As a mom of four, I know how expensive life gets—especially when kids go off to college. When my oldest left for school, I quickly realized that car insurance for college students is ridiculously expensive. The first quote we got? $290 per month!

I couldn’t believe it. My son was a responsible, safe driver, but just because of his age, the rates were through the roof. I knew there had to be a way to lower the cost, so I went into full research mode to find the best car insurance discounts for college students.

After hours of comparing policies, calling agents, and digging through the fine print, I found several ways to cut his insurance bill in half—and I’m here to share those tips with you!

---

Why Is Car Insurance So Expensive for College Students?

Before I break down how to save, it’s important to understand why college students get charged so much for car insurance.

🚗 Young drivers are statistically riskier. Insurance companies charge more because drivers under 25 are more likely to be in accidents.

🚗 No long insurance history. Since college students are newer drivers, they don’t qualify for loyalty discounts that long-term policyholders get.

🚗 Living in high-risk areas. Many students move away for school, and some college towns have higher accident and theft rates, which increases premiums.

But here’s the good news—there are tons of discounts that can lower car insurance costs for college students!

---

Step 1: Find the Best Insurance Companies for College Student Discounts

Some insurance companies offer bigger discounts for students than others. After comparing multiple quotes, I found that these companies had the best college student car insurance discounts:

1. GEICO

✔ Offers a Good Student Discount (up to 15% off for students with a B average or higher).
✔ Provides Student Away at School Discount if the student lives over 100 miles from home and doesn’t take a car.
✔ One of the cheapest insurers for young drivers.

2. State Farm

✔ Their Steer Clear® Program gives up to 15% off for young drivers under 25 who complete a safe driving course.
✔ Offers a Student Away Discount for college students who don’t need a car full-time.
✔ Good student discount available.

3. Progressive

✔ Features a Snapshot® Program, which tracks driving habits and lowers rates for safe driving.
✔ Multiple discounts for bundling home and auto insurance.

4. Allstate

✔ Has a Smart Student Discount for full-time college students under 25.
✔ Allows parents to keep students on their policy even if they move out.

5. Nationwide

✔ Offers a Good Student Discount of up to 20% off.
✔ Provides a Distant Student Discount for those living 100+ miles from home without a car.

---

Step 2: Use Every Possible College Student Discount

After choosing an insurance provider, I started looking for every possible way to lower my son’s rate. Here are the best discounts we found:

✅ 1. Good Student Discount

💰 Savings: 10-25%

• Most companies offer a discount if a student has a B average (3.0 GPA) or higher.
• My son maintained a 3.2 GPA, which saved us 15% per month!

✅ 2. Student Away at School Discount

💰 Savings: 10-30%

• If your student is 100+ miles from home and doesn’t take a car, many insurers lower the premium.
• Since my son didn’t need a car on campus, we qualified for this discount and saved another $30 per month.

✅ 3. Defensive Driving Course Discount

💰 Savings: 5-10%

• Taking a state-approved defensive driving course helped lower my son’s rate.
• Many schools even offer free or discounted courses for students.

✅ 4. Safe Driving App Discounts

💰 Savings: 10-20%

• Some insurers like Progressive (Snapshot®) and State Farm (Drive Safe & Save®) offer discounts if students enroll in a safe driving program.
• My son signed up for Progressive’s Snapshot®, which lowered his premium after 90 days of good driving.

✅ 5. Bundling with a Parent’s Policy

💰 Savings: Up to 50%

• Instead of getting his own policy, we kept him on our family’s plan.
• This was one of the biggest savings, cutting his rate by over 50% compared to getting a separate policy.

---

Step 3: Choose the Right Car for Lower Insurance Costs

The type of car a college student drives has a huge impact on insurance rates.

🚫 Bad Choices:

• Sports Cars (Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, etc.) → Higher rates.
• Luxury Cars (BMW, Audi, Mercedes) → Expensive to insure.

✅ Good Choices:

• Toyota Corolla
• Honda Civic
• Ford Focus
• Hyundai Elantra

My son drove a 2012 Honda Civic, which kept his insurance low while still being reliable.

---

Final Thoughts: How We Cut College Car Insurance Costs by Over 50%

Before applying these discounts and tips, my son’s car insurance quote was $290 per month. After:

✔ Using a Good Student Discount (saved 15%)
✔ Applying the Student Away Discount (saved 20%)
✔ Taking a Defensive Driving Course (saved 10%)
✔ Signing up for a Safe Driving App (saved 10%)
✔ Keeping him on our family’s plan (saved 50%)

His final monthly payment? $120 per month—a 59% savings!

If you or your college student need affordable car insurance, follow these steps:

✔ Compare quotes from multiple providers (GEICO, State Farm, Progressive, etc.).
✔ Ask for every student discount available (good student, distant student, safe driver, etc.).
✔ Keep them on a parent’s policy if possible—it’s usually cheaper.
✔ Choose a practical car (avoid sports or luxury vehicles).

A little research can save hundreds per year—so don’t settle for sky-high premiums! 🚗💰

---

13 FAQs About College Student Car Insurance Discounts

1. What’s the cheapest car insurance for college students?

GEICO, State Farm, and Progressive typically have the best rates for students.

2. How much is car insurance for a college student per month?

It varies, but the average is $200–$300 per month. With discounts, it can go as low as $100–$150.

3. Do all insurers offer a Good Student Discount?

Most major providers do! The discount usually applies to students with a B average or higher.

4. Can I stay on my parents’ car insurance in college?

Yes! As long as your permanent address is your parents’ home, you can stay on their policy.

5. What’s the biggest discount a college student can get?

• Student Away Discount (20-30% off)
• Good Student Discount (10-25% off)
• Bundling with parents’ policy (Up to 50% off)

---

If you’re a college student (or a parent of one), don’t overpay for insurance! Compare rates, use every discount possible, and start saving today! 🚗📚💰