Adding Vehicles to Your Policy: FAQs

You can add a car to your insurance policy by following these simple steps:

• Gather the information you’ll need.
• License plate number
• Account login information, including your username and password
• Mileage
• Policy number
• Vehicle identification number
• Vehicle make
• Vehicle model
• Vehicle condition
• Meet the time frame. Different insurance providers have different time frames for how long you have to add new or used cars to your policy after purchasing them. Make sure to add the car as soon as possible, ideally within a week after a private sale.
• Contact your insurer. Use the below information to contact your insurance agent, or add the car to your policy online.

Adding a car to your insurance policy will make your overall rates increase. However, it’s still cheaper than getting a separate policy for your new car¹.

Even though your car insurance costs will be more expensive the more cars you add to your policy, you can get discounts on coverages by bundling multiple cars under the same policy. Under a schedule of vehicles policy — a policy that covers up to five cars — typically companies offer multi-vehicle discounts.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can and cannot add to your current policy.

Second Car

If you have a second car at the same residence, you can add it to your policy.

Friend’s Car

You can only add a friend’s car to your policy if you live at the same residence where the friend keeps their car. The friend must also be listed as a driver on your policy.

Significant Other’s Car

Whether or not you can add your significant other’s car to your policy depends on how often they use it and if you live together. If you live together where the vehicle is kept, you should be able to add the car to your policy. However, if you don’t live together and you don’t drive the vehicle often, you won’t be able to put their car on your policy.²

Temporary Addition

If you need to add a car to your policy temporarily, we recommend purchasing a six-month term or pay-per-mile insurance, and then canceling your car insurance. Major car insurance companies don’t offer temporary policies. If you don’t own the car you’d like to add, look into non-owner car insurance. Typically, non-owner insurance costs less than standard coverage.

Vehicles Not in Your Name

You can add a car to your policy if it’s not in your name, given you live with the owner who keeps the car at your residence.

New and Used Cars

You can add both new and used cars to your existing policy. Before you add it, your new or used vehicle will have the same coverage as your current one. Make sure you add it within your insurer’s time frame of within one week to one month from the purchase date.³

>> Related: What is Adhesion Insurance?

What are the benefits and disadvantages of adding a car to your current policy versus getting it its own separate policy?

Pros of a Combined Policy

• Multi-vehicle discount: Although your overall rates will rise, your coverages will be discounted if you bundle multiple cars under a single policy.
• Coverage: You’ll gain the coverage you need so you aren’t driving without insurance.
• Vehicle swap: You can easily change vehicles.

Cons of Combining

• Increased rates: It’s cheaper to have one car on a policy versus multiple vehicles.
• Effects of others’ driving records: If you add another driver to your policy and they have a bad driving record, get into an accident, or receive a ticket, your overall insurance rates could increase.

Whether you choose to add a vehicle to your existing policy or cover it under a new one, make sure you have your state’s minimum coverage to comply with car insurance laws. Additionally, we recommend buying full coverage for more protection against financial liability for damages and injuries. See below for the types of coverage and limits that are required when you add another car to your existing policy.

Even though adding a car to your current policy will raise your rates, here are some tips to minimize the increase:

1. Adjust your deductible. By raising your deductible on your comprehensive or collision coverage, you can decrease your rates.
2. Drop coverages. If you have an older car, drop collision or comprehensive coverage on that vehicle. This is because it will most likely be totaled from an accident. You can also drop unnecessary coverages like rental or roadside assistance.
3. Ask for discounts. Aside from the multi-vehicle discount, request discounts for bundling your car insurance with your home or life insurance, taking a defensive driving course, or installing anti-theft devices.
4. Research cheap companies. Get car insurance quotes from the cheapest car insurance organizations.

Did you purchase a car using an auto loan? Perhaps someone else can insure your car if …

• They live at the same residence as you.
• You keep the car at their residence — as a part-time student driver, for instance.
• They are listed as a driver on your policy.

You must meet all of these conditions in order for someone else to insure your financed car.

One of the most frequently asked car insurance questions is how to add a vehicle to your existing policy. If you have multiple cars, bundling them under the same policy is one way to lower your car insurance costs versus separating them under different policies. And who wants to pay more than necessary for car insurance?