Does my marital status affect car insurance?

Getting married is a major life event, and it can impact your finances in different ways. You may have heard that you can qualify for better car insurance rates when you get married. The reality is that married couples may have lower overall rates than single drivers in many cases, but each case is unique.

There are numerous factors that may change when you get married that could cause your insurance rates to increase or decrease. Don’t overpay for your car insurance! Just enter your zip code and start comparing rates for free now!

Because so many insurance-related factors can change when you get married, it makes sense to notify your provider as soon as possible about the change in your marital status. You also should take the opportunity to look for lower car insurance rates available through different providers.

How Getting Married Affects Your Car Insurance Rates

The simple act of changing your marital status can affect your insurance rates slightly, but more significant changes come when you add a new driver and vehicle to your insurance policy.

Many married couples will combine policies for overall premium savings, and a closer look will reveal the different ways that getting married may affect your insurance costs.

Statistics About Married Drivers

Insurance rates are largely determined through an analysis of statistics. Generally, statistics indicate that married drivers have fewer traffic citations and are involved in fewer accidents than unmarried drivers. This means that if you and your new spouse do not blend your auto insurance policies and keep all aspects of your current coverage the same, you may benefit from lower overall rates.

However, the premium savings that you can enjoy through this simple change is very small, and the true financial benefit is found when you combine your individual policies together in a joint policy.

The Multiple Vehicles and Multiple Drivers Discount

If you decide to combine your coverage under a single policy, you may be able to take advantage of a common car insurance discount that was not previously available to you.

Many insurance companies offer a discount on car insurance rates if you have multiple vehicles or multiple drivers on one policy.

One reason for this is because of the company’s reduced administrative costs associated with serving multiple drivers or vehicles under the same policy.

The Impact of Your New Spouse’s Driving Record

However, your new spouse’s driving record will also be reviewed when you update your policy, and this can either help or hurt your combined car insurance rates. If your new spouse has an excellent driving record, you may qualify for even lower rates.

On the other hand, if he or she has several accidents or traffic citations posted within the last few years and you have a great driving record, you may notice that your auto coverage rates increase slightly because of this.

The Vehicle Characteristics of Your Spouse’s Car

If you are adding another vehicle to your existing car insurance policy after getting married, the characteristics of this vehicle will affect your insurance rates. Remember that vehicles that have a lower replacement or repair cost and a less powerful engine will generally be more affordable to insure than cars with a more powerful engine and a higher replacement or repair cost.

The safety features in the vehicle will also affect your car insurance rates and may qualify you for a special discount on your premium.

The Need to Adjust Your Coverage

In some cases, drivers who get married and who add a new driver or vehicle to their policy will adjust coverage types and limits on their policy. One reason for this may be because the new spouse prefers to have more insurance or because the new spouse is more financially secure and has less need for a robust and expensive policy. In the

In the event, one of the drivers gets into an accident, a financially secure couple may be able to pay for more of the related expenses out of their own funds.

Another reason for this may be because of vehicle-related factors. For example, if your current vehicle is older and has no auto liens on it, you may only have a very affordable liability insurance policy in place. On the other hand, the new vehicle that you are adding to your policy may have a higher value and a loan on it, and you may need a more expensive comprehensive insurance policy on it.

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Other Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Rates

As you can see, there are many factors that can cause your auto insurance rates to change when you get married. Remember that there are many other factors that can affect the cost of your auto insurance as well, and some of these factors may change immediately or gradually after you get married. These insurance-related factors include:

• The zip code where you live
• How far you commute to work each day
• Your credit rating
• Your age

The Benefits of Adding Your New Spouse to Your Existing Policy

When you get married, the couple may blend finances. Rather than deal with paying two separate auto insurance premiums, you can combine policies to enjoy easier financial management. By doing so, you can also take advantage of the multiple driver and multiple vehicle discount that may be available to you.

The Impact of Divorce on Your Auto Insurance Premium

Marital status can also change when you get divorced. You will need to notify your provider of this change as well as a change in your residence. While you may lose your multiple driver and multiple vehicle discount, you will save money by only insuring yourself on one vehicle.

More than that, you may have a better driving record or credit rating than your former spouse, and this can help you to save money on your premium when you shop around for new auto insurance rates.

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Why It Makes Sense to Shop for New Insurance When Your Marital Status Changes

When you originally purchased your auto insurance policy, you may have compared rates from a few different providers. While you can simply add a new driver and vehicle to your existing coverage when you get married, it may be wise to shop around for new quotes.

With many of the factors that affect insurance rates changing at this time, you may find greater savings on your auto coverage premium when you switch providers.

Great Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance

Regardless of whether you pay your auto insurance premium up-front in full or you set up affordable monthly payments, you understandably want to keep this expense as low as possible. Saving money on car insurance rates is a top goal, and the good news is that you can easily save money when you follow a few simple tips.

• Request quotes for a higher deductible, but always ensure that your deductible is affordable for your budget.
• Another idea is to look for a zip code to live in that has more affordable insurance rates. Each zip code is statistically analyzed by insurers with a focus on accident and theft rates in that specific area. You can easily ask your insurance company for information about more affordable zip codes in your local area that you can relocate to.
• If you or your spouse is preparing to trade in your vehicle soon, it makes sense to look at insurance rates for the makes and models that are at the top of your list. Remember that vehicles with a less powerful engine and a lower repair or replacement cost are more affordable to insure.

Whether you are preparing to get married or walking through the divorce process, there are many factors that require ample time and attention in your life right now.

Because you need to be properly insured at all times to drive your car legally, it makes sense to spend at least a few hours today shopping for new rates and using these money-saving tips to reduce your premium. Take a minute or two and compare the best rates for you with our free insurance comparison tool below! 

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