Getting married is a joyous occasion, but it would also be unfair to not say that it can also be a bit of work. When you embark on this journey, you generally start connecting every aspect of your lives, including your auto insurance. Since both of you likely had your own policies before you got married, the question of whether to keep things as they are or join your policies is often the question. To make answering this question easier, there are some points to consider.

Driving Record

Sit down and discuss each other's driving records. If one person has a clean driving record and the other person has moving and parking violations, it might be a good idea to keep the policies separate.

Although it might seem that the good driver would somewhat even out the bad driver's record, this isn't how policies work. The person with the less than stellar record will be considered a higher risk, and as a result the premium for both drivers would increase. To save money, it might be best to keep things separate.

Coverage Gaps

Have you both had continuous coverage or did one of you have a few lapses in coverage over the years? Just as your driving record is used to assess your risk level so is your ability to maintain coverage. Some insurance companies will label drivers with lapses as irresponsible. This is especially the case if the reason for the gaps in coverage is a canceled policy due to non-payment.

While it's not to say the two of you should not joint policies, it might be a good idea to wait for a period and allow the person with gaps in their coverage to show steady coverage over an extended period and then join your policies.

Claim History

Each person's claims history is also a point to consider. Sure, in the event of an incident you have the legal right to file a claim. However, for those drivers with a habitual claim history, this might be an issue. While everyone makes mistakes, if you are constantly filing a claim for something, insurance companies will label you as a high-risk driver, which opens the door to greater premium costs.

Keep your policies separate in this assistance to avoid paying high-risk premiums for both drivers.

When it comes to joining policies, you want to have a long and honest chat with your partner. It's important that each person be upfront and honest so that you can make the right decision. For more advice, contact a business such as LA Insurance.