As a marriage comes to an end, couples can expend a lot of time and energy dividing up assets, belongings — and sometimes even the cars they jointly own. You may need to revisit finance agreements at the dealership to take sole possession of the car — and the divorce will likely also affect your car insurance policy.
Divorce and car insurance can be difficult to navigate because the policy can be based on joint ownership along with other factors that we've listed below:
Insurance costs
In many cases, premiums are the responsibility of both spouses, also considered, named insureds, on your car insurance policy. The current, jointly-owned policy should be cancelled at the same time the new, individual policies go into effect. This will help to ensure continued coverage and that both parties are paying only for the premium on their own policy.
Other drivers on the policy
If you’ve got children or relatives named on your shared policy, you’ll need to assign them to one of the new policies. This may also need to be in the divorce decree, so check with your lawyer on all the particulars.
Vehicle title and registration
Each of you will need to purchase your own auto insurance and may need to file for a vehicle title change in ownership with the state. You’ll also need to update your address and other contact information with local authorities if you’ve moved to a new location.
So, exactly how does being divorced affect your car insurance? Here are some common questions we get from customers who are going through a divorce:
How Long Can a Spouse Stay on Insurance After Divorce?
Prior to your current auto policy’s cancellation, it’s important to have a new policy in place. Ideally, it should start on or before the final date of your shared auto policy. After a divorce, you’ll need to get your own car policy once you’re living elsewhere and the car’s title reflects both your sole ownership and that new address.
Can You Remove a Spouse From Car Insurance Before a Divorce?
Divorcing involves separating accounts, settling debts and assets — and in many cases — splitting the various in-force shared insurance policies. If both parties are listed as named insureds on the policy, there are a few caveats and rules that are key to keep in mind when removing a driver from car insurance:
-You’ll both need to consent to terminating the policy early
-Vehicle titles for shared cars will need to be revised to single ownership titles
-Both parties will need a new auto policy
-Any teen drivers and other insured drivers may need to be included on new policies
-Your new policy should start on the same day the shared one terminates
Divorce gets complicated, and with everything else going on, we're here to help you in anyway we can. Call us today to get details on how to best insure yourself after a divorce. We will help customize your policies that can bring you a lot of peace of mind — right when you need it most.
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