Compare Car Insurance Rates for College Students [2023]

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen and young adult deaths in America are most commonly caused by car accidents. Students are often considered to be at a larger risk of causing traffic accidents due to their inexperience as drivers.

Both college and high school student car insurance is more expensive as a result of the increased risk. The good news is that anyone can discover affordable auto insurance for students by studying different types of insurance policies, requesting customized rates, and taking advantage of any discounts that might be offered.

Top Car Insurance Providers for College Students

College students can receive savings from several of the best auto insurance providers, but some are more generous than others. 

AAA Insurance

AAA has the cheapest auto insurance rates plus a wide range of discounts, including good-student, student-away-at-school, and new-young-driver discounts. This makes AAA one of the best car insurance options for college students. 

It’s important to keep in mind that in order to be eligible for AAA’s insurance program, drivers must be members. Depending on the region, membership charges range from $38 to $90 per year for a basic package that includes the company’s premier roadside assistance service.

Read our AAA car insurance review to learn more and compare rates.

Geico 

Due to its affordable rates, user-friendly website and mobile app, and wide range of coverage options, Geico is one of the best car insurance companies for college students. In addition to other discounts, college students may be eligible for good student and driver’s education discounts. 

Learn more about Geico car insurance coverage and deductible options for students.

Travelers Insurance

One of the least expensive insurance options for college students is Travelers, which also provides car insurance discounts for good students, students away at school, and drivers in training. Read our Travelers car insurance review to compare rates.

Additionally, students can select Travelers’ optional “Responsible Driver” coverage to prevent rate increases after a minor moving offense or in the event of an at-fault accident. 

USAA Insurance

Only veterans, active military personnel, and their families are eligible for USAA. For those who qualify, it is one of the most affordable options for college student car insurance.

There are a number of USAA car insurance discounts available. Additionally, USAA provides a wide range of insurance options, making it simple for qualified college students to combine their auto insurance with renters insurance for additional savings. 

Esurance

Esurance provides discounts for high grades, on-time payments, and affiliations, among other things. For instance, Esurance offers unique discounts to Pac-12 alumni and college students to help them save money.

Esurance offers reasonable insurance for college students, but it’s important to note that not all states allow these discounts. 

Progressive 

With Progressive, college students can take advantage of a number of discounts, including those for young drivers, distant students, and good students. Additionally, the business has a “Name Your Price” feature that can assist college students in locating a cost-effective policy. Learn more in our Progressive car insurance review.

State Farm

In addition to a range of extra add-ons, such as ridesharing insurance, travel expenditure coverage, and rental reimbursement, State Farm offers affordable rates for college students. The company offers good students, students away at school, and driver training discounts to help college students save money on car insurance. 

State Farm is one of the largest insurance companies in the country, with coverage available to students in all 50 states. Read our State Farm car insurance review to learn more and compare rates.

Allstate 

Allstate is one of the best because of its affordable premiums and pay-per-mile insurance option. 

College students who drive can also be given a “smart student” discount provided they maintain outstanding grades or successfully complete the TeenSMART program. Here is a complete list of Allstate car insurance discounts.

Liberty Mutual

For college students, Liberty Mutual car insurance rates are very affordable. Drivers have the potential for additional savings through good student and student-away-at-school discounts. 

Additionally, there are a number of add-on choices available for college students, including roadside assistance and reimbursement for rental cars. A further advantage of acquiring Liberty Mutual coverage is the company’s user-friendly website and mobile app.

The Hartford 

Even though the company is best known for its AARP auto insurance program, The Hartford offers college students affordable coverage. College students who drive can also benefit from the company’s fantastic student discount.

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Cheapest Car Insurance for College Students Under 18

The most affordable auto insurance for college students is to stay on your parent’s policy. In this instance, we discovered that Geico offers the most affordable insurance, costing our sample of 18-year-old first-year college students around $210 monthly.

You will need to get your own policy if you live away from home and maintain your car on campus. In this case, we discovered that State Farm is the least expensive company, charging the same driver $240

Compare these rates to how much it costs to stay on an existing policy before you buy car insurance for 18 year olds.

Cheapest Car Insurance for College Students Under 19

Unfortunately, teen car insurance rates are among the most expensive and remain high until drivers turn 21. 

When purchasing your own auto insurance policy as a freshman or sophomore student at the age of 19, you’ll discover that the premiums might be a little bit lower than when you were 18 years old if you maintained a good driving record.

According to our research, State Farm has the lowest average monthly rates for 19-year-old students at $205. However, you should always compare multiple companies, as our sample driver received fairly comparable pricing from Allstate and Geico.

Cheapest Car Insurance for College Students Under 20

Rates continue to drop as students get older. If you’re a 20-year-old sophomore or junior looking for car insurance, we found that Allstate is the cheapest company on average, with monthly rates of around $180.

Geico and State Farm are also competitively priced, as they are for other ages.

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Cheapest Car Insurance for College Students Under 21

The first step for junior or senior students looking for affordable auto insurance should be to request a quote from Geico. Our sample 21-year-old driver paid an average of $140 monthly, which is significantly less than the next-closest rivals, State Farm or Allstate.

Remember that speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and other moving violations on your record will increase your rates, especially as a teen or young driver. So if you’re looking for cheap auto insurance for college students, keep your driving record clean.

Geico Has The Best Car Insurance Rates For College Students

Although car insurance rates vary based on where you live, we discovered that Geico consistently provides young drivers in college with affordable auto insurance.

See how Geico compares to the other top companies in the table below and read our Geico car insurance review to get a complete breakdown of company rates.

