Car Insurance Policyholder: Explained Simply
A policyholder for car insurance is the owner of the policy. This is generally the person responsible for paying the bill and adding or removing coverages and drivers. Other drivers on the policy are called listed drivers. Learn the differences between these terms.
Read more Secured with SHA-256 Encryption



Table of Contents
Table of Contents


Insurance and Finance Writer
Alexandra Arcand is an outreach administrator and insurance expert located in North Central Ohio. She has a passion for writing, investing, and education. As an insurance content writer for over three years, Alexandra has first-hand experience in business finance, economics, and real estate. She leads an outreach writing team that specializes in travel, real estate, healthcare, law, finance, an...
Alexandra Arcand


Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Daniel Walker
Updated October 2024
A policyholder is the owner of the car insurance policy. Policyholders are the only ones who can make changes to the car insurance coverage and are responsible for payments. There can be more than one policyholder name on a car insurance policy, and you can add multiple drivers to it as listed drivers.

Read on to learn more about policyholders, their responsibilities, abilities, and more.
- Policyholders can make changes to the policy, unlike a listed driver
- There can be multiple policyholders on one car insurance policy
- Policyholders can be added and dropped as needed to a policy
What is a car insurance policyholder?
Policyholders own the insurance policy. If you’re unsure about your policyholder status, account information should clearly state the policyholders and listed drivers.
You can also double-check by calling your car insurance company and speaking to a representative. If you aren’t a policyholder, the original policyholder must add you as one.
Policyholders don’t have to be the insured on a car insurance plan. For example, a parent can purchase separate car insurance for their teenager and be on the account as the policyholder. Still, the car insurance coverage doesn’t need to cover the parent if they have their own car insurance. Below, we’ll go over what the policyholder can do and their responsibilities.
Policyholder Responsibilities and Abilities
If you are the policyholder, you have a few responsibilities. Policyholders are on the hook for monthly payments, even if there are listed drivers on the policy.
Of course, if the policyholder allows a coverage lapse, all drivers on the policy will be without car insurance. Even though policyholders are responsible for maintaining coverage payments, they also have full control over a policy. The policyholder can do all of the following:
- Add and drop coverages
- Add and drop drivers onto the policy
- Add and drop cars onto the policy
- Add another policyholder
- Cancel policies
Only policyholders can make the above changes to car insurance policies. Listed drivers can’t make changes. What is a listed driver? The next section covers the difference between a policyholder and a listed driver.
Free Insurance Comparison
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What’s the difference between policyholders vs. listed drivers?
A listed driver is someone the policyholder adds to the policy but doesn’t have any control over the policy. For example, parents who purchase a policy may add their children to the policy when they turn 16 years old. Their teenage drivers would be on the insurance policy as listed drivers, not policyholders.
There is usually a limit on how many listed drivers and vehicles can be added to one car insurance policy. Ask the car insurance company how many insured drivers you can have on one policy if you have a large family.
If you purchase car insurance for company employees, you’ll need to buy fleet or commercial insurance to cover multiple drivers. Shopping around and comparing the best car insurance companies can help you find a good rate.
Can you have more than one policyholder on a single policy?
Can there be more than one policyholder? Most insurance companies allow more than one policyholder on a car insurance policy. Allowing more than one policyholder lets partners or spouses purchase a policy and change it (read our “How do I change car insurance agents?” for more information).
If you’re the original policyholder, you can call your car insurance company to add another policyholder. You may even be able to do it on your online car insurance account. Anyone you add as a policyholder is authorized to change the car insurance policy, from cancellation to adding coverages.
Read more:
- Compare Best Car Insurance Companies That Don’t Require Spouses To Be on the Same Policy
- Credit Life Insurance for Cars: Explained Simply
Changing an Auto Insurance Policyholder
What if the policyholder needs to change? There are a few reasons a policyholder might need to be changed. One instance is when you wish to transfer ownership to someone else, such as a spouse or partner. Another time the policyholder might need to be changed is if the policyholder passes away.
In the first instance, it’s generally easy to change the policyholder. In the second instance, it might take a little more time whether you choose to close the policy or change it to your name.
