College is an exciting period of education and personal growth. As your young adult begins their journey of higher education it is important to support their independence with access to adequate transportation. Whether your student has their own vehicle or is sharing yours, you will need to secure the proper auto insurance coverage. Infinity Insurance Agency, Inc.’s (IIA) car insurance guide for college students will dive into what to consider when evaluating options for you and your student.
Factors to consider when insuring a college student’s car
Whether you are looking to insure your teen driver or a sophomore in college, if your child is driving a car, they need to be covered by auto insurance.
However, there are several factors to consider when weighing your student car insurance options, including:
Will your student be living at home or out of state?
Generally, if your student continues living at home for the duration of their college experience they can remain on your policy. This also applies to students going to college in the same city as their residence or going away to college but not driving. If your child is attending college out of state and driving a car full time, they will probably need their own policy. While it can seem hard to find cheap car insurance for students, you can often save money by bundling your student’s car and renters insurance.
Whose name is on the car title?
Even if your student doesn’t own their car or only drives yours occasionally, they still need to be insured on your policy. Most insurance companies will not allow a student younger than 18 years old to purchase their own policy. Although, if your student is the sole owner of their vehicle and is financially independent, they may be required to obtain their own coverage.
What is my budget for student car insurance?
It is important to note that you will likely pay less for coverage if your student stays on the family’s policy vs. securing their own. Usually, your child can stay on your insurance policy as a listed driver as long as they live at home, or they are a full-time college student.
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1-855-478-3705Student car insurance coverage considerations
Young drivers tend to pay higher insurance rates. However, there are ways to mitigate these costs and secure affordable insurance if your student needs their own policy. Depending on your student driver’s needs and daily habits you may opt for full coverage or just liability coverage.
Student car insurance plans:
- Full coverage - if your student will be driving frequently, has a newer car, or can’t afford a high deductible, you may want to consider full coverage insurance. This type of insurance typically includes liability (which pays for damages they cause to other people/property) collision, and comprehensive coverage. Depending on your student’s commute, the location of their college, and driving habits, full coverage insurance can be a worthwhile investment.
- Liability coverage - is the minimum coverage type required by most states. This type of insurance consists of bodily injury and property damage coverage.
As previously stated, cost can be a concern when insuring young drivers. Younger drivers are considered less experienced and more likely to engage in risky driving behavior which can lead to higher premium costs. Thankfully, there are options to keep your insurance rates down when obtaining coverage for your college student.
Many insurance providers offer discounts for students such as:
- Good student discounts - it is common for insurance companies to offer discounts to students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better.
- Defensive driver discounts - your student could be eligible for potential discounts if they complete a defensive driving course.
- Telematics - is a type of technology that analyzes your driving habits and reports them back to your insurer. Student drivers who showcase safe driving habits could score savings.
Steps to getting a car insurance quote for students
Interested in learning how to get car insurance quotes for students? Before you pick up that phone, make sure you have the required information ready.
Your insurance agent will likely ask you for the following information:
- Year, make, VIN, and model of car
- Driving history of your student
- Personal information of the soon-to-be insured, including name, date of birth, and permanent address
Reach out to one of our friendly Infinity Insurance Agents (IIA) to receive a free quote today.
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Car insurance for college students FAQ:
Can a student stay on a parent's auto insurance policy?
A student can typically stay on a parent's auto insurance policy, up to a certain age, provided they live at the same residence or are away at college and don’t own their own car or are not otherwise regularly driving. A student may need to secure their own policy if they are no longer listing their permanent residence as their family’s residence, have their own car or are financially independent. However, this may vary by company.
What if a student is going to college out of state?
Students attending college out of state can usually stay on their parent’s insurance so long as their primary address is still their family’s residence. However, depending on your state of residence and insurance provider, your student may require their own policy. The insurance company will want to know if your student plans on taking a car to college, the zip code where the car will be parked, and if the student plans to live on or off campus.
Does the type of car affect the cost of auto insurance?
Yes, the type of vehicle you plan to insure will affect the cost of your car insurance.
Can international students get car insurance?
US car insurance typically will not cover students attending school abroad although some companies may extend coverage if the college is in Canada. Students should obtain car insurance in whatever country they will be residing in.
The college years should be filled with excitement and discovery, not stress over insurance providers. Give IIA a call at 1-855-478-3705 to discover how you can obtain coverage for your college student today!