California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara says auto insurers will no longer be allowed to use a driver’s marital status when setting auto insurance premiums. The change comes as a reversal of a prior approach that resulted in unmarried drivers, on average, paying more than married drivers.
The announcement is focused on how insurers price coverage rather than on changes to eligibility or underwriting standards for drivers. By removing marital status as a rating factor, regulators aim to reduce premium differences linked to whether someone is single or married. The outlets also describe the decision as a financial benefit for unmarried drivers, while noting it reflects a broader regulatory shift in California’s approach to premium calculation. The report does not indicate a timeline for when insurers must implement the change or whether refunds are addressed.
Both sources attribute the policy change to Lara and present it as a move to prevent insurers from charging more based on marital status.
