Best Car Insurance for Students

Young student drivers often pay more than any other age group for car insurance. This is because car insurance companies view young students as riskier drivers who are more likely to cause car accidents, drive recklessly, or commit other moving violations. Unfortunately, this elevated risk can make finding affordable car insurance difficult for students.

However, to search for cheap car insurance for students, fill out TrySmartly’s free online request form to get quotes from a list of reputable car insurance companies.

Here are some of the best car insurance providers for students:

Best Car Insurance Options for College Students

The top three companies that offer affordable college student car insurance include USAA, Geico, and State Farm. This is because the monthly average rate from these companies ranges around $200, making them some of the most affordable options on the market.

The table below includes estimates that college students could pay on their auto insurance:

Car Insurance Provider	Monthly Average Estimate	Annual Average Estimate
USAA	$188	$2,256
Geico	$208	$2,496
State Farm	$239	$2,868
Travelers	$292	$3,504
Progressive	$415	$4,980

Note that the rates in the above table are based on college drivers with clean driving records.

New drivers without experience or with negative marks on their records will likely pay more depending on the seriousness of the violation.

The Best Student Discount for Car Insurance: State Farm

State Farm offers some of the best deals for student drivers, like its good-student discount, student away-at-school discount, and the Steer Clear program.

State Farm’s good-student discount offers up to 25% annual car insurance savings to high school and college students with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This discount lasts until the driver turns 25, even if they have graduated.

The student away-at-school discount offers up to 25% off for college students who live more than 100 miles from home and keep their car at home. To be eligible for the discount, students may only drive their vehicles when they visit home on vacation or during the holidays.

The Steer Clear program offers all drivers under 25 educational materials to improve their driving skills and save money on auto insurance. If no violations or accidents occur after completion of the program, students may qualify for up to 30% off their premiums.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Students: Geico

Geico typically has the lowest average premiums compared to other insurance companies. The company also offers an abundance of discounts, which makes it the front-runner for offering cheap car insurance for students.

The primary discount for student drivers is Geico’s good-student discount. It is designed for high-school and college drivers who maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. If you qualify, you could save up to 15%. Other discounts students can take advantage of through Geico include the following:

Vehicle equipment discounts of up to 25%

Military emergency deployment discount of up to 25%

Good driver discount of up to 22%

Discounts for completing a driver’s education course

However, students with bad driving records, including accidents and multiple moving violations, may have trouble obtaining coverage from Geico. So, make sure to take advantage of TrySmartly’s free online request form to search for quotes from reputable providers.

Best Low Milage Car Insurance Option for Students: Metromile

Students who drive infrequently may benefit significantly from Metromile’s auto insurance coverage. The company specializes in affordable car insurance for college students who drive less than 10,000 miles annually. It offers monthly premiums based on how many miles you actually drive.

Student drivers are charged a base rate and a small fee per mile. The company doesn’t charge policyholders for driving more than 250 miles per day, depending on the state.

Unfortunately, Metromile only operates in the following eight states: Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. If the insurer isn’t available where you live, use our free online request form to search for other car insurance companies that offer low-mileage options in your area.

Which Factors Influence Student Car Insurance Rates?

Before choosing your auto insurance, it is best to get acquainted with the factors that insurance companies consider when determining rates for student drivers.

Location

Drivers who live in urban areas tend to pay more for their policies as they typically have higher rates of accidents, theft, and vandalism. Additionally, each state sets its own minimum rate based on traffic volume, road conditions, weather conditions, and the likelihood of natural disasters. As a result, states vulnerable to natural catastrophes will have higher premiums than those not prone to severe weather.

Credit Score

Insurance companies use a variation of the customer’s credit score, called credit-based insurance score, to determine the likelihood they may file a claim. This scoring system considers a person’s length of credit history, payment history, amount of debt, recent credit inquiries, and accounts in good standing. As a result, drivers with damaged credit often pay more for car insurance.

However, when determining auto insurance rates, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, and Massachusetts prohibit using a driver’s credit score.

Driving Record

Your driving record is a critical factor that vehicle insurance companies consider when calculating your rates. For example, drivers who practice safe driving habits and maintain a spotless driving record pay less on average. Conversely, drivers with a history of speeding tickets, moving violations, and at-fault accidents often pay more.

Each violation also has a specific set of penalties. For instance, some insurance companies may forgive a minor traffic violation but may not be as lenient in the event of an at-fault accident or DUI. Additionally, when it comes time to renew your coverage, insurance companies look up your driving history. As a result, when renewing your policy, your premium will only go up due to a violation or accident.

Gender

When it comes to car insurance, female drivers tend to pay less than men. This is because insurers believe, through their historical data, that men are more inclined to take risks when driving than women, hence putting themselves at a higher serious risk for car accidents.

Marital Status

Married couples are thought to be more secure financially and safer drivers. Therefore, they might benefit from lower premiums. In fact, married drivers pay around $130 less on their premiums than single drivers.

Homeownership

Similar to getting married, buying a property can lead to savings on auto insurance as most insurance companies allow policyholders to bundle their auto and homeowners’ insurance policies. As a result, clients may save around 5% to 25% on their premiums with a multi-policy discount. But even if you aren't a homeowner, you may still be able to benefit from auto and renters’ insurance bundles.

