Single, Married or Divorced: Which Marital Status Do You Choose on a Car Insurance Application?
Learning goal: Know why insurers ask about marital status, why you should give your current legal status, and where states limit its use in pricing.
Short answer
Choose your current legal status: married if you're married, divorced if you're divorced, single if you haven't married. Insurers ask because some use marital status to set rates, and wrong answers can cause problems later. Some states limit it: Michigan and Massachusetts bar its use in car rates, and California has proposed ending it.
Read to the end to complete this lesson.
On this page
The Fuller Picture
Applications ask for marital status because, in many states, insurers may use it as one rating factor among many. The honest answer is simple, but the effect on price depends on your state and insurer, and changes after marriage or divorce are worth reporting.
Key Takeaways
- Give your current legal status. Misstating facts on an application can lead to a cancelled policy or a disputed claim.
- Michigan: the law "prohibits auto insurance companies from using sex, marital status, home ownership, credit score, educational level, occupation, and zip codes in setting a driver's auto insurance rates."
- California has allowed marital status as an optional rating factor since 1996; in September 2026 its Insurance Commissioner proposed regulations to prohibit it.
- Massachusetts also prohibits using marital status for car insurance rating, per its Division of Insurance.
- Tell your insurer when your status changes; it may change your premium, and spouses usually need to be listed as household drivers.
Real-World Example
Divorced, not single
After his divorce, Marcus starts a new car policy and wonders whether to tick "single" because it feels simpler. He ticks "divorced," his legal status. In his state, insurers may use marital status in pricing, and his quote differs slightly from that of a friend who hasn't married. A coworker in Michigan sees no marital status effect at all, because Michigan law bars it.
Common Mistakes
- Choosing "single" when divorced or separated without checking how the insurer defines it.
- Not telling the insurer after a marriage or divorce.
- Assuming marital status affects rates the same way in all states.
Interactive Exercise
Update your status
Do this after a marriage, separation or divorce.
Tick each step as you do it. Your checklist is saved in this browser.
Knowledge Check
Question: You're divorced and filling out a car insurance application. What should you generally choose?
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Questions to explore next
Questions readers often ask next about this topic:
- Does getting married lower car insurance?
- Which states ban marital status in car insurance rates?
- What should I tell my insurer after a divorce?
See every lesson in the Newly Married journey.
Explore the journey →Sources
The factual claims on this page were checked against these sources. Rules and figures change, so check the source itself if you need to confirm the current version.
- Consumer protections (Michigan auto insurance law changes)Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services
- Commissioner Lara proposes ending use of marital status in California auto insurance ratesCalifornia Department of Insurance
- It pays to shop aroundMassachusetts Division of Insurance
Educational information, not advice: This lesson is for general education only, not legal, financial, or insurance advice. Actual coverage, discounts, and requirements depend on your policy’s wording, your insurer, and the laws of your state. Confirm specifics with your own insurer or a licensed agent before making a decision. Insurpedia does not sell insurance and does not recommend specific insurers. State rules come from the Michigan auto insurance site and the California Department of Insurance. Massachusetts's rule is from its Division of Insurance. Rules vary by state and can change.