RANKING & REVIEWS
BEST CAR INSURANCE FOR STUDENTS
Intro: Finding the Best Car Insurance for Students
Moving away to college and making new friends can be an exciting time, but it’s also a time where young students are introduced to an array of new expenses.
Paying for books, room and board, meals, and the steadily rising cost of tuition can quickly become overwhelming for those just learning how to manage their finances.
If you don’t choose carefully, car insurance for students can easily become another big expense. According to CarInsurance.com, the annual rates for students aged 18-23 can easily fall within a range of $1,700-$4,000.
Whether you’re a college student looking for your own insurance for students, or if you’re a parent looking for cheap car insurance for students, our ranking and review is here to help.
Not only is it important to look at coverage options on car insurance for college students, but you should also be considering the cheapest car insurance for students.
In this ranking, we’ll highlight the best car insurance for college students to consider when looking for discounted rates, additional coverage options, and flexible terms.
Award Emblem: Top 5 Best Student Car Insurance Companies
AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 5 Best Student Car Insurance Companies
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the insurance company names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that insurance for college students).
Top 5 Best Student Car Insurance Companies | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Best Student Car Insurance Companies | Student Discounts Available | Age Requirements | Highlighted Features |
Farmers | Distant Student and Good Student | Under 25 | Wide range of additional coverage options |
Nationwide | Good Student | Under 24 | Vanishing deductible for each year of safe driving |
Progressive | Distant Student and Good Student | Under 23 | Snapshot program and Name Your Price tool |
State Farm | Distant Student and Good Student | Under 25 | Emergency Roadside Service coverage |
USAA | Good Student | Under 25 | Exclusive military insurance rates |
Table: Top 5 Best Student Car Insurance Companies | Above list is sorted alphabetically
Factors to Consider when Choosing Car Insurance for Students
Finding the best car insurance for students is a highly individualized process. The best student car insurance provider for you could be completely different than that of your neighbor or friend.
When choosing between cheap auto insurance companies, it’s important to include the following considerations for the best car insurance for students:
Title Ownership
Before evaluating car insurance for college students, it’s important to consider who owns the title. If the student owns the title, they should be removed from their parents’ policy and look for their own car insurance for students.
If, however, a parent has title ownership, you’ll want to look for cheap auto insurance companies that provide discounted student insurance.
Driving Frequency
Many college students find that their driving frequency drops down while on campus. If there are enough resources on campus—or within walking distance—where driving is minimal, that can affect the cost of car insurance for students.
Some cheap auto insurance companies take driving frequency into consideration when creating quotes for student car insurance, so you’ll want to look for these types of discounts on insurance for college students.
Distance from Home
When it comes to really cheap auto insurance, students living further distances from home could find it easier to get affordable car insurance for students.
Many cheap auto insurance companies offer discounted insurance for students that are living away from home. This is called the Distant Student Discount, and typically applies to students living at least 100 miles away from their home address.
Each student car insurance provider will have their own set of requirements for this discount, so make sure to check your eligibility to find the best car insurance for students that fits your unique situation.
Additional Coverage Options
Even really cheap auto insurance won’t do you much good if you don’t have the proper coverage for car insurance for students. While looking for student car insurance, make sure to consider what other types of features you’ll need.
The best car insurance for students will come with additional options for things like roadside assistance, incentives for safe driving courses, and even help with lost keys.
While evaluating providers of insurance for students, don’t forget to explore your additional coverage options to ensure that you get the best car insurance for students.
Required Paperwork
Many student car insurance providers require documentation for student-oriented discounts, which you’ll need to be prepared to file.
For example, a good student discount typically comes with a required grade point average, which will need to be documented before the discounted rate applies to the car insurance for college students.
Luckily, most companies offering car insurance for students make submitting documents easy through apps and online forms—but depending on the student car insurance company, you may also need a signature from a school administrator.
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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Student Car Insurance Companies
Below, please find a detailed review of each car insurance company on our list of cheap auto insurance companies for students. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these student car insurance companies to score so high in our selection ranking.
See Also: Best Cheap Car Insurance | Guide | How to Get Very Cheap Auto Insurance Coverage
Farmers Review
Farmers has been around since 1928, serving over 10 million households across the nation.
This top student car insurance provider offers two ways to save on car insurance for college students—the Good Student Discount and Distant Student Discount.
