Car insurance for students is usually more expensive than for other drivers, since students are typically young and have less driving experience. But students can save by staying on a parent or guardian’s policy, taking advantage of discounts available and comparing quotes from multiple companies.
Stay on a parent or guardian’s policy
Adding a young driver to a parent or guardian’s auto insurance policy will raise the overall premium, but it could still be much cheaper than if a student gets their own policy.
However, if the student is going away to college, it’s possible that a separate policy may be cheaper in the new ZIP code the student will be in at school. Be sure to compare quotes from other insurers before assuming that staying on the parent or guardian’s policy is the most affordable option.
Look for discounts
Insurers offer various discounts for student drivers. For example, many companies offer good student discounts to full-time high school or college students who meet certain academic requirements. In most cases, the student needs to maintain at least a B average or a 3.0 GPA.
Here are examples of good student car insurance discounts from some of the nation’s biggest insurers.
| Company | Good student discount |
| 21st Century | Students under the age of 25 can get a discount by maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher. |
| AAA | Students can save up to 10% with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. |
| Allstate | Unmarried students under the age of 25 with a 2.7 GPA or higher could get a discount. |
| Farm Bureau | Full-time students with a B average or higher, or ranking in the top 20% of their class, may be eligible for a discount. |
| Farmers | Discount available for full-time students under 25 with a 3.0 GPA or higher, or those on the dean’s list, honor roll, or in the top 20% of their class. Also available for home-schooled students who score in the top 20% on standardized tests. |
| Geico | Full-time students with good grades may save up to 15% on certain coverages. |
| Liberty Mutual | Students with a B average or higher could qualify for a discount. |
| Nationwide | Students 16 to 24 with a B average or higher may get a discount. |
| Progressive | Students 23 and under, with a B average or higher, may get a discount. |
| State Farm | Teen drivers with good grades could get a discount of up to 25%, until age 25. Home-schooled students may also qualify. |
| Travelers | Discount available for students who maintain a B average or 3.0 GPA, or its equivalent, or are in the top 20% of their class. |
Other discounts for students
While discounts vary by insurer, insuring a student could qualify you for other discounts, like:
- Student away at school discount. If a student goes to school far from home, and doesn’t take their car, the student’s parents or guardian may get a discount.
- Student affiliation discount. Students and alumni of some colleges and organizations — like fraternities, sororities and honors groups — may qualify for a discount.
- Driver education discount. Teen drivers may get a discount for taking an approved driver education course.
Comparison Shop
Whether you’re sharing a policy or buying your own, the best way to get the most affordable insurance is to compare car insurance quotes from several different companies.
Insurers set prices based on a variety of factors, including your age, where you live, what you drive, and what your driving history looks like.
Cheap car insurance for students
Here are the cheapest car insurance companies, on average, for drivers between the ages of 18 to 20, according to real quotes for Jerry customers.
|
Insurance Company
|
Avg Monthly Quote
|
Age Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Aspire Advantage | $213 | 18-20 |
| Anchor General | $278 | 18-20 |
| Commonwealth Insurance | $293 | 18-20 |
| Trexis | $294 | 18-20 |
| Mercury | $331 | 18-20 |
| Dairyland | $347 | 18-20 |
| Aspen | $351 | 18-20 |
| Kemper | $351 | 18-20 |
| Safeco | $352 | 18-20 |
| First Acceptance | $372 | 18-20 |
Methodology
Data included in this analysis comes from policies that Jerry has quoted within the last 18 months. Jerry services 48 states and offers a range of insurance companies to choose from.
Megan Lee is an editor, writer, and SEO expert who specializes in insurance, personal finance, travel, and healthcare. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for several websites, including NerdWallet. When she`s not crafting her next piece of content, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to drink cortados, attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.
Ben Moore is a writer and editor at Jerry and an auto insurance expert. He previously worked as a writer, editor and content strategist on NerdWallet’s auto insurance team for five years. His work has been published in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, MarketWatch, Nasdaq and Yahoo News. He also served as a NerdWallet spokesperson, with appearances on local broadcast television and quotes in Martha Stewart and Real Simple magazine.
Ben has an extensive background in digital marketing, working on affiliate and programmatic advertising campaigns for brands like Cabela’s, H&R Block and Sears. He holds a bachelors degree in marketing from Olivet Nazarene University.
