To find the best car insurance for students, you need to commit time for sufficient research. Students already spend so much on tuition, room and board, and clothing. Finding the best car insurance for the best price is a must.
But students are often inexperienced as drivers, so they are more likely to cause traffic accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a study in 2010 showing that car accident is the leading cause of teenage death in the country.
This is why insurance companies give students higher rates than other groups. To get the best car insurance, you must compare multiple quotes. You also need to consider several factors, including average cost, available student discounts, and customer service. Below are some of the best car insurance for students.
Allstate
According to Investopedia, Allstate provides the best overall car insurance for college students. Allstate insurance reviews tell us that the fourth largest car insurance company in the U.S. offers coverage and discounts that specifically cater to students.
Availability won’t be an issue with Allstate. It has thousands of local agents eager to give you quotes, relevant details, and discounts. You can also apply online through its partner, Esurance.
If the car is titled under your parent’s name or is jointly titled, Allstate allows it to remain on the family car insurance. But if the car is under your name, you need to buy the car insurance in your name.
Allstate offers basic insurance coverages and provides additional benefits like roadside assistance. It can be a lifesaver when your car breaks down, you need towing, your tire is flat, or you need to jump-start your battery. If you work part-time for companies like Uber or Lyft, adding the auto insurer’s rideshare insurance to your current policy will make a lot of sense.
You get several options to save on your car insurance costs through Allstate discounts. The company has a Smart Student Discount that can save you up to 25%. You need to maintain a grade of B or finish the teenSMART educational program. You can also get a discount if you go to a college at least 100 miles away from your car’s garage.
Meanwhile, you have the option of applying to Allstate’s Milewise program if you live on campus. Milewise computes your premium based on your monthly mileage, so it’s cheaper than regular car insurance.
GEICO
On the other hand, thebalance.com considers GEICO the best auto insurer for college students due to its coverage, discount offerings, and digital platform. It has all the basic coverages, such as liability, medical, and uninsured motorist.
It also offers mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI), which works like an extended warranty for vehicles with less than 15,000 mileage. MBI may be a good addition if your car is brand new or you don’t use it much.
Since students are mostly on mobile devices, GEICO designed a mobile app that you can use to request roadside assistance. It works by using your GPS data to determine your location. GEICO also provides discounts for good students and those who took defensive driving classes and driver’s education. You may also get a discount if you’re a member of fraternities, sororities, or honor societies.
GEICO consistently gets high customer satisfaction ratings. It earned the number one spot in J.D. Power’s 2021 Insurance Shopping Study. The car insurance provider also maintains an A++ financial strength rating with AM Best.
State Farm
ValuePenguin named State Farm the best car insurance company for students based on discount offerings. So, if your objective is to get the best discounts for your car insurance, you might want to look at what State Farm has to offer.
You may get up to a 25% discount annually if you qualify for the insurance provider’s good student discount program. The criteria may differ depending on your state, but most requirements include full-time student status and a grade point average of at least 3.0.
Meanwhile, State Farm’s Steer Clear program gives additional discounts if you are under 25 years old and trying to improve your driving skills through educational materials. You will need to self-log important events during your trips. If you commit no violations or did not get into an accident, you’ll be able to get a discount.
Another one you can check out is the Student Away discount for students who only use their cars when they’re not at school. This discount is best for students who live on school campuses where driving isn’t needed. The main qualification is that your home is more than 100 miles away from your school.
Final Thoughts
What you consider the best car insurance will depend on your priorities as a student. Make sure that you’ve researched the companies you’re considering. Only choose reputable car insurance providers, such as those mentioned above.
