Car Insurance Guide

How to add a driver to your car insurance

Written by Daniel Pretorius Insurance Content Editor Reviewed by Nomsa Dlamini RE5 qualified · 12 years in short-term insurance Updated 28 July 2026 Our editorial standards →

How do you add another driver to your car insurance, and does it change the premium?

You add a driver by contacting your insurer or broker and giving that person's details - full name, ID number, driver's licence and driving history. The insurer then re-rates the policy. Adding a higher-risk driver, such as a young or newly licensed one, usually raises the premium, while a low-risk driver may barely change it. The person who drives the car most must always be listed as the regular driver.

Key takeaways

  • Adding a driver is a quick call, email or app change to your existing policy.
  • You'll need the driver's ID, licence details and claims history.
  • A higher-risk added driver typically increases the premium; a low-risk one may not.
  • The regular (main) driver must be whoever actually drives the car most.
  • Removing a driver later is just as simple and can lower the premium again.

Named driver vs regular driver

It helps to know the difference. The regular driver (also called the main driver) is the person who drives the car most of the time - and the insurer prices the policy mainly around that person's risk. A named or additional driver is someone else you list who is also allowed to drive the car and be covered. The key rule is honesty about who the regular driver really is: listing an older, lower-risk person as the main driver when a younger person actually drives the car most is a misrepresentation that can sink a claim.

How to add a driver

Adding a driver is a simple change to your existing policy. Contact your insurer or broker by phone, email or through the app and provide:

The insurer uses this to re-rate the policy and confirm the new premium. Ask for written confirmation once the driver is added so you have a record.

How adding a driver affects your premium

Whether the premium moves depends on the added driver's risk profile. Younger and less-experienced drivers push premiums up because they're statistically more likely to claim - see car insurance for young drivers. An older driver with a long, clean record and plenty of experience may add little or nothing. Some insurers also consider whether the added driver has their own claims history. The only way to know the exact effect is to ask your insurer to re-quote with the driver added.

Declaring the regular driver correctly

Getting the regular driver right is not just admin - it protects your claim. If the person who actually drives the car most isn't the one declared, the insurer can treat the policy as misrepresented and reject a claim, even one unrelated to that driver. So if your teenager becomes the main driver of a car, or a spouse takes over the daily commute, update the policy. Accurate disclosure is the foundation of a valid policy; our guide on updating your details explains why.

Removing a driver

Removing a driver is as straightforward as adding one - contact your insurer and ask for the person to be taken off the policy. If you're removing a higher-risk driver, your premium may drop. Do keep the policy accurate, though: if that person still drives the car regularly, removing them to save money would be a false declaration. Only remove drivers who genuinely no longer use the vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a driver to my car insurance?
Contact your insurer or broker and provide the driver's full name, ID number, licence details, how long they've been licensed, and their claims history. The insurer re-rates the policy and confirms any change to your premium. Ask for written confirmation once it's done.
Does adding a driver increase my premium?
It can. A young or less-experienced driver usually raises the premium because they're higher risk, while an older driver with a clean, long record may add little or nothing. The only way to know the exact impact is to have your insurer re-quote with the driver added.
Who should be listed as the regular driver?
The person who drives the car most of the time. Listing anyone else as the main driver to lower the premium is a misrepresentation that can cause a claim to be rejected, so always declare the true regular driver.
Can someone drive my car if they're not named on my policy?
It depends on the policy. Some cover occasional drivers who aren't named, sometimes with a higher excess, while others only cover listed drivers. Check your policy wording, and see our guide on whether car insurance covers other drivers.
How do I remove a driver from my policy?
Contact your insurer and ask for the driver to be removed. If they were a higher-risk driver, your premium may fall. Only remove drivers who genuinely no longer use the car, since keeping the policy accurate is essential for valid cover.

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