Members of college-related organizations like alumni clubs, fraternities, and sororities are also eligible for discounts from Geico. Therefore, there is a significant chance that you might get cheap car insurance rates if you are a college student actively participating on campus.

Keep in mind that if you want a Geico student discount, you’ll need to let Geico know your status because it won’t have access to that information immediately. 

State Farm Offers the Best Car Insurance Discounts for College Students

Students who qualify for State Farm’s good-student discount can save up to 25% annually on their auto insurance. The criteria for qualifying vary by state, but normally the driver must be enrolled full-time and have a GPA of at least 3.0. (out of 4.0). 

Fortunately, the discount is valid until they are 25, even if drivers complete college before that age.

College students who live on campus can save greatly with State Farm’s student discount. Drivers who attend school 100 miles away and leave their cars at home will also save money, but students may only use their car when they are home on vacation or during a holiday in order to qualify for the discount.

All drivers under the age of 25 have the chance to save money on their auto insurance through State Farm’s Steer Clear program. Through training resources and by independently noting noteworthy events that happen during trips, the program enables drivers to develop safe habits behind the wheel and earn discounts.

Here is a complete list of car insurance discounts offered by State Farm to see which you qualify for and how much you can save.

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Metromile Has the Best Pay-Per-Mile Insurance for College Students

College students who drive less than 12,000 miles annually will get the best rates with Metromile, a pay-per-mile insurance company. What is pay-per-mile car insurance? Car insurance by-the-mile determines rates based on how far you drive in a month. 

With Metromile, your monthly car insurance rates will be made up of a basic cost and a per-mile charge. So the less you drive, the more you save on car insurance.

Depending on the state, Metromile does not charge policyholders for driving more than 250 miles each day. If college students or inexperienced drivers decide to drive home or on a road trip, they can think of this as a cap on the amount they can be charged. For example, Metromile won’t charge drivers in New Jersey for more than 150 miles per day.

The company’s restricted availability is its main flaw. Only eight states — Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington — currently offer Metromile. If you live in one of these states, start comparing Metromile car insurance quotes.

Otherwise, you can ask your insurance provider for a low-mileage discount if Metromile isn’t available where you reside. The majority of auto insurance companies provide this benefit.

Allstate Has the Best Car Insurance App for College Students

Students can use Allstate Mobile to manage claims and policy coverage or contact an insurance representative right away. The nicest feature of the app is that you may submit a claim directly from it. By doing this, you avoid making lengthy phone conversations during a stressful time.

The QuickTrip app from Allstate is a trip optimizer that reduces travel time and distance. The software will determine the best multi-stop route for the day based on the number of locations that drivers enter. This is a fantastic extra benefit for college students, especially those with busy schedules.

Allstate provides a wide network of agents who are accessible to answer your inquiries in person, in addition to providing excellent mobile apps. This can be a major benefit for college students who might not be familiar with the specifics of their auto insurance plans.

However, Allstate is frequently among the most expensive major insurers. Student drivers should carefully assess how to balance service quality and car insurance costs. The bottom line is that Allstate provides excellent mobile functionality and doesn’t scrimp on in-person help. Read our Allstate car insurance review to learn more.

How to Save Money on Student Car Insurance

Consider the strategies outlined below as a way to reduce the cost of student auto insurance if you are a college student who drives on campus or the parent of one.

Keep College Students on a Parent’s Policy

As opposed to purchasing the student a separate policy, adding a college student to car insurance should typically result in lower car insurance rates for the family, especially if the other family members have good driving records. 

Due to the likelihood that the parents have a long relationship with the insurance provider, auto plans in the parents’ names are frequently less expensive. On the other hand, if a college student on family insurance has an accident while driving, the premiums for the parents could go up. 

We advise comparing costs for the student to purchase a separate policy as well as costs for including them in (or keeping them on) the family policy.

Students may be required to acquire individual coverage from their insurer if they are relocating far from home for college. Although some insurers are more accommodating when it comes to young drivers continuing on their parent’s policy, it’s still crucial to be open and honest. 

For example, if you submit a claim under your parents’ insurance and the company is unaware that you have moved out, it may reject your claim or possibly revoke your coverage. It is, therefore typically better to go over your options with your carrier.

Look for Low-Mileage Programs and Discounts

If your child doesn’t have a car and is attending college more than 100 miles from home, you may be able to get an away-from-home discount or drop them from the family policy while they’re away.

During spring and winter breaks, the student may continue to operate the vehicle as long as they don’t drive more than a predetermined number of days straight, as determined by the insurance provider. 

Additionally, based on the lower mileage, you can qualify for a further premium discount since the student is now driving the car less or less. Confirm the features offered with your policy before you buy car insurance to ensure you get the best coverage at the best price.

Maintain Good Grades for Good Student Discounts

Insurance firms claim that good students drive more safely, which is usually reflected in vehicle insurance costs. If you match any of the following criteria and are a full-time high school or college student, most major insurance companies will reduce your rates:

• Students must have grades that are at least a B and have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Obtain a score on a particular standardized test from the previous year that is in the top 20%.
• It is essential to inquire about any savings your specific insurance provider may provide to college students with high GPAs.

To save money on student auto insurance, compare quotes from at least three different companies.

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The Bottom Line on Cheap Car Insurance for College Students

It’s important to note that not all college students will pay the same amount for auto insurance. For instance, a college student who is 18 years old will probably pay a lot more than someone who is 25 years old.

Shopping around and comparing prices is one of the best methods to reduce your auto insurance costs. Auto insurance rates vary by driver and ZIP code, so it’s wise to compare multiple companies to ensure you’re getting a fair rate.

To get an idea of what you should be paying for student car insurance, use our comparison tool below to compare quotes from local companies in your state.

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