Car insurance for students remains among the most expensive across age groups. Premiums have risen sharply since 2020 — the motor vehicle insurance index increased about 19% year over year and is roughly half higher than pre-2020 levels — and the national average for full coverage across all drivers was around $2,543 in 2024. Student and teen drivers often pay 2–3x that level. Therefore, finding cheap car insurance for students can be difficult, but it’s not impossible.
There are companies that consistently offer competitive options for students without sacrificing value. State Farm, Geico, Progressive, USAA (for eligible military families), Nationwide, and regional carriers like Erie and Amica are often strong quotes for young drivers, though pricing varies widely by state, ZIP code, and profile.
To select the best car insurance for students, we considered factors such as:
- Financial strength
- Customer satisfaction
- Discount availability (good student, distant student) and telematics/pay-per-mile options
- Average premiums and price stability
Finding affordable auto insurance for college students can be challenging, so it’s also important to compare quotes that include student discounts and telematics/pay-per-mile options to identify the best deals.
The 6 Best Car Insurance for College Students
- Erie: Best for Regional Value and Cheap Premiums
- USAA: Best for Customer Service (Military Families Only)
- Geico: Best for Discounts and Low Rates
- AAA: Best for Emergency Roadside Assistance
- Travelers: Best for Claims Processing and Telematics
- Progressive: Best for Customized Coverage and Telematics
Compare the Top Auto Insurance for Students
| AVERAGE PRICE FOR 19 YEAR OLDS* | Average Student Discount | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. POWER OVERALL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION** J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Erie | $2,601 | N/A | A+ | 848/1,000 | |
| Pin USAA | $2,637 | Varies | A++ | 891/1,000** | |
| Pin Geico | $3,008 | Up to 15% | A++ | 843/1,000 | |
| Pin AAA | $4,755 | Up to 14% | A+ | N/A** | |
| Pin Travelers | $3,666 | Up to 8% | A++ | 824/1,000 | |
| Pin Progressive | $3,761 | Varies | A+ | 829/1,000 |
Information accurate as of: 11/14/2025
*Benchmarks from recent national analyses (Bankrate, NerdWallet, The Zebra)
**J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study average rating. Based on a 1,000-point scale. AAA uses different third-party providers to underwrite its policies, so scores may vary per location. USAA is not officially ranked due to eligibility restrictions.
Erie
Often among the lower-cost options for college-age drivers where it operates, with strong service reputation; actual prices vary by state and have risen since 2020.
Best for Cheapest Premiums
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Cheapest provider for college students based on Bankrate’s data
- Not yet available nationwide
- Fewer complaints than would be expected with a company of its size
Cons
- Doesn’t offer as many discounts
- No smartphone app
Types of Coverage Offered
- Personal item coverage
- Pet coverage
- Travel expense coverage
Discounts Available
- Pay in full
- Driver training course
- Vehicle storage
- Bundling
- Multiple vehicles
Further Reading on Reviews.com:
USAA
USAA serves military families and continues to earn top-tier satisfaction marks; eligibility limits apply to active-duty, veterans and qualifying family members.
Best for Customer Service
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Awesome customer service
- Financially strong
- Great online resources
Cons
- Not the cheapest in the business
- Not as many discounts
Types of Coverage Offered
- Military Uniform Coverage
- Replacement Cost Coverage
- Identity Theft Coverage
Discounts Available
- Multiple Policies
- Claims Free
Further Reading on Reviews.com:
Geico
Offers a wide range of discounts to help you get an affordable premium, including a Good Student discount (up to 15% where available) and a telematics program that can reward safe driving.
Best for Discounts
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Large array of discounts
- Great mobile app
- Cheap even without discounts
Cons
- Average customer support rating
- May be difficult to find a local agent
Types of Coverage Offered
- Ridesharing insurance
- Mechanical breakdown insurance
Discounts Available
- Accident free
- Federal employee
- Multiple vehicles
- Safety equipment
- Defensive driving
- Good student
- U.S. military
*J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study average rating. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Further Reading on Reviews.com
AAA
Never worry about getting stranded with AAA’s emergency roadside assistance; membership benefits can complement your auto policy.
