Best Car Insurance After a Divorce
Starting over can be stressful, but finding car insurance after a divorce doesn't need to be.
How divorce affects auto insurance
Divorce is stressful enough without having to think about insurance—but unfortunately, it’s something that deserves your attention. Your marital status can impact your car insurance rates, and in most states, divorced drivers may see slightly higher premiums than married ones. On average, married drivers pay about $160 less per year for car insurance compared to single drivers. Insurers view married drivers as lower risk, which means divorced drivers can end up paying more.
Beyond rate changes, divorce also brings logistical challenges, like determining who keeps which policy and how to handle coverage if you share a vehicle or have children who drive. Let’s break down what you need to know about car insurance after divorce and how to keep costs affordable.
Updating data...
| Company | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $1,263 | $211 |
| American Family | $908 | $151 |
| Farmers | $1,028 | $171 |
| GEICO | $799 | $133 |
| Nationwide | $876 | $146 |
| Progressive | $822 | $137 |
| State Farm | $652 | $109 |
| USAA | $660 | $110 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s auto insurance data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
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How to handle auto insurance after divorce
When it comes down to it, divorce involves splitting assets — car insurance included. Let’s review some things worth considering after a divorce.
Who is the policyholder? Who owns the vehicles?
This is the complicated part. Depending on who you’re insured by and who the policyholder is, i.e., primary insured and the person who created the policy, removing your former spouse from the policy might be a team effort. Because many insurance companies won’t allow you to remove your spouse without their consent — or proof they are no longer living at the listed residence — you might need your former spouse to contact the insurance company.
If you own vehicles jointly, your ability to collect claims payouts could be impacted. The owner of the vehicle is typically listed on the policy, giving them a right to collect claims payouts on the car. Come to an agreement with your former spouse as to who should manage the insurance on your vehicle(s), as well as who should retain the title and registration.
Some companies allow you to “split” policies after a divorce — almost like cutting the policy down the middle. This relatively uncommon perk allows you to stay with the same company and avoid purchasing a new policy elsewhere.
Remove your former spouse from the policy and compare auto insurance again
A final — and important — step is to remove your former spouse from your auto insurance policy. Your premium is priced based on many individual rating factors. If those rating factors are negative, your rates will be more expensive. By removing a source of risk, i.e., a second driver, your premium could become more affordable.
If you were removed from the policy, you should acquire new auto insurance as soon as possible. If you’re no longer covered by your former spouse’s insurance and don’t currently have your own, you'll be left without coverage in the event of an accident. Be sure to compare quotes from multiple carriers to ensure you receive the best value.
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Car insurance for divorced parents
If your kids aren’t of driving age, you don’t need to worry about their car insurance just yet. However, if you share custody and your teen will be driving both your and your former spouse’s vehicles, you’ll need to make adjustments to your policies.
Determining Insurance Needs
A good rule of thumb: If your teen drives your vehicle more than 12 times a year, they need to be insured on your policy. Even if your former spouse already insures your young driver, you must also add them to your policy if they regularly use your vehicle—car insurance follows the vehicle, not the driver.
Joint vs. Separate Policies
If you have a 50/50 custody arrangement, you can choose between a joint policy—where both parents hold a single auto insurance policy for the child—or separate policies, where each parent adds the teen to their own policy. Joint policies can sometimes be more affordable, so it’s worth exploring options with your provider.
Splitting Premium Costs
Money matters can get complicated after a divorce, so if you opt for a joint policy, you’ll need to determine how to split payments. Consider:
- Driving habits: If one parent allows the teen to borrow a car frequently, they may need to cover more of the premium.
- Vehicle ownership: If one parent provided a more expensive car, they may take on the higher insurance cost.
- Custody agreement: If your agreement mandates a 50/50 financial contribution, it may make sense to split the cost evenly.
For clarity, it may be helpful to document the payment agreement in writing. If your circumstances are unique or complicated, speak to an insurance agent for guidance.
Choosing the Primary Policyholder
If you share custody, the first step is deciding who will be the primary policyholder for your teen driver. Several factors can help guide this decision, including:
- Which parent’s insurance offers the best coverage
- Who the child spends more time with
- Where the child’s school is located
- Who paid for the child’s car
In many cases, the parent with primary custody is the primary policyholder, but this isn’t a strict rule. If custody is split evenly and one primary policyholder can’t be named, your teen may need to be covered by both parents’ policies.
Homeowners and renters insurance
Handling a home can be tricky after a divorce. Setting aside the logistical issues of deciding who remains in the residence, consider what divorce means for your liability insurance. Liability coverage within the realm of homeowners and renters insurance is much different than auto insurance.
Your personal liability coverage covers you in the event you're found liable for damages, someone is injured on your property, your dog bites someone, or if you are found at-fault for damages outside of your home.
If you do decide to move out and your spouse stays in the home, wait to remove your name from the insurance policy. In the event something happens to the home, complications can arise with claims checks and corresponding information if you’re no longer listed on the policy. It’s best to leave your name on the home insurance policy until residency details are ironed out.
If you’re keeping your residence
If you’re the one who will be remaining in your previously shared home, confirm the homeowners or renters policy is in your name — not yours and your former spouse’s. In the event of a claims payout, the check will usually say both of your names. This could cause complications when you try to cash or deposit the check.
If you’re selling your residence
If you decide to sell the home because no one will be living in it, simply cancel the policy once the home is in the hands of the new owner and you have established a new policy. Remember, your homeowners or renters insurance acts as protection for your belongings and your liability. So canceling your policy before you have a replacement leaves you vulnerable if you’re found at fault for an accident.
If you're moving out
If you're moving out of the residence and your former spouse is staying at the previous residence, take the initiative to remove yourself from the former policy once you have a new one. It's important to complete this step: any claims that your former spouse might file would impact your insurance record if you remain on the policy.
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.