How to Add or Remove a Driver

Adding a driver to your policy takes 10 minutes by phone or carrier app and almost always changes the household premium. Removing a driver is usually simpler mechanically but trickier legally: in many states you cannot simply remove a household member who regularly drives the vehicle. If you want to deny coverage to someone in your household, you may need a Named Driver Exclusion, which is a formal policy endorsement rather than just a roster change.

Who must be listed on the policy

• Any licensed household resident who regularly drives any insured vehicle.
• Any adult child, step-child, or relative living with you who holds a driver license, even occasionally.
• Spouse or domestic partner (even if they rarely drive).
• Boyfriend or girlfriend only if they live with you and drive the car regularly.

Adding a driver

1. Call the carrier or use the mobile app. Have driver license, date of birth, SSN (sometimes), and date-of-license information ready.
2. The carrier runs an MVR (motor-vehicle record) check on the new driver. Any at-fault accidents or violations in the lookback window are rated into the premium.
3. The carrier re-rates the policy and quotes a new premium.
4. Change is effective at the next policy date or on the date requested; mid-term adjustment is pro-rated.

Removing a driver

1. Submit a written request. Phone call usually works but request a confirmation email.
2. State the reason: driver moved out, no longer licensed, deceased, or driver has their own policy.
3. Carrier re-rates and refunds pro-rata.
4. If the driver still lives in the household, carrier may require a Named Driver Exclusion: a signed endorsement stating that this specific driver is NOT covered on your policy and that the carrier will not pay a claim if they drive your car.

When to use a Named Driver Exclusion

A Named Driver Exclusion is the formal tool for situations where a household member's MVR is so bad that insuring them would make the household policy prohibitively expensive, but the household cannot or does not want to put them on their own policy. Examples: adult child with multiple at-fault incidents, spouse with a recent DUI who is on an SR-22 at a different carrier. The exclusion removes the surcharge but creates a complete coverage gap for the excluded driver: if they drive your car and crash, no coverage applies. Not legal in every state (banned in VA, NY, NC, KS, among others).

Non-rated vs rated

• Rated driver: listed on the policy; the carrier prices your premium using their MVR; they're covered when they drive.
• Non-rated / occasional driver: listed but assigned to a vehicle they drive less than 50 percent of the time; carrier uses a reduced rating weight.
• Excluded driver: signed off the policy by name; no coverage if they drive.