While many student car insurance companies cap these student insurance discounts off at age 23, Farmers maintains eligibility until age 25. With extended eligibility, Farmers is a great choice for older students to consider for really cheap auto insurance.
Farmers also has a ton of options for additional coverage on car insurance for students, including incident, accident, and small claim forgiveness.
College students will find that incident forgiveness can be especially beneficial. If no claim is filed on a citation, rates on insurance for college students won’t go up, meaning that younger drivers can avoid additional costs from a speeding ticket.
The ability to add on additional student car insurance options can make a great deal of difference when searching for the best car insurance for students—particularly if the student is still in the process of learning safe driving practices.
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Nationwide Review
Nationwide is one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the world, offering everything from student car insurance to mortgages and mutual funds.
Along with being one of the largest providers of car insurance for students, Nationwide also has some of the most flexible discounts for student car insurance.
Students earning a ‘B’ average or above can take advantage of the Good Student Discount. This student car insurance discount is available for drivers between the ages of 16-24, offering a great way for young drivers to benefit from long-term savings.
Showing proof of academic achievement is a simple process for this discount on car insurance for students, as they will only need to submit a current grade card.
As an additional benefit, safe drivers will find increased savings with this insurance for college students.
Nationwide offers a Vanishing Deductible that could potentially save $100 for each year of safe driving, making it possible for responsible drivers to get really cheap auto insurance over time.
If you have a safe driving record, a vanishing deductible could make Nationwide’s products the most affordable and best car insurance for students.
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Progressive Review
Progressive insures over 18 million drivers, making them a top provider of insurance for college students.
Compared to other cheap auto insurance companies, Progressive has exceptionally user-friendly interfaces for their website and their app, which makes finding great car insurance for students much easier.
Like many providers of the best car insurance for college students, Progressive offers a Good Student discount and a Distant Student discount. For parents of students that live more than 100 miles from home, this is a great student car insurance discount to take advantage of.
Additionally, Progressive offers a few creative ways to save on cheap car insurance for students.
Their Snapshot Program offers rates based on usage and driving habits, while the Name Your Price tool allows users to set a budget and see what types of car insurance for students they can afford.
Although Progressive offers some of the best car insurance for students, keep in mind that their discounts only apply through age 22. While this certainly makes Progressive a great choice for younger student car insurance, it may not be the cheapest car insurance for students once they pass the age limit.
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State Farm Review
State Farm strives to provide competitive auto insurance across the board, including really cheap auto insurance for student drivers.
There are tons of ways to save on the cheapest car insurance for students through State Farm, including:
- Good Student Discount—Save up to 25 percent for good grades
- Student Away at School Discount—Eligible for students that have minimal access to their car
- Driver Training Discount—Applicable after completing an approved driver education course
- Discounts for Safe Driving Habits—Steer Clear program and Drive Safe & Safe program
College students living away from family may want to consider enrolling in State Farm’s Emergency Roadside Service Coverage to create the best car insurance for students.
This student car insurance coverage covers a ton of different crisis events, including towing, mechanical labor, locksmith services, and even delivery of gas, a new battery, or an extra tire.
Having additional student car insurance coverage can provide valuable peace of mind, making this one of the best car insurance for students to consider.
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USAA Review
Available only to active and retired military members and their families, USAA is a great choice for cheap auto insurance companies.
Those who qualify will almost certainly find the best rates on student car insurance, since all insurance products are tailored to benefit military members.
As one of the top providers of car insurance for students, USAA offers a Good Student Discount for full-time students with a GPA of at least 3.0. As an additional benefit, home-schooled students are also eligible for discounts on student car insurance.
Like many of the top providers of car insurance for students, USAA also offers accident forgiveness protection for new drivers, which is a must-have for any student driver.
Ultimately, USAA is one of the best car insurance for students within military families to consider. If a student has their own policy, they may qualify for a 10 percent Family Legacy discount.
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Conclusion: Choosing the Best Car Insurance for Students
Finding the best car insurance for students isn’t always a simple process, but it’s an important one to follow.
There are plenty of factors to consider that can impact student car insurance rates, like driving frequency, distance away from home, and even your specific state of residence.
Along with cheap car insurance for students, you’ll also want to search for car insurance for students that comes with the best features and additional coverage options to fit your unique needs.
By using our list of the best car insurance for colleges students, you will be well on your way to finding student car insurance that is just as valuable as it is affordable.
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