With Geico, you can expect your car insurance premiums to change when you add a driver to your policy, though the change depends on their:
- Age.
- Relationship to you.
- Driving history.
- Past claims.
- Driving record.
Thankfully, Geico offers numerous discounts to help offset the cost of adding another driver.
Does it cost more to add a driver to Geico auto insurance?
While your premiums can increase when adding a driver, they may be reduced if the new driver has a better driving or credit history than yours, for instance. There are several factors that insurance companies consider.
Age of added driver
According to a recent report by Statista, teen drivers paid some of the highest car insurance rates in the U.S. in 2023. Although premiums do decrease around age 25, the age of the driver that you’re adding to your auto insurance policy can change your rate.
Driving record
Adding a high-risk driver with a record of accidents, claims, speeding violations and other tickets can also impact your premium. Conversely, adding a driver with a clean history might see less impact to your insurance cost.
Driver relationship
Most insurance companies will require anyone living in your household and related to you to be added to your policy so long as they have a valid driver’s license. You can exclude family members by proving they have other insurance, though it typically doesn’t make financial sense to. If the other driver lives with you, uses your car regularly, or is your teenager, adding them to your policy is usually cheapest.
Before you add a driver to your Geico insurance, estimate your costs
Before you bring a new driver onto your policy, use Geico’s online policy management portal or the Jerry app to see just how much a new driver will affect your rate, or compare other companies’ rates for you and the new driver.
Learn more: The best ways to shop for car insurance
When to add a driver to your Geico car insurance policy
Geico advises that drivers fulfilling at least one of these conditions should be added to your policy:
- Live your household.
- Regularly drive your vehicle.
Geico defines “regularly” as using your vehicle more than once per month on a recurring basis.
Typical people you have to add to your policy
- Your spouse: They are usually required to be on the same policy as you.
- Your significant other/partner/fiancé: Especially if they live with you and use your vehicle regularly.
- Teenage drivers and college students: A young driver with a learner’s permit should be on your policy. Keep in mind that teen drivers can raise your insurance rates more compared to experienced drivers.
- Roommates: If they regularly use your vehicle and live with you full-time, they should be additional drivers on your policy.
- Friends or family members: If they regularly drive your vehicle, be sure to add them.
Can I add someone to my insurance if they don’t live with me?
Geico requires that anyone who regularly operates your vehicle to be added to your policy. If they drive more than once per month on a recurring basis, even if they don’t live with you, they should be added to your policy unless they have other coverage.
Drivers that occasionally borrow your car have coverage through Geico’s permissive use clause, which covers a vehicle when it’s driven by someone who isn’t listed on your policy.
Consider asking your Geico insurance agent about claims involving non-listed drivers and non-owner car insurance options if you lend out your car but can’t add the drivers to your policy.
Learn more: Can you drive someone else’s car?
Xuyun Zeng is a writer and editor with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.
