Why does my insurer want to know my spouse?
The answer is simple: your spouse may increase the risk that your insurer is taking in agreeing to cover you.
This makes it quite natural for your insurer to ask a few questions about the person who shares your life, whether you’re shopping for insurance for your home or for your car, even if you’re the only one paying.
In Quebec, married or common-law spouses who live under the same roof are regarded as two whole parties in an insurance contract. As such, they share risk and liability. For example, a non-smoking male who is the sole owner of his home would see his risk go up if his wife smokes, even if just a few cigarettes a day.
Obviously, this approach is not for the insurer’s sole benefit: it aims to protect all the insured. Let’s take the example of the home-owning fellow who pays the mortgage on his own. There’s obviously a good chance that the lady of the house also owns a few items (her laptop, her wardrobe, her sports equipment, etc.). If disaster strikes, she’ll be very happy to know that the cheque from the insurer will be issued in both names, enabling her to replace her property as well.
What questions will my insurer be asking about my spouse?
Not surprisingly, your insurer will want to know your spouse’s name, even if he or she is not the owner of the car or the house. They’ll also check on his or her jobs, on whether he or she is the main or occasional driver of the vehicle to be insured, his or her previous claims, credit rating, etc. – just as they would do for the principal insured.
Why could an insurer refuse to insure me when it comes to my spouse?
Again, it’s all a matter of risk. For example, a spouse with a very high vehicle accident rate (e.g., six at-fault accidents in two years) or who has driven under the influence could prevent you from getting insurance or could be prohibited from driving your car through a rider attached to your policy. The same applies to a spouse with a criminal record for vehicle theft or fraud. You can easily imagine that your insurer would be hesitant to sign a contract with you.
Obviously, in the vast majority of cases, everything will be fine and you can get insurance with no problem. But remember that it makes perfect sense to shop around for insurance, whether for your car or your home. The renewal period is the ideal time to check on your coverage and perhaps to save!