At a glance
Statistically, married people are considered more stable drivers, so car insurance is often cheaper.
You could combine your cover by adding your spouse as a named driver to your policy.
The cost of car insurance will depend on both spouses’ driving records.
If one of you is a high-risk driver, the price of your policy could go up.
Does being married lower car insurance premiums?
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.
Married couples tend to have more stable driving patterns, often centred around family-related activities. So, they may take fewer risks compared to other types of drivers who are considered more impulsive.
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 could still make car insurance cheaper. This is because marriage could offset some of the risks associated with drivers in that category.
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 the impact of these on your driving record.
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 insurance providers will treat you as if you were married and revise your premium accordingly.
But the same goes as before – if your previous insurance and driving history are less than perfect, being part of a cohabiting couple might not save you money.
Either way, if you move in with a partner, you must tell your insurance provider and the DVLA about your change of address.
How can I get cheaper car insurance after getting 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 the 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 who occasionally drives your car, while the main driver is the one who uses the car for the most amount of time.
Deliberately misleading your insurer by saying someone else is the main driver to reduce your premium is called fronting, and it’s against the law.
If you’re found guilty, your insurance could be invalidated. Fronting also carries the same consequences as driving without insurance. You could be fined, taken to court, and even receive a driving ban. So always be clear who the main driver on the policy is.
How getting married affects your no claims bonus
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.
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. To do this you’ll need to change the main driver on your policy each time you renew.
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.
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 honest – try to be as accurate as possible when calculating your mileage, as 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 voluntary 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.
FAQs
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.
If you have more than one family car, another option is multi-car insurance. This lets you insure multiple cars for the same household under one policy. Some insurance providers also offer a discount for multi-car policies.
Can married couples have separate car insurance policies?
Yes, you can have separate policies for each of your cars. Married couples don’t need to be listed on each other’s car insurance as named drivers.
You can even take out two separate policies on the one car if you wish. Let’s say, your spouse has a driving conviction, but you have a clean driving record. Two individual policies on the same car might be more cost-effective than adding them as a named driver.
Do insurance providers 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 providers, 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, it may ask for proof of marriage, especially if you change your name. It may also charge an admin fee for updating your policy.
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Rebecca Goodman is a freelance financial journalist who specialises in insurance, personal finance and consumer affairs.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
