How to Add Someone to Auto Insurance for a Week
If a friend or family member wants to borrow your car temporarily, adding the person as another driver to your car insurance may not be necessary. Many policies come with a permissive use clause that covers occasional drivers.
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Apr 18, 2022
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.
UPDATED: Apr 18, 2022
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 provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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- If someone needs to borrow your car temporarily, you probably do not need to add them to your policy
- If a roommate or other member of your household regularly borrows your vehicle, you should add them to your policy
- Most car insurance policies have a permissive use clause that covers occasional drivers
If you have family visiting, you might want to save them money by letting them borrow your car. Renting a car can get expensive, so lending your vehicle to close friends and family is a kind gesture. Should you add an occasional driver to your car insurance policy, though?
If someone drives your car infrequently, you probably do not need to add them to your car insurance. Most policies come with a permissive use clause. This permissive use clause means that your car insurance will cover any occasional driver with your permission.
There are some circumstances where you should add drivers to your policy. Typically, if someone operates your vehicle more frequently, you should add them to your policy as a named driver. That includes members of your household or friends who drive your car regularly.
Your auto insurance coverage protects your vehicle no matter who’s driving it in most circumstances. If you are looking for more comprehensive coverage for extra drivers, you should shop around. By comparing policies, you can find great coverage for extra drivers at affordable rates.
Should you add occasional drivers to your car insurance for a week?
When someone borrows your car, you may be nervous about your car insurance coverage. If they get in an accident, will your car be covered? Do you need to add them to your car insurance policy? Should they purchase a temporary car insurance policy for their stay?
Usually, your car insurance policy applies even when you are not the one driving your car. Your auto insurance coverage protects your vehicle in the event of a collision. Most car insurance policies come with a permissive use clause.
A permissive use clause extends your vehicle’s coverage to occasional drivers. If you have granted someone permission to operate your car, then your permissive use clause will most likely cover them. If you have friends or family visiting from out of town, you probably will not have to add them to your car insurance for a week.
There are circumstances where you should add drivers to your policy. If somebody operates your vehicle somewhat regularly, then you should add them as a named driver. Generally, car insurance companies prefer you to add members of your household to your policy if they drive your car often.
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Does every driver need to be added to your car insurance?
Not every driver needs to get added to your car insurance policy. Your situation might be different depending on your coverage. Most companies allow occasional drivers to be covered under your car insurance policy as a permissive user.
If someone in your life drives your vehicle more frequently, then you should add them to your policy. Say one of your roommates takes your car out once or twice a week. In this situation, you should add your roommate to your car insurance. Similarly, if you hire a sitter who needs to operate your car each week, you should add them to your policy.
If you have family visiting from out of town and they intend to use your car for a week, you probably do not have to worry. Most car insurance companies provide a permissive use clause covering these occasional drivers. You should always check your policy documents to ensure that you have this coverage. If you have any questions about your coverage, you can contact your car insurance agent.
When should you add drivers to your car insurance?
There are a few reasons why you might want to add an additional driver to your car insurance policy. Is there an individual who borrows your car somewhat regularly? If so, it is a good idea to have them covered by your car insurance. You can add them to your policy as a named driver.
You might want to add somebody to your car insurance policy if they meet the following conditions:
- They live in your household
- They have a valid driver’s license
- They have access to your vehicle
If they meet all the conditions above, you should consider adding that someone as a named driver to your car insurance policy. However, you might not need to add them if they do not check every box. For example, suppose somebody lives with you and has a license but never has access to your vehicle. This person probably does not need to be on your policy.
How do you add a driver to your car insurance?
Adding a driver to your policy is pretty easy. In most cases, you can add a driver to your car insurance by yourself online. There may be situations where you need to contact your car insurance agent to add a second driver.
Typically, you can add up to three drivers to your car insurance policy. Some car insurance companies allow you to add up to four drivers. You will need a bit of information about your extra driver in order to add them.
Some personal details about the additional driver you will need include:
- Name
- Birthdate
- Gender
- Driving history
- Social security number
You may need more or less information depending on your car insurance company. You can check your policy documents, including the declarations page, to learn more. If you cannot find the information you need, simply call your insurance agent, and they can help you.
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How much does it cost to add additional drivers to your policy?
It does not usually cost much to add an additional driver to your car insurance. On average, it costs about 10% more to add each additional driver. You might even save money depending on who you are adding to your car insurance policy.
If you are a younger driver, your rates will decrease if you add a more experienced driver with a clean driving record. If you add somebody with a spotty driving record, then you could pay much more.
Here is a look at the average car insurance rates based on age and gender. When adding a new driver to your car insurance policy, you should keep in mind the costs associated with that driver’s demographic.
Ages | Monthly Car Insurance Rates for Women | Monthly Car Insurance Rates for Men |
---|---|---|
16 | $540 | $615 |
20 | $239 | $282 |
25 | $142 | $149 |
35 | $131 | $130 |
45 | $123 | $122 |
55 | $112 | $115 |
65 | $115 | $119 |
75 | $135 | $141 |
85 | $160 | $171 |
Your car insurance company assesses the full risk of all individuals who operate your vehicle. If a very safe driver gets added to your policy, you have the chance to save money. If you add a risky driver, then you will pay more.
Adding Drivers to Your Car Insurance for a Week
When you have friends and family visiting from out of town, you might want to lend them your car. When you lend out your car, you may be wondering if you need to add additional drivers to your car insurance policy for a week.
The good news is in most cases, you do not need to add an occasional driver to your policy. If someone is driving your car for just a few hours or a few days, then they will likely be covered under the permissive use clause. You should still check with your car insurance company to see if adding the individual as a named driver is a good idea. To learn more, you can check the declarations page of your policy documents or call an agent directly.
If you are interested in adding an extra driver to your policy, then you should shop around first. By comparing quotes across multiple car insurance companies, you can get the best deal on car insurance for additional drivers.
FREE Car Insurance Comparison
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save!
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.