How Can I Add a Driver to My Car Insurance Policy?
It's easy to add more drivers to your policy using the Lemonade app.
Open the Lemonade app, go to the Car tab, and tap + Add Driver. Maya, our AI, walks you through the rest.
You should add anyone who lives with you, has a license or permit, and can regularly use your car. A regular driver who isn’t listed can leave a gap in your coverage right when you need it.
TL;DR
- Who to add: Anyone who lives with you, has a license or permit, and has regular access to your car.
- Who to skip: Occasional drivers, like a visiting cousin or a friend running one errand.
- How: Car tab, then Drivers, then + Add Driver.
- Limit: Lemonade Car covers up to seven drivers on one policy.
- Cost: Most car insurance companies don’t charge a fee to add a driver, but your price can go up or down based on their record.
- One more thing: Every added driver needs to download the Lemonade app.
How do I add a driver in the Lemonade app?
- Open the app and select your policy from the Car tab.
- Scroll down to the Drivers section.
- Tap + Add Driver.
- Follow Maya’s lead. She’ll ask for the details below.
Each driver you add needs to download the Lemonade app.
Insured somewhere else? Contact your insurance company or agent and tell them who you’d like to add.
What do I need to know about each driver?
Have these handy:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Relationship to you
- Marital status
- Driver’s license number
- License details, like the state it’s from and how many years they’ve been licensed
- Driving record and claims history
We ask for up-to-date, accurate info on every driver so we can set the fairest rate.
Who should I add to my car insurance policy?
If someone meets all three of these, add them to your policy:
- They live in your home.
- They have a driver’s license or learner’s permit.
- They have regular access to your car.
Technically, you can cover just about any licensed driver at any time. But these are the people you’ll want on your policy before they get behind the wheel.
Here’s how it plays out for the people in your life:
| Who they are | Add them? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | ✔ | They live with you and share your car. |
| Teenage child | ✔ | Even with just a learner’s permit, they’re a new driver practicing in your car. |
| Live-in significant other | ✔ | They live with you and might use your car regularly. |
| Adult child or other family member living at home | ✔ | They live with you and often use the car for work or errands. |
| Elderly parent | ✔ | Add them if they live with you or use your car often. |
| College-bound child | ✔ | They may drive a car registered to you or your spouse, or drive yours on breaks. Your car also needs to be garaged in the state where you hold the policy. |
| Roommate | ✖ | If they have their own car and insurance, you generally don’t need to add them. But, if they borrow your car frequently, add them. |
| Visitors | ✖ | They rarely drive your car. A cousin or college roommate visiting for a few days doesn’t need to be added. |
| Neighbor | ✖ | They have their own car and policy. |
| Best friend | ✖ | Skip it if they don’t live with you or use your car often. |
What’s the difference between a named insured and an additional driver?
Named insured: The person who owns the policy. The cars on the policy are registered in their name or their spouse’s. They set up the policy, pay the premiums, and make the changes, like adding drivers or adjusting coverages and deductibles.
Additional driver: Someone who’s covered to drive the cars on the policy but doesn’t own it and can’t change it.
Think of it as owner and guest. The named insured (and their spouse for most policies) manage the coverage and billing. Additional drivers are fully covered to drive the car, but don’t have the ability to manage the policy.
Common situations: when and why to add a driver
The table gives you the quick answer. These real-life moments show what to do, why it matters, and what changes on your policy.
Your teenager gets their learner’s permit
The situation: Your teen just passed the written test and wants to practice in the neighborhood tonight. You’re wondering if you’re covered with you in the passenger seat. Permit rules differ by state, so it’s a fair question.
What you should do: Add them before their first practice drive. They live with you, hold a permit, and can use your car. That checks all three boxes.
Why it matters: A new driver who isn’t listed can turn a small fender bender into a big coverage headache.
The outcome: Your teen becomes an additional driver, and you stay the named insured. They’re covered in your car, from supervised practice now to solo drives once they’re licensed. Your price may go up, since new drivers have less experience. Safe driving over each six-month term can help.
