How much is the average car insurance for a college student?

AAA, USAA, and Travelers are the cheapest car insurance companies for college students, charging an average of $850 per year, which is lower than the average student’s policy overall. Car insurance is more expensive for college students than for older drivers, but students can save by comparing quotes and finding ... read full answerdiscounts.

For instance, every major insurer offers a good student discount. Many companies also provide student-away-at-school discounts for drivers who leave their car at home during the semester.

Companies with Cheap Car Insurance for College Students

Note: Premiums are annual, for college students with their own policy. Individual rates will vary.

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance for College Students

It’s important to note that adding a college student to a family policy is usually less expensive than purchasing an individual policy for a college student. Overall, the cheapest companies for adding a college student to an existing policy are Travelers, Mercury, and The Hartford.

College students might be better off getting their own policy in unique circumstances, though. For instance, it’s probably cheaper to get your own policy if someone in your family is a high-risk driver. Or, you might want to get your own policy if your school is in a state with much lower insurance requirements than your home state.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to the best car insurance for college students.

College students can get car insurance discounts for having good grades or for going to college far away from the car they drive. College students can also qualify for general car insurance discounts, such as driver's education and good driver discounts. Since most college students are young drivers, car insurance companies consider them ... read full answerhigh-risk and usually charge them higher premiums, making discounts all the more important.

To qualify for a good student discount, drivers usually need to be under 25 years old and unmarried, with a B average or better. Additionally, distant student discounts are designed for students who do not have a car with them at college and who attend school more than 100 miles away from home. You can see which major car insurance companies have these student discounts below.

Car Insurance Discounts for College Students by Company

Most college students can save money on car insurance by staying on a family policy. However, if your permanent residence is different from your parents’ and you drive full-time, you will likely need your own policy. It also might be cheaper to buy your own policy if you go to school in an area with lower car insurance rates or if one of your family members has a poor driving record that increases premium costs.

For more information, check out WalletHub’s articles on cheap car insurance for new drivers under 21 and the best car insurance for new drivers under 25.

Car insurance for a 19-year-old costs an average of $1,623 per year for minimum coverage. Nineteen-year-old drivers pay more for car insurance than older, more experienced drivers because insurers consider them to be high-risk, meaning they’re more likely to file a claim.

The exact cost of car insurance for a 19-year-old depends on a ... read full answerfew factors, including their driving record, gender, location, vehicle, and car insurance company. Some of the best insurance companies for 19-year-old drivers are USAA, Geico, and Travelers.

Cost of Car Insurance for a 19-Year-Old by Company

Note: Rates are an approximation based on a driver in California with minimum coverage. Actual rates will vary.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to the best car insurance for teens and young drivers.