance covers you versus your vehicle. 

Does insurance follow the car or the driver? 

Liability insurance follows the driver, while other coverages like comprehensive and collision follow the vehicle. If someone not listed on your insurance is found to be at fault in an accident while driving your car, their liability coverage will kick in first, followed by your insurance. 

Adding a Driver or Vehicle to Your Insurance: The Bottom Line

You aren’t required to buy a new policy when you want to add drivers or vehicles to your coverage, though you can if you want to. If you have additional drivers living in your home who use your vehicle(s) regularly, it is wise to add them to your policy to ensure they’re protected when behind the wheel of your car. 

If you buy a new car, you’ll need to add it to your policy to drive it legally (and probably to register it in your state).

Your rates may or may not increase when you add people or cars to your policy, depending on the driver’s risk level and the value and cost of repairs associated with the vehicle.

As we’ve noted, while you don’t have to buy a new policy to add a driver or vehicle to your coverage, you can save if you decide to shop around. You can use your ZIP code in our tool to get free quotes and compare today. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Add a Driver or Vehicle to My Insurance

If you’re still wondering about details regarding adding a driver or vehicle to your existing car insurance policy, read these frequently asked questions for more information. 

#1 – Should you add drivers who don’t live with you to your car insurance policy? 

In general, the answer is no, and in many cases, you may not be able to add someone who doesn’t live with you to your policy.

Incidental or permissive use applies when someone infrequently uses your vehicle (even if they don’t live with you). If someone not in your household regularly uses your vehicle(s), it may be wise to speak with your insurance company to determine the best approach to ensuring the appropriate coverage applies. 

#2 – Can you add a car you don’t own to your car insurance policy? 

If the car isn’t registered in your name, you probably won’t be able to list it on your policy. Insurance companies may not allow you to add vehicles that you don’t own to your policy because insurance companies want to know that you, as the policyholder, have a financial interest in the car. Instead, it may be easier to add the vehicle driver to your insurance policy. 

#3 – When should you avoid adding another driver or car to your insurance policy? 

Avoiding adding other drivers or vehicles to your coverage is a personal decision based on your situation. However, high-risk drivers mean higher rates, so adding a high-risk driver to your policy could mean an increase in how much you pay for coverage. 

When it comes to vehicles, you may save some money when you add one because you could qualify for a multi-vehicle discount. However, the Insurance Information Institute (III) notes that some vehicles could mean higher rates. Specifically, cars that are expensive might be at a higher risk for theft, or will be costly to repair, could mean an increase in your rates. 

#4 – Can you temporarily add someone to car insurance? 

You can ask your car insurance company about adding someone to your policy temporarily, but it may not be necessary. If that individual is insured and uses your vehicle for a short period, it may fall under permissive use.

Additionally, while comprehensive and collision coverage follow the vehicle, as we noted earlier, liability coverage follows the driver. With that in mind, if someone else not on your policy (but who is insured) drives your vehicle temporarily and is found to be at fault in an accident, their liability coverage will apply first, before your coverage will.  

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