Is car insurance cheaper if you’re married?
There are lots of reasons to get married, but you might be surprised to learn of another benefit of tying the knot. You could get cheaper car insurance – here’s why.
There are lots of reasons to get married, but you might be surprised to learn of another benefit of tying the knot. You could get cheaper car insurance – here’s why.
Does being married lower car insurance?
In general, yes, married people tend to get cheaper car insurance rates.
That’s because figures suggest that couples and families make fewer expensive claims than people who aren’t married. This means insurance providers may offer you cheaper car insurance when you get married.
Even if you’re in a traditionally ‘higher risk’ insurance group, like young drivers under 25, getting married can still make car insurance cheaper.
This could also be the case if you have an expensive car that would cost an insurance provider a lot to replace or fix, or if you live in an area that has a high crime rate. Your insurance costs may go down after you get married.
However, just because you are married, your car insurance premium isn’t always guaranteed to go down. If you’ve racked up points or made a claim in the past, then a change in relationship status might not be enough to cancel out those misdemeanours on your driving record.
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What if we’re a couple but not married?
If you’re not married, but in a couple and both live at the same address, some insurers will treat you as if you were married and revise your premium accordingly. But same goes as before – if your previous insurance and driving history are less than perfect, being part of a co-habiting couple might not save you money.
Either way, it’s important to update your address if you move in with a partner and let your insurer know if you do decide to get married.
How can I get cheap car insurance when married?
It’s common for married couples to share cars. This means adding each other to your car insurance. By adding a named driver to the policy, you’re spreading the risk across more people and limiting the amount of time any one person spends behind the wheel – so much the better if that named driver is experienced and has never made any claims.
But it’s worth remembering that if your partner is considered high risk – for example, they’ve made claims on their car insurance in the past – adding them to your policy could push up the price. This is because they will be viewed as more likely to have an accident and make a claim on their insurance.
Don’t commit ‘fronting’
Adding a named driver to your policy may be one way of lowering your car insurance but be careful about who’s actually in the driving seat.
A named driver is one that occasionally drives your car, the main driver is the one who uses the car for the most amount of time. If you say someone else is the main driver but they’re not, in order to lower your insurance premium – it’s called fronting and it’s against the law.
If you’re found guilty, not only could your insurance be invalidated, but you could also be taken to court too. So be clear about who’s using the car that you’re insuring.
How getting married affects your no-claims discount
If you share a car, only one of you will be listed as the main driver. If the car is involved in an accident, the main driver is the one who risks losing their no-claims bonus. Named drivers don’t earn a no-claims discount.
This could mean that the driver with fewer claims is listed as the main driver.
If you’ve both built up a good no-claims discount and don’t want to lose it, you could alternate between being the main driver each year.
You’ll be able to keep any no-claims bonus for up to two years while being uninsured, which means swapping in and out each year will allow both of you to keep your discount.
However, you need to make sure that there’s no risk of committing ‘fronting’. This means, it won’t just be swapping the role of main driver on your policy. You’ll actually need to swap main driver responsibilities.
How can I get cheap car insurance if I’m not married?
Popping the question and getting married isn’t the only way to get lower premiums – plus, it’s not guaranteed either. If you’re single, there are still some things you can do to get cheaper car insurance:
- Choose the car you drive carefully – cars are categorised into insurance groups (1-50). Generally, the lower the number, the lower the car insurance.
- Security – installing an approved security system, immobiliser, and even where you park your car overnight can all affect your car insurance.
- Be accurate – try to be as accurate as possible when calculating your mileage, rounding up could push you into the next price bracket.
- Pay upfront – if you can, pay your insurance annually rather than monthly. Monthly instalments could be more expensive with interest and admin fees.
- Telematics – particularly for young drivers under 25, ‘black box’ insurance is a useful way to get cheaper car insurance. By proving you’re a good driver you could be rewarded with cheaper car insurance.
- No-claims discount – it can take a couple of years, but building a no-claims discount is a sure way to get cheaper car insurance.
- Increase the excess – often you can lower your premiums if you choose to pay a higher excess. Just be sure that it’s an affordable amount.
- Compare car insurance quotes — using a comparison website like Compare the Market is a great way to get cheap car insurance. We compare quotes from dozens of insurance provider in minutes to find you our cheapest car insurance price.
Frequently asked questions
Is there joint car insurance for married couples?
No, there’s no such thing as joint car insurance for married couples.
The closest thing to a joint policy would be to add your spouse as a named driver on your car insurance policy and vice versa.
What is the average car insurance for a married couple?
According to Compare the Market data, married couples who add their spouse to their policy as a named driver could get their car insurance for less than £323[1].
Married drivers who don’t add their spouse to their policy could get car insurance for less than £415[2].
This compares to single drivers, who could get car insurance for less than £968[3].
[1] 51% of our married customers, who listed their spouse as a named driver, were quoted less than £322.04 per year for their comprehensive car insurance between January and March 2023.
[2] 51% of our married customers were quoted less than £414.13 per year for their comprehensive car insurance between January and March 2023.
[3] 51% of our single drivers were quoted less than £967.07 per year for their comprehensive car insurance between January and March 2023.
Can married couples have separate car insurance policies?
Yes, married couples don’t need to be listed on each other’s car insurance as named drivers.
You can have separate policies for each of your cars. It’s up to you as the policyholder to decide whether you want to cover each other.
Do insurance companies ask for proof of marriage?
When comparing car insurance through Compare the Market, you’ll be asked for your marital status. It’s unlikely that you’ll need to prove you’re married to car insurance companies, but be prepared in case they do ask for it.
If you already have a policy and get married during its term, you’ll need to let your insurance provider know. When amending an existing policy, they may ask for proof of marriage and charge an admin fee for changing your policy.
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Rebecca Goodman - Insurance expert
Rebecca Goodman is a freelance financial journalist who specialises in insurance, personal finance and consumer affairs. Rebecca regularly writes for national newspapers including The Independent and The Mail on Sunday on a wide-range of financial topics. She covers everything from money-saving tips and holiday advice to investigations into how energy efficient appliances can cut the cost of household bills and the impact donating money can have on those in need. Along with features in national papers, Rebecca also writes news stories for websites including Yourmoney.com and The Money Edit.