An occasional driver is someone listed on another person’s auto policy who uses the insured vehicle less often than the principal driver. The label is based on actual use and the insurer’s rules, not a universal percentage. If that person becomes the vehicle’s main user, tell the insurer and update the policy.
For this guide, our team checked FSRA’s auto-insurance pricing guidance and application requirements, along with ICBC’s listed-driver rules as a B.C. comparison.
Keep reading to learn who should be listed, how the cost is set, what changes when the person starts driving more and which questions to ask before lending your car.
Read More: See What Insurance May Apply When You Drive Someone Else’s Car
Who Counts as an Occasional Driver?
The principal driver is the person who uses a vehicle most. An occasional driver uses it less frequently but has ongoing access, such as a spouse who sometimes runs errands, a student who drives during visits home or a newly licensed child practising in a parent’s car.
Do not rely on a blanket rule such as “under 50% of the time.” Insurers and provincial systems may define and price listed drivers differently. Describe who drives, how often, for what purpose and how far. Let the insurer classify the risk.
Who Should You Tell the Insurer About?
Tell the insurer about licensed household members and anyone who regularly uses the car, then answer its questions fully. FSRA says Ontario applicants must provide accurate information about other drivers. In B.C., ICBC specifically asks customers to list household members, employees and regular learner drivers who use the vehicle.
A one-time borrower is different from a regular user, but permission alone does not settle every coverage question. If someone borrows the car repeatedly, lives with you, has a poor record, is newly licensed, uses it for delivery or rideshare work, or keeps it at another address, confirm the arrangement before they drive.
Read More: How to Properly Lend Your Car to Friends
How Much Does an Occasional Driver Cost?
There is no standard surcharge. The price can depend on the occasional driver’s age, licence history, convictions and claims, plus the vehicle, location, coverage and insurer. FSRA notes that listing a young person as an occasional driver on a parent’s or guardian’s policy can cost much less than insuring them as the principal driver.
Get the answer with a paired quote. Ask for the policy price before and after adding the driver while keeping the vehicle, deductibles, limits and annual kilometres unchanged. The difference is the useful cost for your household. Also ask whether the driver can build recognized insurance experience and whether that experience will appear on a future letter of experience.
What Happens If the Occasional Driver Has a Claim?
The claim is made under the policy that covers the vehicle, subject to its terms, coverages, deductibles and exclusions. An at-fault accident can affect the listed driver’s record and the policyholder’s future premium. Exact treatment varies by province and insurer.
If the person was not disclosed when the insurer required disclosure, or if they were described as occasional while actually being the principal driver, the insurer may investigate the application information. Outcomes can include a changed premium, cancellation, non-renewal or a coverage dispute. Do not wait for a claim to correct the record.
When Should You Change the Driver Classification?
| Change | What to do |
|---|---|
| The driver now uses the car most | Ask the insurer to make them the principal driver. |
| A child moves away with the car | Update the garaging address, use and principal driver before the move. |
| The driver starts commuting | Report the new use and annual kilometres. |
| The driver begins delivery or rideshare work | Confirm commercial or rideshare coverage before the first trip. |
| The driver no longer uses the vehicle | Ask whether they can be removed and get written confirmation. |
| A licence is suspended or a serious conviction occurs | Tell the insurer promptly and follow its instructions. |
Questions to Ask Before Adding an Occasional Driver
Ask how the insurer defines principal and occasional use, what information it needs, the exact premium change, whether the driver builds recognized experience, which coverages and deductibles apply while they drive, and when a change in use must be reported. Keep the updated certificate or policy confirmation.
Read More: Understand the Risk of Driving Without Insurance in Ontario