Make and Model of the Car

The make and model of your car may significantly impact your premium. In general, insurance for small and large vehicles costs more because of the greater damage they both incur and cause in accidents. Additionally, newer cars are more expensive to insure as they haven't had time to depreciate, which means replacing the vehicle will cost more. In addition, cars with extra features like sound systems, convertibles, and leather interiors also cost more. Finally, luxury and foreign vehicles come with the highest insurance premiums.

How To Choose The Best Auto Insurance for Students

Now that you know what factors influence your auto insurance rate, it’s time to dive into how to choose cheap auto insurance for students. Consider following these steps:

Get Quotes Online

One of the most effective ways to choose an affordable insurance rate is to get quotes online. You can do so by submitting a request on each provider’s website. We recommend getting quotes from at least three different providers.

However, a more efficient option to get multiple quotes is to search rates on car insurance comparison sites. With TrySmartly, you only need to input your information once to search for quotes from top-rated providers. Also, TrySmartly’s request form is free and does not impact your credit score.

Check Consumer Rating Websites

Even though consumer rating websites don’t provide quotes, they can help compare insurance companies based on customer service, complaints, and claim satisfaction. Doing so will help you make an informed decision about choosing your insurance provider.

The most reputable third-party consumer rating websites for student drivers include J.D. Power, NAIC, and AM Best.

Shop car insurance the smarter way. Submit a free online quote request.

Check Your Quote

Do You Need Auto Insurance as a College Student

Anyone driving a car must have minimum coverage set by their state. The minimum coverage typically covers bodily injury and property damage.

Property damage coverage takes care of the costs to the other driver’s vehicle resulting from an accident that is your fault. Similarly, bodily injury liability insurance covers the other driver’s medical costs if they are injured in a car accident where you are at fault.

Depending on your state, you may also need to carry other types of coverage. These may include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection (PIP), and collision coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have auto insurance or whose insurance doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for the damages they caused.

PIP helps pay for medical expenses related to an accident regardless of who was at fault. This coverage option can cover medical expenses you or your passengers incur.

Collision coverage helps repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision with another car or object.

While every student driver will need auto insurance, some may choose to stay on their parent’s policy as a way to save money. Student drivers looking to stay on their parent’s plan must live with their parents or drive a vehicle that is registered to them. In some cases, college students can remain on their parent’s policy if they attend a school near their parents.

The table below shows the estimated rates for drivers between the ages of 18 and 30:

Age	Annual Full Coverage Estimate
18	$5,139
19	$3,919
20	$3,782
21	$2,896
22	$2,779
23	$2,759
24	$2,614
25	$2,098
30	$1,871

Car Insurance for High School Students

Teenage drivers cannot obtain insurance on their own and would need coverage under their parent’s policy. As such, the parent’s rate will likely increase because new student drivers are seen as riskier due to their lack of experience behind the wheel.

If you have high-school-aged children, you can add them to your policy as an additional driver. Although your rates will increase for adding a student driver, you may still be able to find affordable car insurance for your high school-aged children. Below is the estimated cost of adding a student driver to your policy:

Primary Driver’s Age	Estimated Cost of Adding a Teen Driver	Estimated Cost for Primary Driver Only	Estimated Cost for Separate Teen Driver Policy
30	$2,001	$817	$4,801
40	$2,176	$836	$4,801
50	$2,259	$850	$4,801

Student drivers can benefit from numerous savings options like good-student, away-at-school, and safe driving discounts. However, the best student car insurance depends on individual needs and personal situations. For example, some policies may be affordable but provide less coverage, while other policies may be relatively expensive but offer more coverage.

TrySmartly’s free online request can help you search for car insurance quotes from reputable providers.

Student Car Insurance FAQ

If you have additional questions related to student car insurance, please check our FAQs.

Can Students Get Discounts on Car Insurance Not Specifically Designed for Them?

Student drivers can benefit from the same discounts on car insurance as any other driver, like a safe driver discount or bundling discounts. At the same time, many insurers also offer discounts specifically for high school and college students, such as the good student discount and the student away-at-school discount.

Does GPA Affect a Student’s Car Insurance?

GPA doesn’t directly affect the rates that car insurance companies charge high school and college students. However, most insurers offer discounts to students that maintain a GPA of more than 3.0 while pursuing their education. So, while the initial rate won’t change based on grades, students may qualify for discounts if they maintain a high GPA.

Can Students Stay on Their Parent’s Car Insurance if They’re in College?

Whether a student can stay on their parent’s car insurance if they are away at college depends on the insurance provider. Generally, if the child no longer lives with the parent or drives their own vehicle, they will have to get a separate insurance policy. However, the student may stay on their parent’s policy if they live at home while going to college or if the vehicle is under their parent’s name.

How Does the Parent Add the Student to Their Policy?

Parents can add children to their car insurance policy if they are under 18, live in the same household as them, and drive a vehicle registered to the parent’s home address.

Although your premium may increase when you add your child to your policy, doing so also has benefits. For example, you could qualify for new discounts available for students that might offset the cost of adding them to your policy.

To add your child to your policy, you will need to provide the insurance company with the following information about your child:

Name

Date of birth

Driver’s license number

Social Security number

If your child qualifies for a good-student discount, you may need to provide proof of their grades or the school they attend.

How Long Can a Student Driver Stay on Their Parent’s Policy?

There is no age limit for keeping your children on your policy. They can remain on their parent's insurance policy as long as their permanent residence is their parent’s home.

However, it may be time for your children to get their own policy if they get married, have children, and become financially independent.