An excluded driver is a person in your household who has been explicitly excluded from coverage under your car insurance policy. Their name will show as “excluded” on your policy, and they won’t be insured to drive any vehicles on your policy. A rated driver, on the other hand, is a member of your household who is of driving age and covered by the policy when using the insured car(s). Not all states allow policyholders to exclude household members from coverage.
When should I exclude a driver from my car insurance?
If a household member will no longer be driving your vehicle, you can exclude them from your policy in most states. There are times you might not want a licensed family member covered on your policy due to the impact their status could have on your premium. For example, if a driver has multiple accidents or violations on their motor vehicle report that negatively impact the cost of your car insurance, excluding them from your policy could lower your rate. However, some states prohibit excluding anyone in your household who is of driving age.
A household member can’t be excluded if they plan to drive your car, even occasionally, because any accident an excluded driver is involved in won’t be covered by your insurer. If you give someone outside your household permission to drive your car (also referred to as “permissive use”) and they aren’t rated on your policy, any accident they’re involved in may be covered by your insurer, depending on your state and insurer.
College-age children should remain as rated drivers on your auto policy if they drive your vehicle for any reason. If your college student keeps a vehicle at their campus address, they may need a separate policy depending on your state and provider. Learn more about car insurance for college students.
When should I remove a driver from my auto policy?
If a family member will no longer drive any of the vehicles on your policy and they’re permanently moving out of your home, you can remove them from your policy. Note that “removing a driver” and “excluding a driver” are two different things. After you remove a driver, their name will be taken off your policy.
What happens if I exclude or remove a driver from my insurance policy and they get in an accident with my vehicle?
If a driver was removed from your policy because they moved out of your home, but uses your vehicle with your permission and causes an accident, then your auto insurance company may cover any damages or injuries, depending on the state and insurer.
If a driver that was excluded from your policy uses your vehicle and causes an accident, your auto insurance company isn’t under obligation to cover any damages or injuries.
How do I exclude a driver from my car insurance policy?
To exclude a driver from your insurance policy, contact your auto insurance company and fill out and sign a driver exclusion form. However, be aware that the rules for excluding drivers vary by insurer, and not all states allow for excluded drivers.
Some states specifically don’t allow named driver exclusions at all. Other states may allow excluded drivers but require them to have their own auto insurance before they can be excluded from your policy. And other states may place restrictions on which drivers or which coverages can be excluded. Be sure to check with your insurer.
This article is brought to you by our friends at Progressive Insurance. Miller’s would like to extend its gratitude to Progressive Insurance for being a wonderful business ally. To learn more about excluding drivers from Progressive Insurance, please visit https://www.progressive.com/answers/excluded-driver/. Contact us today to get a Progressive Insurance quote.
