When you marry someone who is a bad driver, your insurance rates may increase because of your spouse's driving record. A car insurance quote has to include information from everyone who lives in your house and holds a driver's license. There is always a chance that you and your spouse will share a car at some point, which means that your spouse's driving habits have to be considered by your car insurance company when they set your rates. Even if you have never been involved in an accident or received a traffic ticket, your spouse's past driving problems will have a direct impact on how much money you have to pay for your car insurance.
Both Driving Records Considered for Joint Accounts
When you request a car insurance quote, you will be asked to list your driving information as well as the driving information of your spouse. If he or she has been involved in any accidents, those will make your car insurance quote more expensive. Insurance companies have to consider every possibility when they create coverage premiums so that they can protect themselves from paying more than they make through your policy. When you get married to a bad driver, your driving record is merged with his or hers.
Possibility of Spouse Driving Your Car
It is very common for a married couple to share driving duties, even if each spouse owns his or her own vehicle. There are times when it just makes sense for spouses to swap driving, no matter which car is being used at the time. Since both spouses will probably drive both cars at some point, the insurance company has to charge premiums that would cover the driving habits of each driver. If your new spouse has traditionally been a bad driver, your premiums will have to be a little higher than they would be if you are a good driver and were not married.
Reducing the Impact of a Spouse with a Poor Driving Record
There are some things you can do to cut down on the car insurance costs of marrying a bad driver. Have your spouse attend defensive driving courses to offset the extra costs of adding your spouse to your policy. Insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who have been through defensive driving or safe driving courses. If your spouse's driving record improves, your car insurance costs will also improve over time. Eventually the accidents or traffic tickets that your spouse has had on his or her record will be far enough in the past so that they do not impact your car insurance rates any longer. Defensive driving courses can make your spouse's driving safer for both of you as well as reduce your rates.
