Car insurance for unmarried couples: What you need to know

Key takeaways

• Combining your auto insurance coverage is often cheaper than keeping separate policies.
• If you share an address or vehicles, insurers may require that both of you are listed on the auto insurance policy.
• Not adding your partner as a driver on your auto insurance policy could leave you without coverage in the event of an accident.

Can unmarried couples get car insurance together?

Yes! Unmarried couples can typically get car insurance together if they share a home or vehicles. Most insurers will allow you to add a boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé, or domestic partner to your auto insurance policy if you live at the same address. In fact, combining coverage can often save money compared to keeping separate policies. especially if you qualify for multi car discounts.

Keep in mind that insurers will often require anyone in the household who regularly drives your car to be listed on the auto insurance policy. That means if your partner has access to your vehicle, knowingly leaving them off could cause problems if an accident happens. Whether you’re sharing one car or two, it’s worth exploring a joint policy as it can better protect both of you and potentially help to lower your car insurance costs.

4 Benefits of combining car insurance

Sharing a single auto insurance policy can unlock key benefits that you may not be entitled to if you were to maintain separate coverages.

1. Lower premiums with multi car discounts. If you both have vehicles at the same address, combining them under one policy may qualify you for a multi vehicle discount. For example, instead of paying two separate premiums, you might save up to 10–25% by bundling your auto insurance policies.
2. Simplified billing and less paperwork. Having one auto insurance policy means one bill and one renewal date. This is especially convenient if you are already dividing other household expenses.
3. Better protection for shared driving. If you regularly drive each other’s cars, a joint auto insurance policy ensures you’re both listed as authorized drivers. If an accident occurs, there’s no risk of the insurer denying coverage because someone wasn’t listed on the policy.
4. Eligibility for other discounts. Some insurers offer extra perks when you combine policies, such as bundling auto with renters or home insurance. Couples who share a household can often take advantage of these deals, even without being married.

When is it best to have separate car insurance as a couple?

For unmarried couples who live together, a joint auto insurance policy often makes sense, however, there are situations when keeping coverage separate is the smarter move.

One big factor is driving history. If one partner has a clean record and the other has multiple tickets or accidents, combining policies could raise premiums for both. In this case, maintaining separate auto insurance policies help protect the lower risk driver from paying more because of their partner’s less-than-perfect driving history.

Another situation is when you don’t share vehicles. If each of you drives your own vehicles and rarely use each other’s cars, there’s little benefit to combining coverage. Separate policies keep things simple and ensure each person’s insurance reflects their own driving habits. For example, if Jake and Devin live together but never drive each other’s cars, they may save money and avoid complications by keeping their auto insurance separate

Experts at The Zebra also recommend having separate car insurance if you or your partner drives a luxury car or has a low credit score. Both of those can factor into the rate of a car insurance policy.

What happens to my car insurance coverage if we break up?

If you and your partner break up, your joint auto insurance policy doesn’t automatically cancel—it just needs to be updated. The easiest way to handle this is to simply call your insurer and ask them to remove one partner’s name from the policy. Depending on your situation, they may recommend splitting the coverage into separate policies so each person is responsible for their own vehicle.

For example, if you and your ex both had cars insured under one policy, the company will typically separate the coverage so each of you takes ownership of your own car insurance moving forward. This keeps things clean, avoids confusion, and ensures you’re properly protected after the relationship ends.

If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to update your auto insurance policy right away. If your ex is still listed as a driver, they could technically be covered while driving your car, even if it isn’t what you want. If you move out and aren’t listed anymore, you won’t be protected if you continue driving their vehicle. Making these updates after a breakup ensures your coverage reflects your new situation and helps you avoid unexpected billing or financial liability issues down the road.

How to get car insurance as an unmarried couple

Getting car insurance as an unmarried couple is typically the same process as it is for married couples.

Start by contacting your insurance company and explaining that you share a household. You can ask to add your partner to the policy as either a listed driver or a co policyholder.

If you both own cars, bundling them into a single policy may qualify you for multi vehicle discounts, so be sure and ask about these cost-saving benefits. For example, if Jim and Marjorie live together and each owns a car, they can combine both vehicles under one policy. This not only simplifies billing but also ensures they’re both protected when driving each other’s cars.

If you share just one vehicle, make sure both names are listed so coverage applies no matter who’s behind the wheel.

The bottom line: always be upfront with your insurer about your living situation and driving habits. That way, your coverage will match your living arrangements and give you the protection you need when you need it.