When you add someone to your car insurance, you can call your car insurance company or log in to your online account to add a new driver to your policy. Your insurance company will generally need the name, date of birth, driving history, license information, and vehicle identification number (VIN) if you also plan to share a policy that covers both vehicles. Many insurers, including Progressive, allow you to add a friend to an auto insurance policy as a driver if you share a permanent residence. Most insurers will also allow you to share a joint car insurance policy with a friend by adding both sets of cars to the policy.
If your friend doesn't live with you, it usually can't be added to your policy. Getting car insurance for a young driver can be expensive due to their lack of driving experience, so a separate policy may not be the best option. In most cases, it's cheaper to add your licensed or licensed teen driver to your current car insurance policy. The coverages and limits of your policy will be extended to your teen driver, and some insurers, including Progressive, offer discounts to help offset the cost of insuring a new driver.
If the driver uses your car frequently or lives in your home, your insurer may determine that they should have added it to your policy as a driver. In that case, it may be reason enough for your insurance company to deny your claim. The cost of adding a driver to your car insurance or sharing a policy varies depending on factors such as the driver's age and motor vehicle history. Some states and insurance companies require that all members of the household who are of driving age, including friends, be listed on your car insurance policy as drivers.
Adding a driver to your insurance policy means that they are an insured driver under your policy when driving your car. Most insurers will also allow you to share a single car insurance policy with someone if you live with that person. If you add your teen driver to your car insurance policy, they'll benefit from the same protection as you. If you and your friend don't currently share an address, they won't be able to appear on your car insurance policy even if you plan to move at a later date.
You should add any regular driver of your car to your insurance policy to cover damage caused by accidents. In most cases, your insurance can cover the accident, but depending on the limits of your policy and the details of the accident, the driver's insurance policy may cover all or part of the claim. A standalone car insurance policy for teen drivers can be expensive because they are more likely to drive distracted, drive faster, carry a tailgate, and not wear a seatbelt. If you lend your car to someone and that person causes an accident, Progressive may cover some of the damages they are responsible for.
A teen driver must have car insurance in almost every state, so you can add it to your policy or insure it with a standalone policy.