Can You Have Two Auto Insurance Policies on One Car?

Most states require all drivers to carry insurance on the vehicles they are driving. The easiest way to insure another driver in your household is to add him to your current policy; however, if you want to maintain separate policies it is legal to do so. If a driver has a DUI conviction, she may have to get separate insurance on any vehicle she drives.

If you live or work in two states, you may have to buy a separate policy in each state, depending on the state's minimum insurance coverage laws. For example, some states may require you to have a higher amount of property damage or bodily injury coverage than others. If you plan to spend a significant amount of time in more than one state, contact your insurance agent to determine whether you need to purchase two separate policies.

If a teenage driver or other member of your household does not own a vehicle, he may be able to get non-owners' insurance. Non-owners' insurance is a secondary type of insurance on a vehicle, in which a driver who does not own the vehicle is covered by a separate policy if the primary policy on the vehicle does not cover him. For example, if your teen drives his best friend's car and gets into an accident, her non-owner insurance covers her if the owner's insurance does not cover drivers who do not live in the household. You cannot purchase non-owners' insurance on vehicles owned by other members of the driver's household. For example, you cannot purchase non-owners' insurance on your vehicle to cover your son while he is driving.

In some states, drivers who have been convicted of a DUI must carry high-risk insurance for several years after their conviction. Drivers who do not comply with this requirement risk losing their license until they comply. If someone in your household has a DUI conviction, he may be excluded from your insurance policy due to the conviction. The DUI offender's insurance covers him if he drives your vehicle, while your insurance does not.

Purchasing more than one policy on the same vehicle can be more expensive than adding a driver to your existing policy. Many insurance companies require you to add all licensed drivers in the household onto your policy, so you may be insuring your spouse or child twice if he maintains a separate policy. If you wish to maintain separate policies, you should use the same insurance company so that you can get a discount for having multiple policies with the same company.