Primary vs. secondary driver: How does it influence your rate?

This article has been updated from a previous version. 

Car insurance rates depend on more than just your driving record, they also hinge on who drives your car most.

The primary driver is the person who uses the vehicle most frequently, while the secondary driver uses it occasionally. Since the person behind the wheel more often poses a greater risk, insurance companies base your premium largely on that driver. Driving history, licensing duration, and usage percentage all factor into the final rate.

When the secondary driver starts using the car more than the primary, your insurance rate may shift, especially if that driver is newly licensed or considered high-risk.

So, how do driver roles actually influence what you pay for car insurance, and what should you keep in mind when listing them on your policy?

Determine your primary driver

Once you understand that insurance rates depend on who drives the car most, the next step is figuring out how insurers classify each driver. According to Anne Marie Thomas, director of consumer and industry relations at the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), the primary driver is simply the person who uses the vehicle most often.

“A primary driver on a policy is the driver who drives the car primarily,” Thomas explains. “A secondary or occasional driver uses your vehicle, but less than the person who drives it primarily.”

While the primary driver is often the car’s owner, that’s not always the case. What matters most is usage. A secondary driver could be a spouse, a teenage or adult child, a roommate, or a caregiver—anyone who drives the car regularly but less than the primary driver.

Insurers typically ask for a percentage breakdown of usage. For example, if you drive to work every day and your partner only uses the car on weekends, you might be driving 80% of the time. That makes you the primary driver, regardless of who owns the car.

Read more: Do you need to add your children to your auto insurance?

What if we both use the car an equal amount of the time?

When two people share a car and drive it 50% of the time each, insurers recommend noting that split in your auto insurance quote. In these cases, other factors—like driving history and how long each person has been licensed—become more important.

“The primary driver’s record and time as a licensed driver will factor more heavily into the insurance rate,” says Thomas.

If both drivers use the car equally, Thomas suggests listing the person with the cleaner driving record or longer driving history as the primary driver. This could help lower your rate slightly.

It’s also worth comparing auto insurance quotes for the secondary driver to make sure you're getting the best possible deal.

Learn more: 15 ways to get cheaper car insurance

What happens if the secondary driver becomes the primary driver?

When the secondary driver starts using the car more and becomes the primary driver, your insurance rate could change. It all depends on the secondary driver’s driving record and the amount of time they will be driving.

For example, if a woman gives her old car to her 18-year-old son, he becomes the primary driver even though she still owns the vehicle. As the secondary driver now, her role shifts, and the insurance premium will likely increase, Thomas notes. That’s because newly licensed drivers, like her son, are typically more expensive to insure.

Small lies on your insurance policy can cost you big time

It might be tempting to list a secondary driver as the primary driver to get a lower rate especially if they have a cleaner driving record or longer driving history. But misrepresenting driver roles is considered insurance fraud, and it can have serious consequences if you're involved in an accident.

When an insurance company investigates a claim, they may uncover discrepancies in your policy. If they find that the actual primary driver wasn’t properly listed, you could lose coverage and be held financially responsible for any damages.

“That’s an expensive proposition” Thomas says. “If the person with the less-than-great driving record is the one that’s driving the majority of the time, come clean. You’re not doing yourself any favours in the long run.”