Can Roommates Share Car Insurance? (2024)

FAQs

Can you share car insurance with a roommate? ›

If both cars are kept at the same address overnight, you can share a policy, even if you drive different vehicles or don't share a last name. Adding a roommate to your auto insurance will raise the cost of your individual policy, but it could be lower than the combined cost of two separate policies.

Most insurers allow you to add a significant other, such as a boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé, or domestic partner, to your car insurance policy if you live together. Depending on the insurer, a significant other can also add their vehicle to a joint policy if both cars are kept at the same permanent residence.

Some insurers allow you to include family members who don't live with you, like adult children, parents, or siblings if you provide a strong case for it. Some insurers also allow domestic partners and significant others who don't live with you to be added to your policy if they meet specific criteria.

In most cases, one insurance policy covers all drivers in a single household. This also applies to friends who all live together under the same roof. So, assuming all of your friends live at the same address, you can add more than one friend to your car insurance policy.

Car insurance coverage follows the vehicle, not the driver. When you allow a friend, family member, or babysitter to borrow your vehicle, they also borrow your car insurance. Your insurance becomes the primary coverage when lending the car to family members or friends.

Even if they don't live with you, they should be added to your policy if they regularly drive your vehicle. A driver who lives in your household and isn't listed on your auto policy may be denied coverage if they borrow your vehicle and are involved in an accident.

If your child doesn't live with you, she needs to have her own car insurance policy -- even if she's a co-owner of your vehicle.

The cost of adding a driver to your car insurance or sharing a policy varies based on factors like the driver's age and their motor vehicle record. For example, many insurance companies offer a discount if you have a teen driver or a good student listed on your policy.

Many car insurance companies require policyholders to add all drivers in the household to their policy. While most insurance policies have this permissive use clause, not all will cover a driver who isn't listed on the policy.

Your monthly premium will reflect the added risk of multiple drivers using one vehicle — so you'll most likely pay more than you would for a single-driver policy. However, a multiple-driver policy is usually cheaper than purchasing two individual auto insurance policies.

How does insurance work for a shared car? ›

Person A holds the title and registration in their name while sharing regular driving duties with Person B. In this example, Person A would insure the vehicle and Person B would be listed as a covered driver. If the vehicle were totaled, all claims payouts would be made to Person A, who owns the vehicle.

In Florida, vehicle insurance follows the car, not the driver. This fundamental aspect of Florida insurance law means that if you lend your car to a friend or family member and they are involved in a crash, your insurance is the first to be called upon to cover damages.

Before choosing to exclude a driver from your insurance policy, talk to your insurance agent about your specific situation. In general, everyone that is 14 years and older who resides within your household should be listed on your policy, regardless of whether or not they have a driver's license.

Does each roommate need renters insurance? Does renters insurance cover all roommates? Your renters insurance generally won't cover your roommates' things unless they're related to you or their names are listed on your policy. Unrelated roommates should generally buy their own renters insurance.