Auto insurance for married couples

Life milestones, like getting married and moving in together, are the perfect time to rethink your auto insurance coverage. The good news is that many insurance companies offer lower rates for married couples —if both spouses meet the requirements. Let’s break it down.

How can married couples save money on car insurance?

Ever wondered how car insurance for married couples works? Married couples often qualify for a car insurance discount, but that’s just one way to save. For example, combining car insurance might work for some couples, while for others, adding a spouse to their policy might be better than having two vehicles. We will explore each option in detail below:

Combining policies

If you have two auto insurance policies, combining policies can be a financially smart way for couples to save on car insurance, especially if both have good driving records. Many insurance companies offer lower rates for married couples, plus you might snag a multi-vehicle discount or even bigger savings by bundling policies with other types of insurance, like auto and home insurance.

Most insurance companies offer a discount—usually called a multi-car or multi-vehicle discount—when you insure two or more cars on the same policy, known as a multi-vehicle policy. These policies often save you quite a bit of money by bundling your auto insurance policies together under one policy—sometimes as much as 15% on each policy.

Combining policies also means both spouses are covered to drive any of the insured vehicles, making day-to-day life a little easier. And let’s not forget the convenience—just one payment and one renewal date to keep track of.

Adding a secondary driver

Married couples sometimes share a single car, which can lower the cost of insurance per person since only one of them can drive it at a time. Typically, the person who drives more will be listed as the primary driver, while the other becomes the secondary driver. Adding a secondary driver with a clean record is usually pretty affordable, depending on their driving history and experience.

When do couples save more by having separate policies?

While combining car insurance policies often has its benefits, there are times when it might make more sense for married couples to stick with separate policies after moving in together.

For instance, if your spouse has a bad driving record with multiple violations or a low credit score (depending on where you live), separate policies could save you money. Commute patterns also play a role—if one of you works from home while the other has a long commute to a high-risk area, keeping your policies separate might be more cost-effective.

Even if both of you have solid driving records and credit scores, separate policies could still make sense if one of you drives a more expensive vehicle, like a high-end sports car, which tends to be more expensive to insure.

It’s always a good idea to consult your insurance broker or provider to figure out whether a joint or separate policy is the better option for your situation.

Car insurance rules for couples living together

Did you know that if only one of you has a vehicle, if the spouse without a car lives with you, they still need to be listed on your policy if they have a driver’s licence, even if they don’t plan to drive the car? This is because, for liability reasons, if they had to drive the vehicle for whatever reason, they would be covered just in case they get into an accident while driving.

Also, did you know that even if you and your spouse both have your own vehicles and live together, you need to be listed as drivers on each other’s insurance policies?

Here's another rule. Say one spouse owns two vehicles and the other doesn't have a vehicle, but you both have your driver's licence. If the two of you move in together, the other spouse has to be listed as a primary driver on the second vehicle, even if they don't plan to drive it. If you have two drivers and two vehicles under one roof, one vehicle must be assigned to each driver.

Failing to do any of the above could be considered misleading your insurance company, which might lead to a denied claim or even cancellation of your policy later on.

How does being married impact car insurance rates?

There are a few reasons why being married can affect your car insurance premiums:

Driving experience

One is that married people tend to be older than single drivers, meaning they’ve had more years of driving experience and insurance history. In fact, the average age of couples getting married in Canada is about 30, according to Statistics Canada in 2020. Drivers over the age of 25 usually get the best car insurance rates because they’ve built up a track record that shows car insurance companies they’re less risky, assuming they have a clean driving record and haven’t filed many claims. The number 25 is generated by considering that a driver would have at least six years of clear driving experience if they got their full licence between the ages of 16 and 19. On the other hand, drivers under 25 often pay the highest rates since their limited experience makes them a bigger risk to insure.

Safer drivers

Also, insurers sometimes assume that married people are safer drivers. For example, if they’re driving with kids in the car, they're probably less likely to speed to protect their family and set a good example. Married couples are also less likely to be out partying every weekend and driving home after having a few drinks. Safer driving can lead to a safe driving discount.

Which provinces consider marital status when calculating car insurance costs?

In Canada, insurance providers can ask about your marital status, but only some provinces allow it to influence your car insurance rates.

For example, in Ontario, insurance companies often factor marital status into your risk profile, which affects your premiums. The same is true in Alberta and Quebec, where marital status can play a role in determining your rates.

However, in provinces like Manitoba and British Columbia, marital status isn’t considered when calculating car insurance rates. In Nova Scotia, the rules go even further—insurance companies have been banned for nearly 20 years from refusing or renewing policies based on marital status (as well as age and gender).

That said, not all insurance companies use marital status to set rates, even in the provinces that do use it, so it’s always a good idea to shop around and compare car insurance quotes when looking for insurance.

Learn more with BrokerLink

It's important to let your insurance broker know about any major life events such as a move, marriage or divorce. At BrokerLink, our licensed insurance experts will go over your situation and make sure you have the car insurance coverage you need.

You can reach us by phone, email, or in person at any one of our locations throughout Canada. No matter how you choose to get in touch, a BrokerLink insurance advisor will be happy to assist you. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.

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FAQs: auto insurance for married couples

Can getting married affect the rates of my car insurance policy?

Yes. Some insurance companies offer lower rates for married couples, so if you are adding a spouse to your policy it can affect your rates. Give your insurance broker a call to explain all the details of your situation and get the right coverage.

If you have any questions, contact one of our local branches.