Named driver exclusions

What exclusion actually means

If an excluded person drives your car and has an accident, there is generally no coverage at all — not reduced coverage, none. No liability, no collision, no medical payments.

The damage to your vehicle is yours. The damage to other people and their property is yours too, and can be pursued against you as the owner.

There is usually no emergency exception. "They only drove it once, to the hospital" does not create coverage.

When it's the right call

• A household member with a serious record who genuinely will not drive your vehicles
• An adult child at home who has their own car and their own policy
• A spouse who doesn't drive at all
• A situation where including them would make the policy unaffordable, and the alternative is being uninsured

When it isn't

Any situation where the person might realistically drive the car — an emergency, a favour, a moment of convenience. The saving does not survive one such trip.

If there's genuine doubt, price the policy with them included and compare properly before excluding.

The rules vary by state

Named driver exclusions are not permitted in every state, and where allowed the requirements differ — some require a signed form, some restrict who may be excluded, and treatment of spouses varies.

Your insurer will tell you what applies where you are. Don't assume a practice you've seen elsewhere applies to your state.

If circumstances change

An exclusion isn't permanent. If the person's record improves or the situation changes, ask about removing it — and do that before they drive, not after.