If you’re related to the policyholder who passed away, it will generally be easier to transfer the policy to your name or close the account. The car insurance company will likely ask for proof of death, such as a death certificate. If you aren’t related to the policyholder, it may be harder to close the account or get yourself as the policyholder.
Read more: Can I transfer car insurance to another person?
Case Studies: Car Insurance Policyholder Explained
Case Study 1: The Smith Family
Mr. Smith is the policyholder of a car insurance policy that covers their family’s vehicles. As the policyholder, Mr. Smith is responsible for paying the premiums and managing the policy.
He has added his wife, Mrs. Smith, and their two teenage children as listed drivers on the policy. Mr. Smith has the authority to make changes to the coverage, such as adding or removing vehicles and adjusting deductibles.
Case Study 2: Business Fleet Insurance
Insurance Company owns a fleet of vehicles for their employees’ use. As the policyholder, the company is responsible for purchasing and maintaining a commercial car insurance policy that covers all the vehicles and drivers.
The policyholder, in this case, is not an individual but a business entity. The company’s management can make changes to the policy, add or remove vehicles, and ensure that all drivers are properly covered.
Case Study 3: Transferring Policyholder Rights
Ms. Johnson is the policyholder of a car insurance policy. Due to personal circumstances, she needs to transfer the policyholder rights to her sister, Ms. Anderson. Ms. Johnson contacts the insurance company and provides the necessary documentation to initiate the transfer process.
After verifying the information, the insurance company transfers the policyholder rights to Ms. Anderson, who becomes responsible for managing the policy.
The Final Word on Car Insurance Policyholders
Policyholders are responsible for the car insurance payments, and they also have full control over a policy. Unlike listed drivers, they can make changes to a policy, such as adding cars or coverages.
There can be more than one listed policyholder on a car insurance policy, allowing a couple to make changes. If need be, you can add or drop policyholders as necessary.
If you want to become a policyholder and buy a car insurance policy, shopping around for car insurance quotes will help you find the best rates in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions
Are you the policyholder for this insurance?
The policyholder is the person whose name is on the insurance policy and who is responsible for managing it, including making payments and changes to the coverage.
Can a car owner and policyholder be different?
Yes, the car owner and policyholder can be different. For instance, a parent might own the car, but the child could be the policyholder responsible for the insurance.
Can you change the policyholder on car insurance?
Yes, you can change the policyholder on car insurance. This typically involves contacting your insurance company and providing necessary documentation to update the policy.
Can I add someone to my insurance policy?
Yes, most insurance companies allow you to add additional drivers to your policy. This process usually involves providing the driver’s information and may result in a premium adjustment.
Can there be two insurance policies on one car?
Technically, there can be, but it’s not advisable due to potential complications in claim settlements. It’s better to have one comprehensive policy for a vehicle.
Can you be on the same car insurance if you don’t live together?
Yes, you can be on the same car insurance policy if you don’t live together, although it might depend on the insurer’s specific policies.
Can you be the main policyholder for two cars?
Yes, you can be the main policyholder for multiple vehicles under the same or separate insurance policies.
Can you be the policyholder but not the main driver?
Yes, the policyholder does not have to be the main driver. For example, a parent might be the policyholder for a policy that primarily covers a child’s vehicle.
Can you change the car insurance policyholder?
Yes, changing the car insurance policyholder involves contacting your insurance company and following their procedures for updating the policyholder information.
Does car insurance cover the car or the driver?
Car insurance generally covers the vehicle, but policies can include coverage for specific drivers as well.
Does car insurance need to be in the name of the registered owner?
Does it matter whose name is on the car insurance card?
Does my car insurance have to be in my name?
How is car insurance fronting detected?
How to add a policy with Progressive?
How to change a policyholder’s name on your car insurance?
How to change the name of Progressive Insurance?
What happens if a driver is not listed on an insurance policy?
Which insurance company is providing this coverage?
What is the difference between the insured and an additional driver?
What does the term ‘joint policyholder’ mean?
What is the ‘line holder’ in insurance?
Can you have car insurance if the car owner and policyholder have different names?
What is car insurance portability?
How do you change the policyholder on an Admiral insurance policy?
Does the car owner have to be the insurance policyholder?
Get a FREE Quote in Minutes
Insurance rates change constantly — we help you stay ahead by making it easy to compare top options and save.





