Is car insurance cheaper when you're married?
In most states you'll get cheaper auto insurance rates just for being married. Married drivers crash less often and file fewer claims.
However, several states do not allow marital status as a rating factor, so just being married won't affect your rates in those states.
The marriage discount varies by insurer, but data gathered for Insurance.com by Quadrant Information Services showed an average marriage discount to be about 12% nationwide. Some companies may bake the savings into your base rate rather than call it out as a discount on your declarations pageThe declarations page of your policy includes important details like the name, description, and location of the insured property, the policyholder's name and address, the coverage period, the premiums and the coverage amount. It's also called a 'dec page' or 'dec sheet.'.
The discount is continuous as long as you remained married.
Average change in car insurance rates for married couples by state
Marriage lowers car insurance rates in most states by an average of 8%, with higher discounts in states like Louisiana (16%) and Virginia (15%).
| State | Discount |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 9% |
| Alaska | 7% |
| Arizona | 6% |
| Arkansas | 11% |
| California | 7% |
| Colorado | 5% |
| Connecticut | 8% |
| Delaware | 11% |
| District of Columbia | 9% |
| Florida | 9% |
| Georgia | 14% |
| Hawaii | 1% |
| Idaho | 6% |
| Illinois | 9% |
| Indiana | 6% |
| Iowa | 7% |
| Kansas | 9% |
| Kentucky | 7% |
| Louisiana | 16% |
| Maine | 9% |
| Maryland | 10% |
| Massachusetts | 0% |
| Michigan | 2% |
| Minnesota | 7% |
| Mississippi | 13% |
| Missouri | 11% |
| Montana | 7% |
| Nebraska | 8% |
| Nevada | 8% |
| New Hampshire | 10% |
| New Jersey | 8% |
| New Mexico | 7% |
| New York | 7% |
| North Carolina | 6% |
| North Dakota | 9% |
| Ohio | 7% |
| Oklahoma | 9% |
| Oregon | 8% |
| Pennsylvania | 8% |
| Rhode Island | 9% |
| South Carolina | 11% |
| South Dakota | 9% |
| Tennessee | 5% |
| Texas | 7% |
| Utah | 9% |
| Vermont | 11% |
| Virginia | 15% |
| Washington | 6% |
| West Virginia | 8% |
| Wisconsin | 7% |
| Wyoming | 5% |
Are there other discounts related to being married?
Yes, combining insurance after marriage can qualify you for a multi-car discount of 10 to 25% and a multi-policy (home and auto insurance bundle) discount of 10 to 20%. Just owning a home can also earn you a discount of 5%.
- Multi-car discount: 10 to 25% off liability, comprehensive and collision coverage when two vehicles are on one policy
- Multi-policy (bundling) discount: 10 to 20% when auto and home or renters insurance are placed with the same company
- Homeowner discount: up to 5% for homeowners, even without bundling, because homeowners file fewer claims.
While these discounts aren't solely for married people, getting married often makes you eligible.
Can my spouse hurt my car insurance rates?
If your spouse has bad credit, a poor driving record or multiple claims, adding them to your policy will raise your rates. Those increases reverse when the underlying issues improve: violations typically drop off a driving record within three to five years, and credit improvements can affect rates at the next policy renewal.
When a spouse's driving violations age off or their credit score improves, request new quotes from at least three insurers, since each company weights risk factors differently. A company that penalized heavily for a DUI may rate more favorably once it has dropped off the record.
High-risk auto insurance is more expensive than standard or preferred insurance, so it's best to address the factors driving higher rates as quickly as possible.
Should you combine car insurance policies after marriage?
In most cases, yes: combining policies after marriage saves money through the marriage discount (averaging 12% nationwide), a multi-car discount of 10 to 25%, and a multi-policy discount of 10 to 20% when home or renters insurance is bundled with auto. The exception is when one spouse carries a high-risk driving record that would raise the combined premiumThe payment required for an insurance policy to remain in force. Auto insurance premiums are quoted for either 6-month or annual policy periods. above what separate policies would cost.
Shopping for new quotes when you get married is worthwhile because your combined risk profile may earn better rates with a different insurer than either of you used individually.
To decide, compare three figures: your current combined premium if you join policies, your spouse's separate premium after applying any high-risk surchargeAn increase in your auto insurance premium due to an at-fault accident or a moving violation. Learn more about how a surcharge affects your auto insurance premiums., and the total of two separate policies. If the combined premium is lower, merge. If the high-risk surcharge on a combined policy exceeds the available discounts, keep separate policies until the violations or claims age off.
How soon after marriage do you need to update your car insurance?
You should update your insurance as soon as possible after you get married, and even before the wedding if you have already moved in together. As soon as you live in the same household, even if you keep your own insurance policies, you should notify the insurance company or companies. Insurance companies require all licensed drivers in the same household to be added or excluded from the policy.
- Contact your insurer as soon as you move in together, and again immediately after the wedding to inform it of the change
- To add your spouse as a driver on your policy, provide their driver's license number and previous insurance information
- Provide the vehicle identification number (VIN) for your spouse's vehicle to add it to your policy
- Cancel your spouse's previous policy after the new coverage is in effect
- If there has been a name change related to the marriage, first update your driver's license, and then notify your insurer
Adding your spouse to your policy as soon as possible after the wedding (or as soon as you move in together) ensures that you get the appropriate discounts and that you are both covered when driving each other's vehicles.
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