Married vs. Single Drivers: Who Pays More for Car Insurance?
- Being married vs. single can impact your rates—marriage may lower costs, but a spouse with a poor driving record or low credit score could raise them.
- Some states require spouses to share a policy or be listed on your insurance, even if they don’t drive.
Car insurance for married vs. single drivers
On average, a married driver pays $160 less per year for car insurance than does a single, unmarried driver. While being married doesn’t necessarily make you a better driver, historical data show married couples are more likely to share driving responsibilities than single people. Thus, each driver files fewer claims and presents less risk to an insurance provider. There are some other rating factors that make married drivers cheaper to insure than single drivers. Let’s explore.
Rates by company for married vs. single drivers
We pulled car insurance quotes for married and single drivers. Keep in mind that these are averages, and don't take into consideration all the additional factors insurers evaluate (like age, credit score, driving history, location, and more). But this list can provide a starting point if you're shopping for a new insurance provider and give you an idea of what each company might charge.
Updating data...
| Company | Avg. Monthly Premium | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $114 | $683 |
| Nationwide | $123 | $738 |
| GEICO | $129 | $771 |
| State Farm | $131 | $785 |
| Farmers | $149 | $893 |
| Progressive | $157 | $943 |
| Allstate | $201 | $1,206 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool 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.
State Farm is the only company that does not charge single and married drivers different premiums. Liberty Mutual's rates are considerably different for married and single drivers. On average, single drivers pay $692 more per year because of their marital status with Liberty Mutual. Below are average differences by company based on marital status.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Annual Increase for Single Driver |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $56 |
| GEICO | $13 |
| Farmers | $192 |
| Liberty Mutual | $693 |
| Nationwide | $50 |
| Progressive | $195 |
| State Farm | $0 |
| USAA | $88 |
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Married vs. single: your insurance policy
Aside from premiums, a car insurance policy can differ in a few ways. Let’s break them down. Bear in mind, there will always be outliers to the data we present. Fair or not, car insurance companies always look at historical data in order to assess clients and price policies.
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Credit score
We want to be crystal clear on the following point: marriage itself doesn’t impact your credit score. To reap the benefits, you and your spouse each need to have high credit scores. If one is significantly lower, you may want to consider keeping policies separate while working to improve that score.
Updating data...
| Credit Tier | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Poor | $3,147 |
| Below Fair | $2,461 |
| Fair | $2,071 |
| Good | $1,760 |
| Excellent | $1,506 |
Source: The Zebra
Homeowner status
Homeowners are considered more financially stable than renters and thus are seen as less-risky clients. Furthermore, because home policies are considerably more expensive than a renter’s insurance policy, bundling will earn an insurance company more revenue. Thus, their multi-policy discount is larger. As you can see with the data below, homeowners — bundling or not) — pay less for car insurance than do renters.
Updating data...
| Homeowner Status | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Renter | $147 |
| Condo Owner | $144 |
| Home Owner | $144 |
| Renter With Multi-Policy | $140 |
| Condo Owner With Multi-Policy | $133 |
| Home Owner With Multi-Policy | $130 |
Source: The Zebra
Discounts
Married couples tend to qualify for more discounts than single individuals. Multi-driver and multi-vehicle discounts can significantly reduce your premiums. Follow the links below for more information.
Regardless of your marital status, the best way to save on car insurance is to shop around. Only by comparing car insurance quotes with different companies can you see which company is the cheapest for you. Enter your ZIP code below to see how much you could be saving.
Statistically, married couples are viewed as less risky drivers than single people (no shade to our single friends!), which can result in a lower rate for you as a married couple.Â
That said, if either you or your spouse has a spotty record (think accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, or even just a ton of unpaid parking tickets), your rate could increase if you purchase a joint policy. If that’s the case, it’s probably smart for you and your significant other to maintain separate car insurance policies.
Protect your car with the right coverage at the best value.
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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.