Car Insurance Coverage for Spouses (2024)

Many insurers, including Progressive, require you to add a spouse to your car insurance policy if you're both living in the same household (unless your state gives you the option to exclude your spouse). Adding your spouse to your policy ensures that you're both covered in the event of an accident. If you and your spouse have good driving records, a joint car insurance policy can save you money with lower premiums and a multi-car discount (if your insurer offers one).

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How does joint car insurance with my spouse work?

If your spouse drives your car and damages it, it's usually covered if you added comprehensive and collision coverage to that car. The same applies if you drive your spouse's car and damage it. You'll just have to pay your car insurance deductible.

If your spouse drives your car and hits another vehicle, they should be covered under the policy's liability coverage if they're at fault. Liability coverage will cover the damage they cause to other cars and surrounding property (mailboxes, phone poles, etc.), and injuries to others — up to the limits of your policy. Liability coverage comes standard in almost all states and extends to all drivers on a policy, no matter which car on the policy they're driving. The same would apply if you drive your spouse's car and hit someone else's vehicle.

Who should be listed first on the policy?

It doesn't matter who's listed first on the policy. If you're listing your spouse as a driver, then their driving history will equally affect your rate.

Does Progressive recognize common-law marriage?

Common-law marriage is recognized in some states, and your car insurance coverage will work the same way as a married couple's insurance.

What are the advantages of joint car insurance?

More savings:
Sharing a policy is generally cheaper because you'll split the cost of certain coverages.
You benefit from your spouse's clean driving record:
If you've had violations or accidents, your spouse's clean driving history may result in a more competitive rate.
You can share cars:
You're covered when driving each other's cars. No need to let your insurer know who's driving what or when.
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Convenience:
It's easier to maintain a single policy than manage two.
Multi-car discount:
Progressive and many other insurers offer multi-car discounts for having multiple vehicles on one policy.

Can married couples have separate car insurance policies?

If you're married and living in the same household, Progressive and many other insurers require you and your spouse to be covered under the same policy. If you're married and living in separate households, it's OK and actually necessary to have separate car insurance policies, because your vehicles are garaged at different locations.

This rule extends to married couples who are legally separated as well. If you're living in separate households, two separate auto insurance policies would be required because the vehicles are housed in different locations.

Can I remove my spouse from my car insurance policy?

It will depend on the state. In many states, you have the option to exclude your spouse from your car insurance policy, but some states will only allow it for certain reasons like not having a license or already having a policy. Finally, other states will not allow you to exclude family members, so your spouse will be covered automatically.