Best Cheap Car Insurance for Married & Unmarried Couples
According to our research, married drivers pay $123 less in car insurance each year than single drivers. When you get married, your insurance rates go down because insurers consider married couples to be more financially stable and risk-averse than unmarried drivers. Progressive had the lowest rates for married couples, but State Farm had the lowest rates overall.
When you're married, it's usually cheaper to combine your car insurance into one joint policy. If one spouse has a high-priced car, a poor credit score, or a blemish on their driving record, rates on a joint insurance policy will almost certainly be higher, but not nearly as high as if this spouse took out their own individual policy. Insurers frequently offer a multi-car discount to policyholders who insure two cars under one policy, regardless of the cars you drive or your respective credit scores and driving histories.
We recommend that newlywed couples shop around for car insurance in order to find the best rates. If one spouse's driving record, credit score, or car price is significantly different from the other's, we recommend obtaining quotes for both separate and joint policies to ensure that your total costs are as low as possible.
Cheapest car insurance for married couples
We compared rates from the top five largest auto insurers based on market share and discovered that Progressive had the lowest rates for married drivers. Single drivers paid an average of $2,174 per year, but married drivers paid only $1,835, saving them 16 percent.
State Farm, on the other hand, provided the best overall rates for married drivers, charging an average annual premium of $1,643 for full coverage. Nonetheless, State Farm's rates for married drivers were slightly higher than their rates for single drivers, unlike the other four insurers. Single drivers paid 1% less, or $1,629 per year.
If you're a married driver looking to save money on car insurance, Progressive and State Farm are good places to start.
Current and former military members, as well as their families, are eligible for even lower rates from USAA. For married drivers, full coverage from USAA costs just $1,156 per year, which is more than $500 less than State Farm's rates.
Insurer | Rates for single drivers | Rates for married drivers | Difference |
Progressive | $2,174 | $1,835 | -16% |
USAA | $1,292 | $1,156 | -11% |
Allstate | $3,270 | $3,160 | -3% |
Geico | $2,233 | $2,206 | -1% |
State Farm | $1,629 | $1,643 | +1% |
We gathered quotes for a married 30-year-old male driver. Couples, on the other hand, can receive a multi-car discount and lower their car insurance rates by purchasing a joint policy. Continue reading to find out how couples can maximize their savings through discounts.
How does marital status affect car insurance costs in each state?
When you are married, your auto insurance is less expensive than when you are single. According to our research, full coverage car insurance costs $123 less per year for married couples than for single drivers in the United States — a 5% savings.
State | Single | Married |
Average | $2,363 | $2,240 |
Alabama | $1,870 | $1,870 |
Alaska | $1,576 | $1,468 |
Arizona | $3,071 | $2,776 |
Arkansas | $2,065 | $1,840 |
California | $1,817 | $1,665 |
Colorado | $3,120 | N/A |
Connecticut | $2,753 | $2,626 |
Delaware | $2,883 | $2,828 |
Florida | $3,230 | $3,071 |
Georgia | $2,386 | $2,286 |
Hawaii | $1,763 | $1,763 |
Idaho | $1,707 | $1,603 |
Illinois | $2,218 | $2,016 |
Indiana | $1,485 | $1,444 |
Iowa | $1,659 | $1,555 |
Kansas | $2,043 | $1,940 |
Kentucky | $2,907 | $2,768 |
Louisiana | $3,546 | $2,968 |
Maine | $1,285 | $1,188 |
Maryland | $2,386 | $2,398 |
Massachusetts | $2,158 | $2,144 |
Michigan | $9,071 | $9,071 |
Minnesota | $2,109 | $1,930 |
Mississippi | $2,167 | $1,937 |
Missouri | $2,531 | $2,371 |
Montana | $2,297 | $2,297 |
Nebraska | $2,248 | $1,940 |
Nevada | $3,061 | $2,891 |
New Hampshire | $2,016 | $1,975 |
New Jersey | $2,809 | $2,710 |
New Mexico | $2,039 | $1,917 |
New York | $2,777 | $2,723 |
North Carolina | $1,506 | $1,529 |
North Dakota | $2,286 | $2,207 |
Ohio | $1,558 | $1,489 |
Oklahoma | $2,460 | $2,291 |
Oregon | $2,332 | $2,232 |
Pennsylvania | $1,802 | $1,692 |
Rhode Island | $3,589 | $3,454 |
South Carolina | $2,071 | $1,915 |
South Dakota | $2,429 | $2,251 |
Tennessee | $1,875 | $1,732 |
Texas | $2,653 | $2,405 |
Utah | $2,403 | $2,332 |
Vermont | $1,735 | $1,622 |
Washington | $1,748 | $1,624 |
West Virginia | $2,106 | $1,969 |
Virginia | $1,642 | $1,497 |
Wisconsin | $1,559 | $1,484 |
Wyoming | $2,123 | $2,065 |
Rates are the average annual premium for a full coverage policy.
Being married affects your car insurance rates because insurers consider married couples to be more financially stable and less risky to insure than single drivers, so they lower rates accordingly.
Divorced drivers are treated similarly to single drivers by insurers, with both groups receiving comparable rates. Divorced drivers, on the other hand, should be aware that their credit scores may suffer as a result of the divorce, which may raise their auto insurance rates.
Discounts on car insurance for married couples
There is no specific car insurance discount for marital status. Instead, insurers automatically consider your marital status when calculating your rates.
However, there are numerous standard car insurance discounts available to married couples in order to reduce their rates. Married couples can get a multi-car discount by purchasing a joint car insurance policy that includes both cars and both drivers on one policy. Savings from a multi-car discount are frequently significant; Geico, for example, encourages married couples to combine policies in order to receive a 25% multi-car discount.
