Car insurance is a necessary expense for anyone who owns a vehicle. But what about household members who don’t own a car? Do they need to be on your car insurance policy? The answer isn’t always clear-cut, but in most cases, the answer is yes.
Who Needs to Be on Your Car Insurance Policy?
When you purchase car insurance, you’re required to list all household members who have a driver’s license. This includes your spouse, children, and anyone else who lives in your home and has access to your vehicle. Even if they don’t drive your car regularly, they still need to be listed on your policy.
Why? Because insurance companies want to know who has access to your vehicle. If someone who isn’t listed on your policy gets into an accident while driving your car, your insurance company may deny the claim. That means you’ll be responsible for paying for any damages or injuries out of pocket.
Exceptions to the Rule
There are a few exceptions to the rule. For example, if your child is away at college and doesn’t have a car, they may not need to be listed on your policy. However, if they come home for the summer and plan to drive your car, you’ll need to add them to your policy for the duration of their stay.
If you have a roommate who has their own car and their own insurance policy, they probably don’t need to be listed on your policy. However, if they don’t have their own insurance and regularly borrow your car, you’ll need to add them to your policy.
Why You Should Add Everyone to Your Policy
Even if someone in your household doesn’t drive your car regularly, it’s still a good idea to add them to your policy. Here’s why:
- It’s required by law
- It ensures that everyone is covered in case of an accident
- It can help prevent disputes with your insurance company if someone who isn’t listed on your policy gets into an accident
- It can help prevent disputes with other drivers if someone who isn’t listed on your policy causes an accident
- It can be more cost-effective to add everyone to your policy instead of having multiple policies
How to Add Someone to Your Policy
Adding someone to your car insurance policy is typically a simple process. You’ll need to contact your insurance company and provide them with the person’s name, date of birth, and driver’s license number. They’ll then add the person to your policy and adjust your premium accordingly.
Keep in mind that adding someone to your policy may increase your premium. However, it’s usually more cost-effective than having multiple policies.
The Bottom Line
In most cases, all household members who have a driver’s license need to be listed on your car insurance policy. While there are a few exceptions to the rule, it’s generally a good idea to add everyone to your policy to ensure that everyone is covered in case of an accident.
