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Car insurance can cost more if you’re the only driver on your policy, so if your spouse or partner is currently a named driver on your policy, you may be charged a higher premium if you get divorced or they die.
But even if you’re the only driver named on your policy already, some insurance companies still might charge you higher premiums after divorce or if you’re widowed.
Here’s what you need to know…
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If you’re looking for cover, Saga has been providing car insurance for people over 50 for more than 30 years. All three of its comprehensive cover levels were named Which? Best Buys in January 2026, with Saga Plus and Saga Select at the top of the table. With 99% of claims paid last year, it’s no wonder more than one million drivers trust Saga.
Will my car insurance premiums be higher if I’m single?
This can be a thorny issue, as not all insurers treat single drivers in the same way. However, according to the trade body the Association of British Insurers (ABI), which represents most insurance companies:
- If you’ve added your spouse or partner to your car insurance, most insurers will charge you a higher premium once their name is removed. Adding a second driver to your car insurance policy can cut your premiums, as long as they are a good driver. So, you can understand why an insurer might charge you more if you take the second driver’s name off the policy.
- If you were the sole driver on your policy, and your marital status changes to divorced, separated or you become widowed, some car insurers will increase your premiums. Why? Insurers will do this if their claims history shows that those who are single, separated, divorced or widowed make more claims or more expensive claims than someone who’s married or in a civil partnership.
The problem is that we only have the insurers’ word for it that they do see higher claims from single, divorced or widowed people. And we only have their word for it that the amount they raise the premiums by is justified by the increased claims.
Interestingly, the ABI says that not all insurers will charge single drivers more for car insurance. So if your insurer wants to increase your premiums, don’t assume all will.
Why do single people pay more for car insurance?
While it may seem to be based on antiquated notions of relationship statuses, data shows that single people pay more for car insurance as they are statistically more likely to have an accident and make a claim than married couples or civil partners. In fact, some figures suggest that single drivers are twice as likely to have an accident than motorists who are married.
The good news is if you are in a relationship and are living with your partner, but aren’t married, some insurers will treat you the same as a married couple and offer you lower premiums. This may not be the norm across all insurers, so it’s good to check whether your provider will do this.
Of course there are always exceptions to the rule and your relationship status is only one of many factors your insurer will look at when it calculates how much you should pay. It’s likely that if you are a single, safe driver with no claims history, your premiums will be lower than a married person who has made several claims.
Car insurance you can count on from Saga
Whether you’re buying a new car or looking to get new car insurance, Saga offers three Comprehensive cover levels, which are all Defaqto 5 Star rated. Saga Plus comes with a 2-year fixed price, if nothing changes. 99% of claims paid in 2025. Trusted by over 1 million drivers.
Is it better to say that you’re single or divorced when applying for car insurance?
As with any insurance, it’s important to be completely honest when you apply otherwise you could invalidate your policy and find yourself unable to claim. Despite this, detailing whether you are divorced or single can be a difficult question to answer. You could be both single and divorced, so the definition isn’t clear-cut.
If your divorce happened recently or it feels recent, it’s probably worth putting divorced. If you are back in the dating pool and your divorce feels like a distant memory, then stating that you are single could be a better option. Ultimately, how you answer is up to you, and you shouldn’t let the potential cost sway you from answering honestly.
Car insurance you can count on from Saga
Whether you’re buying a new car or looking to get new car insurance, Saga offers three Comprehensive cover levels, which are all Defaqto 5 Star rated. Saga Plus comes with a 2-year fixed price, if nothing changes. 99% of claims paid in 2025. Trusted by over 1 million drivers.
What to do if your insurer charges you more
If your insurer wants to increase your premium, there are steps you can take to keep the cost of cover down:
- Ask them to justify any price rise. It won’t guarantee a lower premium, but it may make them have a rethink.
- Consider adding someone else as a named driver. If you have grown up children, it may be worth adding one of them as a named driver. But this will only work if they haven’t made a claim or haven’t made one for a while, and don’t have a load of points on their licence.
- Shop around. Not all insurers increase their premiums if you’re single or separated, so if your car insurance is up for renewal or you need a new policy, it’s worth doing plenty of research so you can be certain you’ve found the best possible deal to suit your needs. Comparison websites such as MoneySuperMarket*, Uswitch and Compare the Market enable you to compare car insurance quotes, whether you’re looking for third party, third party fire and theft, or comprehensive cover.
- Consider using black box (telematics) insurance. This is where the insurer fits a black box recorder to your car. It means that your insurance premium is based on how you actually drive, not how the insurer thinks you drive.
Read more about the different ways you can reduce costs in our article 10 practical tips to reduce your car insurance premiums.
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If you’re looking for cover, Saga has been providing car insurance for people over 50 for more than 30 years. All three of its comprehensive cover levels were named Which? Best Buys in January 2026, with Saga Plus and Saga Select at the top of the table. With 99% of claims paid last year, it’s no wonder more than one million drivers trust Saga.
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Saga Car Insurance is a Which? Best Buy
Saga Plus and Saga Select cover levels top the Which? Best Buy car insurance comparison table. Saga Standard is up there too, so you know whichever you choose, you’re making a great choice.
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