Adding a Car to Insurance: What You Need To Know

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You can add another vehicle to your existing auto insurance policy online, by mobile app or by calling an insurance agent, depending on your insurer. The process is relatively straightforward and may be completed within just a few minutes. Keep in mind, however, that adding a car will typically increase the cost of car insurance.

Keep reading to learn how to add a car to your car insurance policy.

Adding A Vehicle to an Existing Insurance Policy

Many insurers allow their policyholders to add a vehicle to an existing insurance policy through one of the following methods:

  • Log into your online account to edit your policy.
  • Call your insurance company and speak with a live agent.
  • Add a vehicle through the mobile app.

When adding a vehicle to an existing insurance policy, you will generally need to supply the following information:

  • Vehicle identification number (VIN)
  • Vehicle year, make and model
  • License plate number
  • Date the updated coverage will go into effect
  • Mileage and condition of vehicle (if car is used)
  • Name and address of the lienholder/leaseholder (if your added car is financed)

After successfully adding a vehicle to your existing policy, your carrier should mail you a proof of insurance card. Be sure to safely store this in your vehicle. Many insurers also offer electronic proof of insurance cards, which you can access while waiting for your physical card to arrive in the mail.

Many insurers allow their policyholders to add a vehicle to an existing insurance policy online, via app or by phone.

Some insurers may place a maximum cap on how many vehicles are insured under a single policy. Be sure to confirm these details before purchasing your car or you may need to purchase a separate auto policy, which is generally more expensive than a multi-vehicle policy.

Coverages for Different Vehicles

Depending on your insurer, all vehicles may have the same coverages or each vehicle may have different types of coverage. For example, one vehicle may have only liability insurance while two other vehicles may have full coverage insurance with different deductibles. Generally, financed and leased cars need to have full coverage until you pay off your car loan.

Adding a Vehicle is Different From Adding a Driver

While adding a vehicle and driver can occur simultaneously, the situations are different. For example, a single-driver policy can have two vehicles — a daily commuter and a second car for recreation. Similarly, a policy with yourself, your spouse and child may only have one insured vehicle if you all share the same vehicle.

When adding a driver to your car to your car insurance policy, insurers will consider factors for each driver to calculate your new premium, such as:

  • Age
  • Driving experience
  • Claims history
  • Accident history
  • Driving record

When Should I Add My New Car to My Insurance?

You should add a car to your auto policy any time a new vehicle joins your household and is regularly driven by one of your household members. For example, you’ll generally want to add a vehicle in the following scenarios:

  • You buy a new car.
  • You and your partner move in together and your partner has a car.
  • Your teenage child gets their driver’s permit and buys their first car.
  • Your parents or other family members move in with you and they have their own cars.

Which Cars Can I Add to My Insurance?

Below are the common types of cars you will want to consider adding to your insurance policy:

  • Newly purchased cars (new or used)
  • Parents’ cars (if they live with you)
  • Spouse’s car
  • Children’s car (if they live with you)

Insurers will generally want all of your related household members to be insured under a single auto insurance policy. That’s why you will commonly see all licensed drivers within the same family and household be insured under one policy.

What if I Have Cars in Different States?

If you have cars in different states — you own a vacation home and vehicle, for instance — then you will generally want to have two policies insuring the locations separately since different states carry different minimum coverage limits. However, there may be cases when they can be insured under a single policy but you will need to contact your insurance agent.

What if I Buy a Brand New Car?

Ideally, you will want to arrange for your new car’s coverage start date to align with the date of purchase. However, some insurance companies will insure your new car during a grace period after the purchase. This grace period would only apply if you're already insured and if your insurance company offers it.

If you’re a completely new driver and it's your first car purchase, the dealer generally will not allow you to drive away in the new car without showing proof of insurance.

What if I Borrow Somebody’s Car?

If you’re temporarily borrowing a friend’s car, then you generally will not need to add the vehicle to your own auto policy. Auto policies typically have a permissive use clause, which will cover drivers who are permitted to drive the car. Therefore, you would be covered under your friend’s insurance if their policy includes permissive use coverage.

However, if you borrow the car regularly, then you should consider being added as a listed driver to their auto policy (instead of insuring the borrowed vehicle under your policy). For example, if you’re a full-time nanny and use your employer’s vehicle to pick up their children from school, you should be added as a listed driver to your employer’s auto policy.

All vehicles may have the same coverages or each vehicle may have different types of coverage

Can I Add a Car to My Insurance That's Not in My Name?

It is possible to add a car to your insurance policy even if the vehicle title is under a different name and the drivers are within the same household. For example, an unmarried couple who each owns a car under their respective names can be insured under the same policy.

Multiple Car Insurance - Get Cheap Quotes Today!

How Do Multi-Vehicle Discounts Work?

A multi-vehicle discount is a discount available to drivers who insure two or more cars under a single car insurance policy. There are three big advantages of insuring multiple vehicles through the same carrier:

  • Multi-vehicle policies generally cost less than insuring each vehicle separately.
  • Depending on your state, you may stack your coverage and increase your coverage limits in a single car accident.
  • Managing one bill and payment date can be more convenient than dealing with multiple due dates.

Some multi-vehicle discounts go up to 25% and are widely available from national carriers.

Company

Multi-Vehicle Discount

Farmers

Amica

Auto-Owners

Nationwide

Erie

Travelers

USAA

21st Century

American Family

Amica

Hartford

Liberty Mutual

Mercury

Can Someone Else Insure My Financed Car?

It may be possible to be added to somebody else’s auto insurance policy if your car loan and title are under your name. For example, a driver may finance the car under their name and be a listed driver on their parent’s auto insurance policy if they live within the same household. Be sure to confirm this possibility with the car dealer and your insurance carrier before completing the vehicle purchase.

Add a car to your auto policy any time a new vehicle joins your household and is regularly driven by one of your household members.

FAQs

Is it cheaper to add a car to an existing insurance policy?

Many insurance companies offer multi-vehicle discounts when you insure more than one vehicle in an auto policy, which is generally cheaper than buying a separate policy for each vehicle.

Should you add your teenager to your car insurance policy?

Adding a teenage driver to your auto insurance policy and enjoying a multi-vehicle discount (if available) will generally cost less than buying a separate policy for your teenager.

Can your parents add you to their car insurance?

Yes, children can be added to their parent’s car insurance policy. Depending on your carrier, you may add a vehicle and driver through an online account, by phone or by mobile app.

Key Takeaways

  • Depending on the insurance company, drivers can add a vehicle to their current auto insurance policy by logging into their online account, calling their provider or through the company mobile app.
  • Insurance premiums will typically increase when there is an additional vehicle on your auto policy.
  • Insurers will generally want all licensed drivers within the same household to be insured under a single auto insurance policy, such as your spouse and children.
  • Multi-vehicle discounts can help drivers save on car insurance, making it cheaper to insure multiple vehicles under one policy versus buying separate policies.

Want to see if you can find cheaper coverage from another auto insurer? Enter your zip code below or call 855.214.2291 to receive your free car insurance quotes.

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