Married couples often save money on joint expenses, such as housing costs, bills, groceries and car insurance. Generally, they pay less for car insurance premiums than single drivers. This can be attributed to a perceived lower risk than other drivers — stability and responsibility are two factors insurers view favorably.
Learn about car insurance when you’re married vs. single and the differences in rates based on your marital status.
- Married couples may pay 4% to 12 % less for car insurance than single drivers.
- Generally, married couples are considered less risky than single drivers because they’re perceived as more responsible drivers and less likely to be reckless.
- Not all married couples’ car insurance costs less. Factors like driving history can impact premiums.
Car insurance for married drivers vs. single drivers
When it comes to car insurance, it can save to be married vs. being single. Car insurers give people a discount when they get married, typically because they’re statistically less likely to file a claim as they’re perceived as more responsible drivers. However, if your spouse has a poor driving history or significant violations, such as a DUI or reckless driving, you may want to consider looking into two policies versus a shared one.
The exact discount amount varies from company to company and state to state. However, on average, car insurance for married couples is 4% to 12% less than singles, according to a rate analysis by CarInsurance.com.
See the table below to see the average discount for car insurance for married couples in the table below.
| State | Discount for Married Couples |
|---|---|
| Alaska | 9% |
| Alabama | 10% |
| Arkansas | 13% |
| Arizona | 8% |
| California | 9% |
| Colorado | 6% |
| Connecticut | 4% |
| Washington, D.C. | 4% |
| Delaware | 8% |
| Florida | 6% |
| Georgia | 11% |
| Iowa | 7% |
| Idaho | 6% |
| Illinois | 9% |
| Indiana | 11% |
| Kansas | 7% |
| Kentucky | 7% |
| Louisiana | 10% |
| Maryland | 6% |
| Maine | 8% |
| Minnesota | 7% |
| Missouri | 8% |
| Mississippi | 9% |
| North Carolina | 6% |
| North Dakota | 7% |
| Nebraska | 7% |
| New Hampshire | 6% |
| New Jersey | 4% |
| New Mexico | 6% |
| Nevada | 8% |
| New York | 9% |
| Ohio | 7% |
| Oklahoma | 10% |
| Oregon | 11% |
| Pennsylvania | 9% |
| Rhode Island | 5% |
| South Carolina | 10% |
| South Dakota | 7% |
| Tennessee | 8% |
| Texas | 10% |
| Utah | 6% |
| Virginia | 12% |
| Vermont | 9% |
| Washington | 4% |
| Wisconsin | 9% |
| West Virginia | 7% |
| Wyoming | 7% |
Note: Montana, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Michigan are states that do not allow marital status to be a determining factor for car insurance rates.
Why is car insurance cheaper for married couples vs. singles?
Insurance companies set premiums based on assessed risk and claim statistics. For example, teen drivers are considered the highest risk while a 40-year-old driver is one of the lowest. When it comes to married policyholders, insurers often expect them to be safer drivers than people who are single — they are typically perceived to be more mature and responsible and are less likely to drive recklessly.
This isn’t just their opinion: Statistics show that married drivers are involved in fewer accidents than single people and have a lower risk of insurance claims. A study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) found drivers who had never been married had twice the risk of accident-related injury than drivers who were married.
“Many companies offer discounts for being married, with the assumption being that you are a more cautious driver,” says Loretta Worters, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute.
“This is probably larger if you are a younger person getting married. By settling down, you may become more reliable and less risky in the eyes of your insurance company. And that means lower premiums. Men under the age 25 could see the biggest discounts since they often have the highest rates.”
When two people place both vehicles on one policy, they may also receive a discount for insuring multiple cars.
When isn’t car insurance cheaper when you’re married?
Marriage doesn’t just bring two people together, it also merges their financial and driving histories into one assessed background. In this instance, getting married doesn’t always reduce your rates. If one spouse has a good driving record and the other has a poor one, the one with a bad record can negatively affect both rates.
“It does depend on your spouse’s driving record,” Worters says. “When you say ‘I do,’ you may be saying ‘I do’ to higher rates if you were a better driver.”
A car insurance policy usually covers all licensed household members listed on the policy (meaning you, your spouse and anyone else with a valid license in your household). If any of these people have a poor driving record, your insurance premiums can be affected.
If your spouse has a poor driving record that would spike your rates, you may want to consider options like a named-driver exclusion, which is an endorsement to your policy that states your spouse won’t be covered when driving your car.
“It may bring a lower premium — but the risk could be very high if your spouse has an accident,” Worters says.
And if your spouse gets in an accident driving your car, your insurer might not pay the claim.
Shopping for car insurance as married couples vs. single drivers
After the initial marital bliss settles, updating your legal documents and accounts comes next. It’s important to contact your insurer to find out what will happen to your rates — you can do this before you’re married, as well.
Insurance laws and rates vary by state and personal circumstances, so your estimates can range significantly. That’s why shopping around is a good place to start. You may find one company offers a more significant discount than others for married couples. You could also discover that your rate will be impacted when your spouse is added to the policy because of their poor driving record.
Other factors could affect your rates with different companies — such as the size of the discount for insuring more than one car with the insurer. Also, your rate could change if you move when you get married.
“If you marry and move to another area of the country, you could see rates decrease,” says Worters. “Auto rates are based in part on where your vehicle is housed. For example, if you moved from a hail-prone area of the country to an area that doesn’t have hail, you could save money.”
Also, consider these factors if you get divorced or widowed and your marital status changes again. A study by the Consumer Federation of America found that some insurers raise rates if someone who was married becomes widowed. Still, other companies didn’t boost rates for policyholders whose spouses died.
The table below highlights the average rates for car insurance by company as a married couple.
| Company | Married Avg Rate | Single Avg Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $ 2,042 | $ 2,310 |
| Allstate | $ 2,684 | $ 2,866 |
| Nationwide | $ 1,574 | $ 1,680 |
| Geico | $ 1,750 | $ 1,897 |
| American Family | $ 1,590 | $ 1,778 |
| Erie Insurance | $ 1,813 | $ 1,949 |
| Farmers | $ 2,500 | $ 2,595 |
| USAA | $ 1,237 | $ 1,365 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 1,004 | $ 1,100 |
See factors that affect car insurance rates for more information about spousal and other discounts.
Final thoughts: Does being married lower your car insurance?
Generally, car insurance for married couples is cheaper than for single drivers. This is based on statistics showing married drivers are often a lower driving risk. However, it’s important to note you may want to look at other car insurance options if you or your spouse have a poor driving record. Combining your policies could increase your premiums instead of dropping them.
Whether married or single, there are things you can do to lower your car insurance rates. Shopping around to different insurance companies can help you price shop, you could look at increasing your premium (as long as you have cash on hand to pay the deductible if necessary), discuss available discounts with insurers and have them do some comparables between a joint policy with your spouse and separate policies.
If you are married or getting married soon, it’s worth contacting your insurance company to find the best car insurance options for married couples, which could save you money on your rates.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- Consumer Federation of America. “New Research Shows That Most Major Auto Insurers Vary Prices Considerably Depending on Marital Status.” Accessed July 2024.
- National Institute of Health. “Motor vehicle driver injury and marital status: a cohort study with prospective and retrospective driver injuries.” Accessed July 2024.
Methodology
CarInsurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates in 2023 for a 40-year-old male driver with a good driving record, 12-mile commute to work and full coverage insurance with 100/300/50 liability limits and $500 comprehensive/collision deductibles driving a 2021 Honda Accord LX.
— Kimberly Lankford and Katrina Raenell contributed to this story.
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