Best for Emergency Roadside Assistance
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Great roadside assistance
- Joining AAA comes with multiple benefits outside of insurance
- Financially strong
Cons
- Offerings depend on what state you’re in
- Must join AAA to access auto insurance
Types of Coverage Offered
- Pet coverage
- Gap insurance
- Custom equipment coverage
Discounts Available
- Safe driver
- Multiple car
- Multiple policy
- Paid in full
- Accident free
- Safety features
**AAA uses third-party providers to underwrite its policies and score may vary per location.
Further Reading on Reviews.com:
Travelers
Known for steady claims handling and a strong telematics option (IntelliDrive) that can help safe student drivers lower premiums.
Best for Claims Processing
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Fast processing of claims
- Easy to get a quote online
- Many discounts
Cons
- Rideshare insurance not available in every state
- Customer satisfaction rates could be higher
Types of Coverage Offered
- Gap insurance
- Rideshare insurance
- New car replacement
- Responsible driver
Discounts Available
- Multi-car
- Multi-policy
- Safe driver
- Paid in full
- Good student
- Defensive driving course
- New car
Further Reading on Reviews.com
Progressive
Allows you to fully customize your insurance package and opt into Snapshot telematics for potential safe-driving savings.
Best for Customized Coverage
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Truly customizable insurance policies
- Strong online and mobile tools
- Few amount of complaints for a company of its size
Cons
- Average customer satisfaction
- Could be financially stronger
Types of Coverage Offered
- Rideshare
- Gap insurance
- Pet injury
- Custom parts
Discounts Available
- Automatic payments
- Paperless
- Multi-policy
- Multi-car
- Good student
- Distant student
- Online quote
Further Reading on Reviews.com
- Progressive auto insurance review
- Progressive homeowners insurance review
- Progressive renters insurance review
- Progressive motorcycle insurance review
*Benchmarks from recent national analyses (Bankrate, NerdWallet, The Zebra)
**J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study average rating. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
Current Benchmarks for Student Car Insurance Costs
Car insurance rates are influenced by a variety of factors, including:
- Credit score (in most states)
- State
- Age of car
- Type of car
- Driving history
- Insurance history
- Coverage choices and deductibles; participation in telematics/usage-based programs
Quotes today may be notably higher than 2020 figures. As directional 2024–2025 benchmarks: a 16-year-old on their own policy often pays about $6,000–$9,000 per year for full coverage; an 18-year-old averages just over $5,000; and a 20-year-old typically sees roughly $3,500–$4,200. Being added to a parent’s policy is usually substantially cheaper than buying a standalone policy. Actual premiums vary by state, insurer and driver profile.
| Student driver profile | Typical annual full coverage benchmark* |
| 16-year-old on own policy | $6,000–$9,000 |
| 18-year-old on own policy | Just over $5,000 |
| 20-year-old on own policy | $3,500–$4,200 |
*Benchmarks drawn from recent national studies (Bankrate, NerdWallet and The Zebra); actual quotes vary by state, insurer and profile
Auto Insurance Discounts for Students
Some of the best car insurance student discounts include:
- Good Student Discount: Maintain a 3.0 GPA (or meet your insurer’s criteria) and you can earn meaningful savings; for example, some carriers advertise up to 25% off for eligible good students, while others cap this around 15%.
- Driver’s Education/Defensive Driving and Telematics: Approved driver training can reduce costs, and many companies now offer usage-based programs that can deliver double-digit savings for safe driving — sometimes up to 30%–40% depending on the carrier and state.
- Military Discount: Military members and families often qualify for savings; eligible households should also compare USAA, which consistently performs well on price and service.
- Distant College Student Discount: If you live roughly 100+ miles from home and don’t take the car to school, many insurers offer a discount based on reduced vehicle access and mileage. If you’re studying online from home, you typically won’t qualify; consider telematics/low‑mileage options instead.
State Differences and Good Student Savings
| State or scenario | Indicative premium for 19-year-olds with good student* | Without good student* | Savings |
| Hawaii** | Age not used for rating; premiums vary by other factors | Age not used for rating; premiums vary by other factors | N/A |
| Lower-cost states (e.g., Maine, Idaho) | Often below national averages; varies by ZIP/insurer | Same profile without discount | Good student commonly 10%–25% on eligible coverages |
| Mid-cost states (e.g., Ohio, Iowa) | Near national averages; varies by ZIP/insurer | Same profile without discount | Similar 10%–25% potential, varies |
| High-cost no-fault states (e.g., Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York) | Typically much higher than national averages | Higher still without discount | Discount helps but overall costs remain elevated |
| Large metro/urban areas | Rates reflect higher traffic and claim costs | Higher without discount | Varies by carrier and ZIP |
*General patterns from recent national studies; verify current quotes for your ZIP
**Hawaii does not use age as a rating factor when pricing policies.
Should You Take Your Car to College?
