❗️In California, being single can literally make the exact same driver more expensive to insure. A state appeals court ruled 2–1 in Ison v. Lara that insurers can continue using marital status as an optional auto-insurance rating factor when it has a substantial relationship to the risk of loss. California’s courts summarized the rationale by noting evidence that unmarried motorists are statistically more likely to get into accidents and file claims, although the ruling itself did not establish that marriage causes safer driving. A 2025 Consumer Federation of America comparison showed just how much that distinction can affect the bill: Mercury quoted an otherwise identical married driver $940.88 for six months, versus $1,048.88 if single, $108 more. GEICO’s difference was even bigger proportionally, jumping from $250.40 to $331.40, while Allstate charged $28 more and Progressive $7 more. State Farm was the exception in that particular test, quoting the same $720.65 regardless of marital status. The controver