If you’re married or have children, you can insure all the licensed drivers in your household under the same car insurance policy. Family car insurance has a number of benefits, and it can be more affordable than purchasing individual policies for each family member.
Here’s what you need to know about family car insurance plans and how to find the best policy.
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Family car insurance is an auto insurance policy that includes all the licensed drivers in your household, like your spouse, children and any relatives who may live with you. Every driver on the policy gets access to the same types of coverage, coverage limits and deductibles.
Family car insurance is the same thing as individual car insurance, it just includes multiple drivers and usually multiple vehicles. Because of that, family car insurance can also be called multi-vehicle car insurance.
You can add family members to your car insurance policy, as long as they are licensed drivers that live in your household. There may be a limit to the number of drivers you can add to your policy, so it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company if you plan to add multiple drivers, like your spouse and several teen children.
However, keep in mind that there are often restrictions around adding family members to your policy who don’t live in your house.
For example, if your son or daughter goes away to college and takes their vehicle with them, they might be required to purchase their own car insurance policy, particularly if they are attending college in another state. If in doubt, it’s best to ask an agent at your car insurance company for clarification around adding specific family members to your insurance.
Choosing the best car insurance company is often easier said than done. There are hundreds of car insurance companies on the market and each one has its unique strengths and drawbacks. Not to mention, every family has its own car insurance needs.
For example, if you’re looking for the best car insurance for low-income families, you probably have a different set of criteria than someone looking for the best car insurance for teen drivers, or the best carrier for drivers with a history of accidents.
Before choosing a car insurance company, it’s important to do your own research, evaluate providers using your personal criteria for what makes a carrier the “best,” and compare quotes to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Start your search for the best car insurance for families by taking our short online survey. In just 30 seconds, we’ll match you with several car insurance providers that offer coverage to families in your area.
One of the benefits of family car insurance is that it’s often less expensive than purchasing an individual policy for everyone in your household. That’s because many insurance companies provide discounts when you insure multiple vehicles on the same insurance policy (called a multi-vehicle discount).
However, the cost of car insurance for a family will depend on many of the same rating factors that apply to individual policies. For example, if you and your spouse both have poor credit, you might pay more for car insurance than if you both had excellent credit.
The same goes for the age of drivers on your policy. When it comes to individual car insurance, young drivers pay the highest rates. If you insure multiple teen drivers on your family car insurance, your rate will be higher than it would be if you only insured you and your spouse. This is why car insurance for families with teens can still be expensive.
Although car insurance premiums can be pricey, it’s possible to find affordable car insurance for families. You should shop around and get quotes from several insurance companies to find the best price for the type and amount of coverage you want.
You should also pay attention to discounts to save money. For instance, if you have young drivers on your policy, look for insurance companies that offer a discount for smart students. Or, if someone on your family policy is an active duty or retired military member, find an insurance company that offers a military discount.
It’s not necessarily cheaper to have car insurance once you’re married. But oftentimes, the cost of car insurance is less expensive for married couples or couples in a domestic partnership. There are a few reasons for this.
First, when you’re married, you typically insure two vehicles on the same policy. This can help you qualify for a multi-vehicle discount, which can lower your premium. In addition, insurance companies have found that married drivers are statistically less likely to get into accidents and have claims. As a result, married couples usually get a small discount on their premium.
If you recently got married, combining your two auto insurance policies can probably help you save money. You can also get a lower rate by bundling your car insurance with a home or renters insurance policy, which is something to consider if you and your spouse own a home or are living in a rental property together.
It’s usually cheaper to have multi-car insurance than it is to have one insurance policy for every person in your household. However, the cost savings of multi–vehicle car insurance is not always significant for everyone.
To figure out whether multi-car insurance is cheaper for your family, you should contact a few car insurance companies and get personalized rate quotes. Request a quote for each member of your household, as well as a family car insurance quote.
By comparing individual and family car insurance quotes from a few different insurance providers, you can easily see which policy type is the least expensive, and which company can give you the best rate.
Helpful hint: You can do this for a large list of car insurance providers at the same time by comparing car insurance with Rate Retriever. Simply answer our initial questions to see what a single-driver, single-vehicle policy may cost, then complete your profile by adding other drivers and vehicles. Click “View results” any time you want to see how your changes affected your estimated rate.
Car insurance carriers offer discounts that can benefit families who need to combine their car insurance policies or add some new drivers to their existing policy. While every car insurance provider offers its own mix of discounts (with varying savings potential), here are some of the most common discounts that families should look out for:
Car insurance companies often provide a discount when you insure multiple vehicles with the same policy.
Some car insurance providers have special discounts when you bundle multiple types of insurance policies, such as a homeowners insurance policy with an auto insurance policy.
For families with teenagers and young adults, good student discounts can help lower the cost of your premiums if your student has good grades, has completed a Driver’s Education course, or goes to college out of state.
Some car insurance providers will give you a discount if you or your family members complete a Defensive Driver course.
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