Can I remove my spouse from my car insurance?

There are many reasons people might want to remove a spouse from their car insurance plan. In some cases, they are separated, and in others there may be a situation happen where your car insurance premiums have gone up a lot due to a ticket or other infraction your partner has gotten. This can include things like DUIs. In this article, you will learn more about how to remove your spouse from your car insurance policy. No matter the reason, there are certain steps you may need to take to remove your spouse from your automobile insurance policy.

Can I Remove My Spouse From My Car Insurance?

The rules and guidelines your car insurance provider has will generally state that all of the drivers living at your household will need to be listed on your car insurance policy. This does not include teenage drivers who have learning permits, though as soon as they get a valid driver's license, they will need to be added. If your spouse is living at your address, they will need to be listed on your policy. This can also include people like roommates and other family members.

In emergencies, someone else living at your home may need to drive your vehicle even if they would not otherwise. Since this is the case, automobile insurance companies require each person living in a household to be listed on the policy. In some cases, it is possible to exclude people on the plan. This will mean they are still listed on the plan, but are not covered if they are in an accident while operating your vehicle. This includes accidents pulling out of driveways or on private property.

You Cannot Remove Your Spouse Without Their Consent

A person can remove their spouse from their auto insurance plan, though there are stipulations surrounding it. First off, your spouse will need to give their consent to be removed from your car insurance policy. Not only that, but they will need to submit their consent in writing to your car insurance carrier if they are going to be removed or excluded from your plan. This is an important step and one that can usually be done quickly and easily. Some car insurance companies allow this written consent to be submitted via fax or electronically in other manners.

Car insurance companies analyze the risk of each person who could potentially drive your vehicle. Excluding a driver from your policy is one of the best options available to you if you do not want to pay for coverage for another person, such as a spouse. If your spouse is a much riskier driver to insure and moves in with you, your best choice may be to exclude them from your auto insurance plan. If you do this, your premiums should drop back to their normal rates. This does, however, mean your spouse will be unable to drive your vehicle for any reason. If they do operate your vehicle, and they are an excluded driver, any accidents that happen while your spouse is driving will not be covered, and claims for damages incurred while they are driving will be denied.

What If I Am Separated From My Spouse?

If both people continue residing at the same address, maintaining the same car insurance policy may be the easiest option, as well as the option that is the most cost-efficient. Once you and your spouse are no longer living together, you will want to remove your spouse from your car insurance plan. When you go to update your policy and change your address, the rates you are paying will also be updated.

Buying A New Car Insurance Policy After Getting Separated

Make sure to shop around for the best prices on car insurance whenever you are looking to purchase a new policy. Keep in mind that your insurance company will need to know the garage address for each vehicle on the policy. Also, take advantage of the many discounts available to you. There are numerous things that you can update once you are separated; you may need to update your address with the local DMV and register your vehicle at the new address as well. Not only that but separating vehicle ownership can be an essential part of the process. Changing the title is an essential part of vehicle ownership, and can also be done at your local Department of Motor Vehicles.

Also, keep in mind that different insurance carriers have different rules when it comes to spouse removal and consent. Driving without insurance is not only illegal, but it can put people at major financial risk. Consent is often required to remove spouses from their auto insurance plan because it would be possible for someone to remove a spouse from their insurance plan maliciously if this was not required. If they are driving and do not know they are not insured while they are driving, and are at significant financial risk due to it, this can cause legal problems. Insurance companies require written consent before removing a spouse from the insurance plan, though some companies do have more complex requirements as well.

Final Notes

After your spouse has been removed from your auto insurance policy, you will want to shop around to make sure you are getting the best rates possible. At Cheap Auto Insurance, you have the tools to get the best prices on auto insurance plans available. Regardless of whether you are excluding a spouse from your policy or removing them, comparison-shopping for the best rates on car insurance should be done every couple of years.