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Getting married is one of the most exciting times in your life. For many couples, it also brings a variety of logistical tasks, like changing your last name or combining bank accounts. Many newlyweds also decide to combine their car insurance policies, which can have a number of benefits and potential savings.
In this article, we’ll explain how marriage affects car insurance so you can figure out if combining policies after getting married is a good option for you.
If you’re getting married or recently got married, you might be thinking about combining car insurance policies with your spouse. You might also have questions like, “Does being married lower car insurance,” or even how car insurance changes if you get divorced.
In general, getting married doesn’t have a big impact on your car insurance. You aren’t required to combine policies with your spouse. However, getting married gives you the opportunity to combine policies, which can potentially reduce your rate.
Being married can affect car insurance in several ways, particularly when it comes to your premium. Married drivers typically pay less for car insurance than single people. Additionally, married couples who combine policies save an average of 23% per year on car insurance.
According to our analysis of recent rate data, the average married couple spends $3,645 per year on separate car insurance policies. When married couples combine policies and insure two vehicles, the average rate is $2,797 per year. For couples with a joint policy and just one vehicle, the average rate drops to $1,716 per year.
Marriage can impact your car insurance because couples usually pay less than single drivers.
From an insurance company’s perspective, married drivers are safer and less risky to insure because they tend to file fewer claims than single and divorced drivers. As a result, insurance companies set lower rates for married drivers, even if the couple does not combine their policies.
In addition, married drivers may qualify for certain discounts that single drivers aren’t eligible for. For example, many married couples that insure two vehicles on the same policy can take advantage of a multi-vehicle discount. Couples might also be able to claim a multi-policy discount with homeowners insurance or renters insurance.
When looking at car insurance for married vs. single people, married couples generally pay the lowest rates. Married couples usually qualify for reduced car insurance rates because they are less risky to insure than single drivers. Many couples can also get a multi-vehicle discount to lower their insurance costs even more.
In almost every state, your marital status can impact your car insurance premium. When you apply for a car insurance policy, you must check the box for “married” or “single,” which is one of the rating factors used to calculate your rate.
However, there are several states that prohibit insurance companies from using marital status as a rating factor. If you live in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, or Montana, your marital status cannot affect your car insurance premium. In these states, married couples don’t receive any premium savings unless they qualify for certain discounts (like a multi-vehicle discount if they combine policies).
Most car insurance companies use marriage as a rating factor when calculating premiums. However, insurers can charge different rates for the same types of coverage and coverage limits. Married couples may find that one insurance provider can offer a much lower rate than another insurer, even for the exact same policy.
Before you purchase car insurance, it’s a good idea to get quotes from multiple insurance companies. Comparing several quotes will help you find the most affordable policy for your situation. To simplify the process of comparing rate quotes, you can take our short quiz to see how much you can expect to pay for car insurance.
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If you’re newly married, you’re probably not thinking about how divorce might impact your car insurance. While getting divorced won’t have a major impact on your car insurance, it can affect your insurance costs.
Because single people tend to pay higher rates for car insurance, your premium might increase slightly if you get divorced. However, the rate difference for married people vs. single people is not significant. You may be able to offset the rate increase by raising your deductible, bundling your home or renters insurance policies, or taking advantage of other discounts.
If you get divorced and your rate increases significantly, you should consider getting new insurance quotes. You might find that a different car insurance company can offer you a lower rate for the coverage you want.
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