Newlywed drivers; How to minimize the insurance pain
Marriage does have it's priveleges. Auto insurance companies view married couples as safer drivers (Just be sure to notify your agent or carrier). The new multi-car discount from the insurer is a no brainer, assuming you each have your own car.
Find out if your carrier recognizes domestic partnerships, and if they do, you won't have to wait until the marriage. You most likely will have to register your union to qualify for the domestic partner discount. Make sure both partners are listed on the policy so your insurance company won't try to deny your claim.
Before tying the noose, I mean knot, Find out about each others driving records. If you don't know about each others driving records, you don't know each other well enough to get married. If your spouse has multiple DUIs, should you have marrying them anyway?
Again if you can't come to a compromise on auto insurance, should you be making a lifelong commitment? Also your multi vehicle (assuming you each have a car) and safer driver rating could be negated if you move to the bad side of town, or one half of your couple is a bad driver.
When you are driving together somewhere, this is a perfect time to talk about car insurance, instead of while they are cooking dinner or tele commuting. Don't converse about your insurance when your partner is tired, hungry, busy or cranky. You want to make progress, not argue. Will there be a conflict if one spouse wants higher limits, while the other wants the cheapest premium? Life is a negotiation.
Again if you can't come to a compromise on auto insurance, should you be making a life long commitment? Also your multi vehicle (assuming you each have a car) and safer driver rating could be negated if you move to the bad side of town, or one half of your couple is a bad driver. Consider not getting auto insurance together if:
One of you has multiple tickets or accidents
A partner has been convicted of multiple DUIs
One of you has a high risk or expensive to insure car
One spouse wants minimal coverage and lower rates, with no middle ground
Assuming you get married, are both good drivers, drive middle class cars, and aren't relocating to the hood, don't wait to consolidate your policies. Married couples should save about 10 percent. As a married couple, you may also want to increase your coverage limits since your income and assets should increase as a team. If your auto insurance policy has a death benefit feature, name each other as the beneficiary on the life insurance policy.
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