Your spouse or domestic partner moves in
The situation: Your partner is moving in this weekend, license in hand. Their car isn’t coming along, so yours is the one in the driveway. When does your policy need to know?
What you should do: Add them the day they move in, or sooner if they’ll drive your car before then. Once someone lives with you, has a license, and can use your car anytime, they’re a household member.
Why it matters: If they’re in an accident before you update the policy, the claim could be questioned or limited. How that plays out depends on your state and your policy.
The outcome: Your partner becomes an additional driver, covered in the cars on your policy. They can’t change the policy, because that’s still your job as the named insured. Your price may shift based on their record, and a spotless one could help bring it down.
Your adult child moves back home after college
The situation: The dorm lease is up, and your kid is back in their old room. They’re job hunting and borrowing your car for interviews and errands. Are they covered the way they were at school?
What you should do: Make sure they’re listed on your policy. A child away at school may only drive when they’re home on breaks. Once they live with you full time, they have regular access to your car. If they own a car, you can add it to your policy, or they can get their own.
Why it matters: An unlisted household member can leave a gap in your coverage. It can also lead to surprises if your insurer finds out someone’s been driving regularly.
The outcome: Your child is covered as an additional driver, and their car can join yours if you choose. If they’d rather have their own policy, they’ll be the named insured on it, and you’ll no longer share one.
Your elderly parent drives your car once in a while
The situation: Your mom lives with you now, or stays for long stretches. She drives your car to appointments and the grocery store. It’s not every day, but often enough that you’ve stopped counting.
What you should do: Add her if she lives with you or uses your car regularly. Be upfront about her driving record. If her license is suspended, she shouldn’t drive until it’s reinstated. If it’s limited, say to daytime driving only, tell your insurer so your policy reflects it.
Why it matters: A driver’s history is a big factor in your price. A clean record may keep it steady, while recent tickets or accidents can push it up. A suspended license usually can’t be covered at all.
The outcome: Your mom is listed as an additional driver and covered in your car. Your price reflects her actual record, not a guess. If she stops driving later, you can remove her.
Someone’s borrowing your car while theirs is in the shop
The situation: Your partner’s car is in the shop, the repair estimate keeps growing, and “a few days” is turning into a few weeks. Now you’re wondering when a favor becomes regular use.
What you should do: Check the three boxes. If the borrower lives with you, has a license, and is driving your car regularly, add them. If they live elsewhere and need the car briefly, they’re an occasional driver. Your policy generally follows your car, which is called permissive use car insurance.
Why it matters: Permissive use is built for occasional borrowing, not long-term loans. If the loan stretches on, your insurer may treat the borrower as a regular driver.
The outcome: Once you add them, they’re covered like any other additional driver. If they stay off your policy, a claim may be limited, and it would run through your coverage. That could affect your rates.
Your roommate keeps borrowing your car
The situation: Your roommate has their own car and insurance. Last month theirs was in the garage, and this month they’re asking for your keys again. The table says to add them if they borrow “frequently,” so what does that mean?
What you should do: Think occasional driver vs. regular driver. A one-time airport run is occasional. Borrowing your car every week is regular. If you’re not sure, treat it as regular and add them. There’s no official number of days, so ask your insurer if you want a firm answer.
Why it matters: Mention your roommates when you get a quote. Insurers ask about every licensed person in the home. If a roommate has their own policy and never drives your car, they usually don’t need to be added as a driver.
The outcome: Your roommate is covered in your car as an additional driver, and their own policy stays in place for their own car. If they stop borrowing yours, you can take them off.
How much does it cost to add a driver?
Most car insurance companies don’t charge a fee to add a driver. Each driver does affect your price, though.
On a Lemonade Car policy, a new driver could help or hurt your rate, depending on things like their driving and claims history. A spouse with a spotless record might lower your price. A young, inexperienced driver might raise it.
You’ve got ways to bring costs down. You can drive with the Lemonade app, or bundle your Lemonade Car policy with Lemonade renters, homeowners, pet, or term life insurance. If you’re covering more than one car, you may also be eligible for a multi-car discount.
