With the New Year came new blessings, and as newly teens become licensed and one’s household grows, so does their auto insurance policy. While this is very common, it’s important for people with an increasing number of licensed drivers under one roof to realize they have options when it comes to insuring each driver. Should any of their family members threaten their driving record and/or premium; policyholders have the option to remove and exclude them from their insurance plans, making auto coverage their full responsibility.

Excluded driver defined

If you don’t want a driver in your household to be listed on your policy (for example, a roommate who has her own insurance), you can ask your insurance company to specifically exclude that person from your policy. By doing so, you’re certifying that this person will not drive your car.

If the excluded driver doesn’t have their own insurance (and, in some cases, even if they do), and you let them drive your car, you could be liable for all damages and injuries if they have an accident.

Does Everyone in Your Home Need to Be Insured?

The short answer is that all drivers in your household should be listed on your policy but being listed does not mean being covered.

In insurance terms, a driver can be anyone who has the knowledge and ability to drive, even if they don’t have an active license. This can include someone whose license is expired, suspended, or revoked, as well as someone who’s never had a U.S. license, like a recent immigrant.

When drivers live in the same household, everyone theoretically has access to your vehicles. Even someone who “never drives your car” might get behind the wheel in an emergency — and just imagine what kind of risk someone who never drives could pose!

Additionally, some people may be considered household members even if they don’t live with you full time (children in shared custody, for example). Likewise, there are situations where people who don’t live with you at all may be required to be on your policy, like if Grandpa cosigned your car loan or Mom is listed on your registration.

REQUESTING AN EXCLUSION  

If you’re a policyholder interested in excluding one or more individuals from your policy, then you need to contact us. You can submit your request via fax; your request will have to be in hand writing and include your signature, date and policy number in most cases and depending on the company you are with you will have to sign what is known as an EXCLUSION FORM.  It’s also important to note that requesting exclusion may cause your rates to increase a bit, but some view this cost as a much more affordable expense than the potential damages they might be held accountable for.

If you feel uneasy about letting a friend, family member, or co-worker drive your car, then don’t allow them to drive.

Be sure to check out the FREE QUOTE tool and get a quote now!