How to Get a USAA Good Student Discount
USAA’s good student discount could earn you 3% off your policy price—but that’s not the only discount you could qualify for. Learn more here.
Written by Bonnie Stinson
Reviewed by Lisa Steuer McArdle
Drivers with good grades under the age of 25 could save 3% off the cost of car insurance with USAA. Qualification is relatively straightforward, and you can apply online, via fax, or by mail.
If you are enrolled full-time in high school, college, university, or a vocational technical school, then you could qualify for a nice discount on car insurance from USAA. Young people already pay much higher prices for insurance due to the higher risk level ascribed to new drivers. But USAA—already one of the most affordable insurance providers for qualified drivers—offers another discount to any student with good grades.
Today, life is more expensive than ever, especially for young people. To offset costs, make sure you qualify for every possible
car insurance
discount with USAA rates
, starting with the good student discount. Here’s a guide to the USAA good student discount.Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversHow to get USAA’s good student discount
The USAA good student discount (GSD) is available to full-time students between the ages of 16 and 25 who have a 3.0 GPA or higher. The discount is approximately 3% off the annual car insurance premium. Send your application just before your policy will be renewed, or just before you plan to add a new driver to an existing policy.
How to qualify
To qualify, you must meet the age requirement (16-25 years old) and you must be a full-time student at a qualified institution (high school, college, university, or vocational technical school).
Finally, you must provide proof that you meet USAA’s standards of scholastic excellence. There are four ways a student can qualify:
- Ranked in the top 20% of the class scholastically; or
- Earned a grade average of B or higher; or
- Earned a grade average of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale; or
- Was included on the Honor Roll, Dean’s List, or similar scholastic distinction
You can submit a transcript, a grade report, or a letter from the dean or similar scholastic achievement document. If you choose to submit one of these documents, write the number 485 at the top of the page. You can also ask a school official to complete the GSD application.
To submit your application for a good student discount, you go online to your USAA account. Go to My Account Tools > Documents and Forms > Get Forms, or visit the Update Discounts section of your Auto policy. You can either provide your e-signature or a signed application or other proof as outlined above.
You can also send your GSD application or proof of academic performance to USAA by fax (1-800-531-8877) or by mail (USAA, 9800 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX, 78277).
There are a few important things you should know.
Homeschooling families without report cards should speak with a USAA agent about their options. Homeschoolers may be able to qualify for the USAA good student discount by taking a national standardized test like the ACT, PSAT, or SAT and scoring in the top 20%.
The GSD does not automatically renew every year. Students must recertify annually by providing proof of good grades.
Finally, the USAA GSD is not available in all states. Students in Hawaii and North Carolina are not eligible, and other restrictions may apply.
How long does USAA’s good student discount last?
Full-time students with good grades can qualify for USAA’s GSD until the age of 25, provided they submit proof of good student status every year.
Why do auto insurers offer good student discounts?
Because teens are considered high-risk drivers, insurers charge them more for car insurance. Families who add a young driver to a family policy may notice an increase between 80 and 130%.
There are several reasons why auto insurers offer discounts to good students.
Firstly, the discount helps offset the cost of insurance for young people while also building brand allegiance with new drivers.
Secondly, there is a strong correlation between good grades and safe driving. A high GPA is evidence that someone is responsible—and responsibility is a trait that carries over from the classroom to the road. While there are certainly safe drivers with low GPAs, the GSD discount is one way for insurance companies to reward young people who have demonstrated responsibility that may counteract the higher risk level associated with new drivers.
The best USAA car insurance discounts for students
USAA’s good student discount is approximately 3%. Although every bit helps, that’s not a very large discount when compared to other top insurance companies. Luckily, students may qualify for multiple car insurance
discounts
through USAA that could bring total savings to more than 60%. Be aware that not all discounts are available in every state.Away at school discount
Full-time students under the age of 30 are eligible for this discount. The student must live more than 100 miles from home and not have regular access to the vehicle listed on the family’s policy.
Driver training discount
If you take a qualified driver training course before turning 21, you could qualify for the
driver training discount
. If you take one of USAA’s approved courses for defensive driving
, you could receive the USAA defensive driving discount, too.MyUSAA Legacy family discount
USAA is available to qualified military families, and membership can be passed down to children. If you are less than 25 years old and you have had no major violations within the last three years, you could save 10% with the Legacy family discount if you were previously named on a family member’s USAA policy.
Multiple auto and multiple line discounts
If your household has multiple vehicles—or if you also need homeowners or renters insurance—you can get a discount for buying all these policies through USAA. The average discount is between 15 and 20%.
SafePilot discount
SafePilot
is USAA’s telematics program. A driver can install the SafePilot app on their smartphone. The app tracks driving behavior, including starts, stops and speed. You could enjoy up to a 30% discount—and the slate is wiped clean for each policy period. There’s also a 10% discount upfront, which you get just for enrolling in the program. The amount of the overall discount varies by state, with the highest discounts currently offered in Texas, Ohio, and Arizona.Safe driver discount
While new drivers can’t qualify for this discount, older students might. To earn the
safe driver discount
, a driver must maintain a good driving record for more than five years. The exact amount of the discount depends on the driver. If you’ve been accident-free for five years or more, ask a USAA agent for more information. “Jerrywas quick and provided me with various choices. I found the policy I wanted in 10 minutes and was able to drive off with my new car!” —Emiya S.
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