Best Cheap Car Insurance for College Students
Geico has the cheapest car insurance for college students, averaging $388 per month. College students can save hundreds of dollars on car insurance by comparing rates.
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Cheapest car insurance for college kids
We collected thousands of quotes from 23 car insurance companies, across the 10 most populous states in the U.S. Rates are for 18-year-old men and women who are single, have a clean driving record and drive a 2015 Honda Civic EX. Full methodology
Cheapest college student car insurance: Geico
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Monthly rate$388We collected car insurance quotes for thousands of ZIP codes across the 10 most populous states in the U.S. Our sample drivers were 18-year-old men and women who drove a 2015 Honda Civic EX. Read our methodology.
Geico also offers discounts to members of college groups, like fraternities and sororities. So if you're a college student involved on campus, chances are you can get discounted auto insurance rates.
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Cost of full-coverage car insurance for college drivers
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $384 | |
| Nationwide | $480 | |
| Progressive | $588 | |
| State Farm | $644 | |
| Allstate | $872 |
Best for discounts: State Farm
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Monthly rate$644We collected car insurance quotes for thousands of ZIP codes across the 10 most populous states in the U.S. Our sample drivers were 18-year-old men and women who drove a 2015 Honda Civic EX. Read our methodology.
Best college student car insurance for low-mileage drivers: Metromile
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Monthly rateDepends on mileageWe collected car insurance quotes for thousands of ZIP codes across the 10 most populous states in the U.S. Our sample drivers were 18-year-old men and women who drove a 2015 Honda Civic EX. Read our methodology.
Best mobile app: Allstate
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Monthly rate$872We collected car insurance quotes for thousands of ZIP codes across the 10 most populous states in the U.S. Our sample drivers were 18-year-old men and women who drove a 2015 Honda Civic EX. Read our methodology.
Car insurance for college students: how to save money
If you're a college student with a car on campus, or the parent of one, consider the tips listed below as ways to save money on student car insurance.
Keep in mind that college freshmen and high school seniors will likely pay more for insurance than college seniors. That's because car insurance rates usually drop as young drivers get older and gain more experience.
Keep the student on the parents' policy
Having a college student on their parents' policy is typically much cheaper compared to buying the student a separate policy. This is especially true if the other members of the family have good driving records. Auto policies under a parent's name tend to be less expensive because the parents usually have a longer history with the insurance company.
The downside of putting a college student on the family policy is that your rates will go up. So be sure to compare rates to guarantee that having them on the family policy is cheaper than an individual policy.
If a student's family home is no longer their permanent address, an insurance company may require the student to have an individual policy.
It's important to be upfront with your insurance company. If a student files a claim on their parents' policy and the company doesn't know they moved away, it may deny your claim or even cancel coverage. As a result, it's usually best to discuss your options beforehand.
Explore discounts for a student who will drive less while away
If a student is going to college more than 100 miles from home without the car, they could either qualify for an away-from-home discount or remove the student from the family policy for the time they're away.
A student can still drive the car during spring and winter breaks, provided they don't drive for more than a certain number of days in a row, as required by the insurance company. Also, when a student drives the car less or not at all, they may be eligible for more savings based on the reduced mileage.
Be sure to confirm with your carrier which features are available for your policy.
Get a discount for good grades
Good students typically drive better, according to insurance companies. This means that most large insurance companies give discounts for full-time high school or college students who:
- Have grades at or above a B or 3.0 GPA.
- Rank in the top 20% of their class.
- Rank in the top 20% of standardized test scores from the past 12 months.
Ask your insurance company about discounts for college students with good grades.
Compare quotes from multiple companies to save on student car insurance
One of the best ways to save money on auto insurance is to shop around and compare rates.
Many insurance companies likely operate in your area, and they're competing for your business. So it's best to take your time in gathering quotes to ensure you're getting a fair deal.
You can compare the quotes you get to the average cost of auto insurance in your state to get a sense of the prices.
Find Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Methodology
Car insurance quotes are based on thousands of ZIP codes across the 10 most populous states in the U.S.
Rates are for 18-year-old men and women who are single, have a clean driving record and drive a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
Costs are for a full-coverage policy, including liability insurance, with coverage that's slightly higher than the state's minimum coverage requirements:
Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Comprehensive and collision | $500 deductible |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Minimum, when required by state |
The analysis included 23 insurance companies, but rates were only added to our list of average prices and recommendations if their policies were available in at least three of the 10 states.
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.
Methodology
Car insurance quotes are based on thousands of ZIP codes across the 10 most populous states in the U.S.
Rates are for 18-year-old men and women who are single, have a clean driving record and drive a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
Costs are for a full-coverage policy, including liability insurance, with coverage that's slightly higher than the state's minimum coverage requirements:
Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Comprehensive and collision | $500 deductible |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Minimum, when required by state |
The analysis included 23 insurance companies, but rates were only added to our list of average prices and recommendations if their policies were available in at least three of the 10 states.
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.
About the Author
Managing Editor
Ben Breiner is the Managing Editor of ValuePenguin/LendingTree's insurance vertical. He oversees a team of writers who focus on guiding readers through the rigors of home and auto coverage. He still loves that moment when the words fall together and he can translate an intimidating topic so a reader can make the best choice.
Ben got involved in insurance in 2021 when he joined ValuePenguin. He moved up from writer to editor and watched the team grow to expand the ways it helps consumers. Before that, he spent a decade as a sportswriter for newspapers in the Southeast and Midwest.
Ben had to put off buying his first car because of high insurance rates, so he's keenly aware how the wrong policy can get in the way of your goals. He should've shopped around and looked to the experts.
Insurance tip
Always keep an eye out for insurance you can load up on at a low price. A lot more liability coverage won't break the bank and protects your hard-earned assets.
Expertise
- Car insurance
- Home insurance
- Renters insurance
Education
- BA, Economics and Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