Furthermore, married couples who own a home or rent an apartment together can qualify for a multi-policy discount if they combine their homeowners or renters insurance with their car insurance.
Young married couples, in particular, should request as many car insurance discounts as they can. Although young married couples with good credit and clean records will likely pay less than their single counterparts, insurers charge all younger drivers higher rates because they are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents and thus riskier to insure. Young married couples can save even more money on their monthly bills by maximizing their discounts.
If you're a married college student, for example, make sure to inquire about student discounts. And, if you're confident that both you and your spouse are safe drivers, think about enrolling in a telematics monitoring program that shares your data with insurers to demonstrate that you're deserving of lower rates.
Here are some other discounts that all married couples, regardless of their age, can take advantage of:
- Homeowner
- Paid-in-full
- E-bill/autopay
- Good driver
- Low-mileage
- Anti-theft device
- Anti-lock brakes
- Passive restraint
- New car
- Daytime running lights
- Signing early
- Defensive driver
- Professional and/or academic
- Military and federal employee
Does your husband or wife have to be on your car insurance?
The short answer is almost always yes. Many insurers require you to list all licensed drivers in your household, including your spouse, on your policy.
Fortunately, adding your spouse to your car insurance policy works in your favor most of the time. If you get a joint policy that covers both spouses and both cars, you can get a multi-car discount that lowers your rates.
However, in rare cases, spouses may want to consider separate car insurance policies rather than a joint policy.
Assume you drive a 2015 Honda Civic, have a spotless driving record, and a high credit score. Your spouse, on the other hand, drives a Ferrari, has a few accidents on their record, and a lower credit score. When you combine your car insurance into a joint policy, you will most likely pay far more than you did as a single driver — but your spouse, benefiting from your clean record, affordable car, and higher credit score, will most likely pay far less.
If the price of your car, credit score, or driving record differs significantly from that of your spouse, we recommend comparing quotes from multiple insurers for both joint and single policies. Your net cost as a couple will almost certainly be lower with a joint policy. However, if your costs are lower for separate policies — or if you don't want your husband or wife to drive your car for whatever reason — excluding your spouse from your car insurance policy is the best option.
Excluding your spouse from your car insurance
Excluding your spouse from your car insurance policy means that your insurer will not cover your spouse if they drive your vehicle. Simply call your insurer and request that your spouse be removed from your insurance policy. This is referred to as a named-driver exclusion.
Keep in mind that most insurers require all licensed drivers in a household to be listed on a car insurance policy. This means that even if you and your spouse drive separate cars and get separate insurance policies from different companies, you will both be expected to list the other on your policies — and your rates will reflect their inclusion. Named-driver exclusions allow you to avoid paying extra when your spouse's car, credit, or record raises your rates above what you're willing to pay.
You cannot allow your spouse to drive your car after you have excluded him or her from your car insurance policy. Your insurance company will not cover the damages if they are in an accident while driving as an excluded driver.
Married couples should also be aware that named-driver exclusions are not available in all states. Before excluding your spouse from your policy, check your state's regulations and consult with your insurer.
Can you combine car insurance if not you're not married?
Many insurers will allow you to take out a joint policy that covers both of you and your cars if you and your partner live together. If you choose not to combine your policies, you will almost certainly be required to add your partner to your own car insurance policy if you share a household. If you fail to list them, you risk being denied coverage if your partner is involved in an accident in your vehicle. Exclude your partner if you do not want them to be listed on your policy.
While you may be able to obtain a multi-car or multi-policy discount as a boyfriend and girlfriend or as an engaged couple, insurance companies may not lower your car insurance rates in the same way that they would for a married couple. Furthermore, not all states recognize all types of collaborations (domestic, civil or common law). Inquire with your insurer about what, if anything, these state-level regulations might mean for your rates.
How to combine car insurance with your spouse
If you've decided to combine car insurance with your spouse or partner, you should take the following steps:
- Identify how much coverage you need. Your cars' values may have depreciated over time, or your partner's car may be more expensive and require more coverage. Determine what levels of coverage you require to protect yourself from legal liability and damage costs in the event of an accident.
- Gather the necessary paperwork. You should have your newly issued marriage certificate on hand to show your insurer that you've married. You'll also need to gather other important information, such as the make, model, and mileage of your vehicle, as well as proof of previous insurance coverage.
- Contact multiple insurers to compare rates. We recommend speaking with a human insurance agent when comparing rates to find the best deal. Agents can assist you in identifying and including as many discounts as possible, which may result in lower rates. Make sure you're comparing the same levels of coverage from at least three different companies.
We recommend having an open conversation with your spouse or partner about their driving history, car price, credit score, and previous insurance coverage before contacting insurers. If your answers differ significantly, request rates for both separate and joint policies from your insurance agent. While combining policies is usually the more cost-effective option, it's always a good idea to double-check.
Methodology
The insurance rate information used in this study was obtained from Quadrant Information Services. Rates should only be used for comparison purposes, as your own quotes may differ. Our model driver is a 30-year-old man who drives 12,000 miles per year in a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
We obtained and averaged rates from the top insurers in each state in terms of market share to calculate average annual premiums for married and unmarried drivers. We excluded married drivers from our national average calculations because rate data for married drivers in Colorado was unavailable.
We used rates from the 29 states where all five major national insurers — State Farm, Geico, Progressive, Allstate, and USAA — were available and had a large market share to identify the insurance companies with the lowest rates.