Can I add my girlfriend to my car insurance policy?
The cost of adding your girlfriend to your car insurance will depend on her driving record and whether or not you're insuring an additional vehicle. Read this guide to learn how to add your girlfriend to your car insurance.
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
UPDATED: Nov 7, 2023
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Nov 7, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- You always have the option of adding your significant other to your car insurance
- If your partner lives with you, or if she does not have her own insurance, you will need to add her to your policy
- In many situations, your insurance will cover another individual who drives your car
If your girlfriend is moving into your home, or she has regular access to your vehicle, it is critical that you review the terms and conditions of your car insurance to ensure that you have protection.
In some circumstances, you may be required to add the new driver to your plan, but that is not always the case.
If adding the operator to your policy is a requirement, you should know that there are advantages and disadvantages to adding a partner to your car insurance policy.
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How does your coverage extend to other drivers?
Many people believe that your car insurance either follows you, or it follows your vehicle.
How your car insurance will take effect when you are lending your car to someone or when you are borrowing a friend’s car can be extremely confusing.
The question is often confusing for those who do not have a deep understanding of how insurance works, but once you actually know how coverage extends to other parties, you will be much more confident in your choice to add or not to add someone to your existing plan.
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Defining a Permissive User
When you allow other drivers that are not listed on your policy to drive your vehicle, the driver will be covered as long as they fit the company’s definition of permissive user.
It is a standard in the industry to allow permissive use to some degree under a personal auto insurance policy.
Other drivers are extended coverage under the permissive use definition in the following situations:
- A friend who does not live in the household borrows the vehicle
- A neighbor borrows the car temporarily while their vehicle is out of commission
- An acquaintance drives the vehicle in an emergency situation
- Someone is test driving the car in hopes of buying it
- A family member from out of town drives the vehicle for a week
- A co-worker drives the car to pick up lunch
Damage to Your Vehicle
Perhaps the easiest part of this to understand is how damage to your car is paid for.
Physical damage coverage will always follow your vehicle; this includes when your girlfriend is driving.
If she is not paying attention and crashes into a parked car or she is partially at fault for a multi-car pileup, your insurer is going to help you pay for your repairs by investigating a collision payout.
As long as you have collision coverage and you can cover your deductible, the repairs will be made to your car under your plan.
Since the loss was the fault of another driver, your insurer will probably ask you a long list of questions.
They will want to know the following:
- How often she drives your car
- Where she is insured and what her policy number is
- What her coverage limits are
- If she lives in your home
If she does not have coverage or she lives in the home, the insurer will require you to add her as a driver or to exclude her from the plan to keep your policy active.
She does not qualify for coverage as a permissive user any longer and the company wants to protect themselves from covering a driver they are not collecting premiums on.
Damages to Others
The existence of another insurance policy becomes important to your insurer. Liability insurance follows the driver in most cases.
Your insured girlfriend who has her own insurance policy will have liability coverage if she damages property or injures a third party in your car.
One of the reasons your policy will still pay for liability claims when the loss was caused by an unlisted driver is because you can be liable as the vehicle’s owner.
If the limits of liability are high enough, your girlfriend’s policy will pay for all of the damages on its own. If they are not, her policy will pay first and then your policy will kick in to pay the difference.
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Case Studies: Adding Your Girlfriend to Your Car Insurance Policy
Case Study 1: Permissive User Coverage
Mark wants to add his girlfriend, Sarah, to his car insurance policy so she can drive his car occasionally. He learns that most personal auto insurance policies provide coverage for permissive use. Mark confirms with his insurance provider that Sarah qualifies as a permissive user as long as she meets the definition set by the company. This allows Sarah to drive Mark’s car and be covered under his policy when she does.
Case Study 2: Damage and Liability Coverage
Alex wants to add his girlfriend, Emily, to his car insurance policy. He wonders what will happen if Emily damages his car while driving. Alex learns that his collision coverage will pay for the damages to his car, as long as he has the necessary coverage and can cover the deductible.
Additionally, liability coverage follows the driver in most cases, so if Emily causes damage to others while driving Alex’s car, her own insurance policy may cover the liability. If her policy limits are not sufficient, Alex’s policy will provide additional coverage.
Case Study 3: Adding to Policy vs. Separate Policy
Mike is considering adding his girlfriend, Jessica, to his car insurance policy but wants to compare the cost to adding her versus buying a separate policy. He uses an online quote tool to receive car insurance rates from multiple companies. After comparing the prices, Mike decides that adding Jessica to his existing policy is more cost-effective, especially considering her safe driving record.
Who is not allowed to be a permissive user?
It might sound like classifying your girlfriend as a permissive user is best to avoid rate hikes, but underwriters are very savvy.
If your girlfriend lives with you or does not have her own policy, she needs to be added to your insurance.
Adding your girlfriend to your insurance can raise your rates for a number of reasons, but if she is a safe driver, it could be a money-saving move.
Here are some issues that can raise your rates:
- Your girlfriend has recent tickets
- Your girlfriend has an accident within the last three years
- She has been at fault for bodily injury
- She has less than nine years of driving experience
- She does not qualify for young driver discounts
If you would like to compare the price to add your partner to your policy versus buying a new policy, enter your zip code to receive car insurance rates from multiple companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add my girlfriend to my car insurance policy?
Yes, you can add your girlfriend to your car insurance policy. However, the cost of adding her will depend on her driving record and whether you’re insuring an additional vehicle. It’s recommended to read a guide on how to add your girlfriend to your car insurance for more information.
How does your coverage extend to other drivers?
Your car insurance coverage can extend to other drivers under certain circumstances. When you allow someone who is not listed on your policy to drive your vehicle, they may be covered as long as they meet the insurance company’s definition of a permissive user. It’s important to understand the specifics of your policy and consult with your insurance provider for more details.
What is a permissive user?
A permissive user refers to someone who is allowed to drive your vehicle with your permission but is not listed on your car insurance policy. Most personal auto insurance policies provide coverage for permissive use to some extent. However, it’s essential to review your policy terms and conditions to understand the specific coverage limitations.
Who is not allowed to be a permissive user?
While each insurance company may have its own guidelines, generally, individuals who live with you or do not have their own insurance policy are not eligible to be classified as permissive users. If your girlfriend lives with you or does not have her own policy, she may need to be added to your insurance policy to ensure proper coverage.
What happens if my girlfriend damages my car while driving?
If your girlfriend damages your car while driving, the coverage for physical damage will typically follow your vehicle. If you have collision coverage and can cover the deductible, the repairs to your car will be made under your policy. However, it’s important to notify your insurance provider about the incident and follow their instructions regarding the claim process.
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Michael Leotta
Insurance Operations Specialist
Michael earned a degree in Business Management degree with an insurance focus, which led to a successful 25-year career in insurance claims operations and support. He possesses a high-level of business acumen across multiple areas of the insurance industry. Over the course of his career, he served in multiple roles supporting claims operations including: Claims Specialist, Claims Trainer, Claim Au...
Insurance Operations Specialist
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.