If you take your car to college, you won’t be stuck limiting your grocery shopping to what you can carry back home. Plus, having a car makes it easier to get a job off campus.
But there are a few reasons not to take your car to college, including:
- Parking may be extremely difficult
- You may have to pay extra for a parking pass
- Many colleges discourage students from taking a car, and some even make it against the rules
And then there’s insurance to consider. If you leave your car at home, your insurer may offer a distance-based “student away at school” discount when you live roughly 100+ miles from home and don’t have the car on campus. If you’re studying online while living at home, you typically won’t qualify for that discount — but low‑mileage and telematics programs may offer alternative savings.
Can You Stay on Your Parents Insurance?
Often it makes financial sense to stay on your parents’ insurance. Young drivers rated on a household policy usually pay far less than they would on a standalone policy, and many families save in the low‑thousands per year by keeping a student on the family plan when eligible.
Another reason to stay is for your insurance history. Insurers generally prefer continuous coverage with no large gaps. Even if you drive infrequently at school, maintaining coverage can help keep future rates lower.
However, it’s better to get your own insurance policy if:
- You get married/you no longer plan to live at home: Though there’s no age limit on when you have to get your own policy, if you no longer live at home, most insurance companies require you to be taken off of your parents’ policy.
- You buy a car in your name: If you own your own car, you need to get your own insurance policy.
- Your parents have a bad driving record: It might be financially advantageous for you to have your own policy if your parents have a bad driving record.
Why Your Friends Can’t Drive Your Car
There are many reasons that you shouldn’t let your friends drive your car. First and foremost, if they get into an accident, you and your insurance provider may be deemed financially responsible if your friend is found to be at fault. This means you will be the one expected to pay for any damages should they exceed your policy limits. And if the other person decides to sue, you will be the one taken to court. When this happens, even if it’s just a fender bender, you can also expect your monthly and yearly premium to go up.
There’s also overall safety to consider. Each car accelerates, turns, and brakes a little differently from one another. If your friend wants to take your car on the highway, they could be putting themselves in danger if they don’t have much driving experience.
What is Covered By Car Insurance
- Bodily injury: If you injure someone else in an accident, your insurance provider will cover their medical costs up to your policy limit.
- Property damage: Damage another car or person’s property, and your insurance provider will pay for repairs up to your policy limit.
- Personal injury protection: Should you get into an accident, this coverage option covers you and your passengers’ medical costs up to your policy limit.
- Uninsured/ underinsured motorist protection: This protects you in the event you get into an accident with a person who has little to no insurance protection.
- Collision: No matter who is considered at fault, collision protection will pay for your car’s repair or replacement up to your policy limit.
- Comprehensive: If your car is damaged while you’re not driving it, this coverage option will pay for its repair/replacement up to your policy limit.
What is not covered by Car Insurance
- Any amount that exceeds your policy limit: If you get into an accident that does more damage than your policy accepts, you will be responsible for the remaining amount.
- High performance cars: If you have a highly valuable car, it’s likely that a regular insurance policy won’t cover it. You will need a specialized type of insurance to make sure it is protected.
- Gradual wear and tear: Your insurance provider will not help you replace parts damaged from normal wear and tear, like your tires or brakes. Anything that is considered a loss due to normal usage is not covered.
- Ridesharing: Driving for a transportation network company or delivery is typically excluded under a standard personal auto policy unless you add a specific rideshare/delivery endorsement.
Methodology
Reviews.com reviews products, services and companies based on five criteria to help readers understand how companies compare based on similar metrics. For the best car insurance companies, our editorial team compared affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction scores and online resources from each company to determine top providers.
For pricing context, we reference recent national studies indicating an average full-coverage premium around $2,543 across all drivers and substantially higher averages for teens and young adults. Student benchmarks used include national analyses showing ~$6,000–$9,000 (age 16), just over $5,000 (age 18), and roughly $3,500–$4,200 (age 20) for full coverage on a standalone policy.
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
“Full coverage” in most consumer studies includes liability (often 100/300/50), plus collision and comprehensive with standard deductibles; “minimum coverage” reflects each state’s minimum required liability. Vehicle and driver assumptions vary by publisher, and results differ by state.
Hawaii does not use age as a rating factor.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