At Lemonade Car, how you actually drive matters. We reward low-mileage drivers and consistently safe drivers with serious savings. Everyone on your policy gets a chance, every six-month term, to show they’re the safest driver of the bunch.
Before we go…
Adding a driver, adding a car, and updating your policy all happen right in the Lemonade app, from your phone.
Ready to build your free quote? Click below to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to add my spouse to my car insurance policy?
In most cases, yes. A spouse lives in your home, usually has a license, and often shares your car, so they meet the household driver requirement. Adding them means they’re covered as an additional driver whenever they drive. If your spouse doesn’t drive at all, check with your insurer about how to handle it.
What happens if someone who isn't on my policy gets into an accident driving my car?
It depends on who they are and how often they drive. An occasional borrower is often covered through permissive use, which means your policy generally follows your car. A household member or regular driver who isn’t listed can lead to a denied or limited claim. Either way, the accident may affect your rates.
Can I add a driver temporarily to my car insurance?
Often, yes. You can add a driver to your car insurance policy and remove them later, like when a relative stays for a few months. This isn’t the same as a separate temporary driver insurance policy. If someone’s borrowing your car once or twice, permissive use may already cover them.
Does adding a teenage driver always increase my premium?
Usually, but not always. New drivers have less experience, so insurers see them as higher risk, and the car insurance premium impact is often noticeable. How much depends on your state, your car, and your teen’s record. Safe driving can help over time.
Can I exclude a driver who lives in my household from my policy?
It depends on where you live. Some states let you exclude a driver, and others restrict or ban it. If it’s allowed, a named driver exclusion means your policy won’t cover that person at all, so if they’re in an accident while driving your car, it wouldn’t be covered. Check your state’s rules before you decide.
What is permissive use in car insurance, and when does it apply?
Permissive use means that when you give someone permission to drive your car, your policy may cover them. It’s meant for occasional drivers, like a friend running an errand or a cousin in town for the weekend. It isn’t meant for people who live with you or drive your car regularly. Those folks belong on your policy. Rules vary by state.
How quickly does a newly added driver become covered?
Coverage generally starts on the effective date of the change. Add the driver before they get behind the wheel, because a policy update doesn’t cover anything that happened earlier. In the Lemonade app, check the date shown to see exactly when the change begins.
Does a driver with a bad driving record affect my car insurance rates?
It can. Tickets, accidents, and claims history are part of how insurers set prices. A rough record may raise your price, while a spotless one might help. It’s tempting to leave them off, but if they live with you and drive your car, they should be listed. Accurate details keep rates fair.
Can I add an international driver or someone with a foreign license?
It depends on the insurer and your state. Some companies accept a foreign license, and others ask for a U.S. license or extra documents. If someone with a foreign license lives with you or drives your car regularly, tell your insurer so you know what’s needed. Visitors who only drive now and then are usually covered through permissive use.
What's the difference between adding a driver and adding a named insured?
A named insured owns the policy, pays the premium, and is the only person who can make changes. An additional driver is covered to drive the cars on the policy but doesn’t own or control it. It’s the difference between owner and guest. Most people you add will be additional drivers.
Do all licensed drivers in my household have to be on my car insurance?
In general, yes. Insurers usually expect every licensed driver who lives with you to be listed, since they have easy access to your car. That’s the household driver requirement. Some insurers let you exclude a driver who won’t use your car, but that comes with limits. Ask your insurer how it works for your household.
Can I add a driver who owns their own car to my policy?
Yes. If they live with you and drive your car, add them as an additional driver. Their own car will need coverage too. They can keep a separate policy for it, or you can add the car to yours. Either way, every car on your policy needs to be garaged in the state where you hold it.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of the policies issued, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states. Please note that statements about coverages, policy management, claims processes, Giveback, and customer support apply to policies underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company or Metromile Insurance Company, a Lemonade company, sold by Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC. The statements do not apply to policies underwritten by other carriers.