Adding spouse to insurance could save drivers £315 on average

• Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) couples have their partners on their insurance
• Adding another driver including parents, partners, and family members to insurance could save drivers an average of £117
• Convenience, sharing a vehicle, and lowering insurance costs are the top reasons for couples adding partners to insurance
• 68% of men claim they drive the most, compared to just 16% of women
• Driving debates among couples are common as nearly 3 in 10 (29%) think they are a better driver than their partner - with over 1 in 10 (11%) men thinking they’re the pro behind the wheel
• Car insurance experts at Confused.com share insights on cutting costs on premiums

Drivers who add their spouse or partner to their car insurance premiums could save an average of £315. This is based on ‘insured and spouse’ compared to a ‘single insured driver’ on one policy.

That’s according to new research from the experts at Confused.com car insurance which also found that nearly 3 in 4 (71%) coupled up drivers admit to adding their partner to their car insurance as a named driver to cut costs.

And data shows that the savings could be very significant. That’s as data from the Confused.com price index¹ found that adding an additional driver, be that a partner or other family member, to insurance policies could also save drivers an average of £117.

Why does it cost less to add additional drivers? Car insurance prices are generally based on the risk of making a claim. Sharing the driving with a spouse, partner, or family member spreads that risk, which can lower the cost. If the extra driver has claims, convictions, or less experience, the savings might be smaller - or there might not be any.

According to research by Confused.com, nearly 9 in 10 (89%) of couples have added their partner to their car insurance. This shows that sharing driving responsibilities is becoming more popular for those in a relationship.

Nearly half (47%) of drivers do this for convenience as the average couple has 2 cars between them. Meanwhile, just over 4 in 10 (41%) do so because they want to share a vehicle with their partner.

With sharing a car comes with the decisions of who takes the wheel. The research found that more than 2 in 3 (68%) men claim they drive the most. That’s compared to just 16% of women who do so.

Despite sharing driving responsibilities, the age old debate of who’s the better behind the wheel persists in relationships. Nearly 3 in 10 (29%) think they are a better driver than their partner. Of this, over 1 in 10 (11%) men think that they are a pro behind the wheel, believing they are a better driver than their partner.

And with exactly half (50%) of couples driving in the same car a few times a week, arguments over driving habits can be a reality for many.

With just 18% driving an equal amount, the research found that over 6 in 10 (68%) of men prefer to drive themselves. That’s compared to 16% of women. When it comes to their partner driving, women are 62% more likely to hand over the keys to their partner. A stark contrast to just 9% of men who do so.

Many couples share a home, finances, friends, and even a car. While sharing these things is common, it often leads to disagreements. In fact, 15% of people are bothered by their partner's driving habits. Driving speed is a major cause of controversy, with 26% of women and 17% of men feeling that their partner drives either too fast or too slow. Unfortunately, the arguments behind the wheel don’t stop there.

There are plenty of reasons why couples could disagree when behind the wheel - the two most popular reasons being when one back seat drives (24%), and for speeding or driving too slowly (24%). But these aren’t all, over 2 in 10 (22%) argue over directions and around 1 in 9 (11%) disagree on who’s the better driver. With shared responsibilities comes more room for couples clashing.

Despite disagreements, sharing car responsibilities can actually be handy for couples. That’s as sharing an insurance policy can significantly reduce costs.

Of those surveyed, couples found that deciding who drives also has its benefits. Nearly 3 in 10 (28%) decide who’s driving based on who enjoys driving more and who knows the route best (28%). And with 22% of couples arguing over directions, this can save some disagreements.

This is followed by 22% making the decision based on distance, as couples are prepared to compromise based on who prefers longer drives. While a further 18% decide by who owns the car and 17% make the decision judging by who’s more awake.

There are also positives to driving partners' cars. Nearly half (49%) do because their partner's car is a better size. While nearly a third (30%) do so because their partner car works better for the journey being travelled. Whether couples are driving long or short distances, it’s handy to have the option of a different car and driver. As well as saving hundreds of pounds in costs.

Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance comments:

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Notes to editors