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Spouse with Poor Driving Record

Q: I'm marrying someone who has a poor driving record. Will my insurance premium go up?

Answer:

If your fiancé has a poor driving record, you can expect it to affect your insurance premium after you get married. Your automobile insurance policy covers you, your spouse, any other named insured under the policy, and any licensed driver in your household. If any of those people have a bad driving record, it will affect your rates.

Of course, insurers consider marital status when calculating risk, so the very act of tying the knot may improve your future spouse's risk profile. But if his or her driving record is really bad, you may want to consider additional strategies to stave off a hike in your premium.

If you arrange to purchase all of your insurance policies (including your homeowners policy) from one company, you may benefit from multiple car and/or multiple policy discounts. Additionally, in some states, your future spouse can take driver safety courses to improve his or her driving record. Further, with a combined income, you might be in a position to raise your deductibles to keep your premium down.

Your fiancé may also qualify for a low mileage discount by using public transportation for his or her commute to work. If all else fails, you may be able to use a "named-driver exclusion" clause after you're married to exclude your spouse from your insurance policy. But be careful: that means your spouse is not covered by your insurance company to drive your car. Your spouse could insure his or her car separately, and if it is an older model, waive collision and/or comprehensive coverage. Whether any of these strategies will work for you depends on your circumstances. Your insurance agent can discuss all of your policy options with you and make recommendations.

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