Best Car Insurance for College Students

After analyzing rates, discounts and service quality, Auto-Owners, GEICO and Travelers come out on top for college students. These three companies consistently offer the best combination of affordable rates, student discounts and features that work well for campus life across all college age groups.

We ranked insurers based on what matters most to 18, 19 and 20-year-olds: affordable rates, good customer service, fast claims handling and solid coverage options. Pick your age in the table below to see how each company scored.

College students face enough financial pressure without overpaying for car insurance. Our analysis shows GEICO offers the cheapest family policy at $46 monthly, while State Farm leads individual policies at $61 monthly. Staying on your parents' policy saves an average of $288 annually, though savings vary by insurer.

Family policies deliver excellent value throughout college, with GEICO leading across all coverage levels. Minimum coverage starts at just $46 monthly, while adding comprehensive and collision coverage jumps to $170 monthly. Full coverage with higher liability limits costs $203 monthly, providing robust financial protection for just $33 more.

Students see substantial rate drops each year, with GEICO maintaining the most competitive pricing, while Nationwide offers the steepest rate reductions as you progress through college.

Students needing their own coverage find that State Farm offers the best rates across all coverage levels. Basic minimum liability starts at $61 monthly with State Farm, while GEICO charges $70 monthly for the same coverage. The price gap widens when adding comprehensive and collision coverage: State Farm jumps to $218 monthly, while Nationwide's comparable coverage costs $353 monthly.

Full coverage with higher liability limits follows the same pattern, with State Farm charging $247 monthly versus Nationwide's $361 monthly. Students choosing individual policies benefit most from State Farm's consistent low pricing, especially when upgrading from basic liability to comprehensive coverage, where competitors charge substantially more.

We analyzed family versus individual policies and found GEICO offers the cheapest family coverage for 18-year-old students at $160 monthly, while State Farm provides the lowest individual rates at $201 monthly.

Staying on your parents' policy saves an average of $76 monthly. Nationwide offers the biggest family discount, saving students $131 monthly compared to going solo.

Sophomore year brings better insurance rates for 19-year-old college students. Progressive leads with the cheapest family policy at $134 monthly and offers the best individual rates at $165 monthly.

However, the savings vary by insurer. While State Farm saves you only $12 monthly on a family policy, Nationwide delivers savings of $116 monthly for students staying on their parents' plan, compared to the average 19-year-old who saves $44 monthly by remaining on the family policy.

Junior year brings a pricing shift where family policies lose their edge with most insurers. Progressive leads with the cheapest family policy at $138 monthly and offers the best individual rates at $148 monthly.

Here's the surprise: State Farm flips the script entirely, charging $159 monthly for family coverage but just $154 monthly for individual policies.

This creates a strategic decision point for 20-year-olds. While Nationwide still offers family savings of $72 monthly, Progressive provides the lowest costs regardless of policy type.

Most insurers now show smaller gaps between family and individual rates, with average family savings dropping to just $23 monthly. Junior year marks the perfect time to reevaluate whether staying on your parents' policy still makes financial sense.

Senior year brings the lowest insurance rates of your college career, with Progressive leading at $43 monthly for family policies and $45 monthly for individual coverage. Due to Progressive's minimal $2 monthly difference, the choice between family and individual policies becomes less critical.

GEICO maintains competitive rates at $115 monthly for family coverage, while Nationwide offers the highest family discounts at $50 monthly savings. State Farm retains its pricing structure of charging $139 monthly for family coverage but only $134 monthly for individual policies.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator gives you personalized rate estimates based on your situation as a college student. Fill in your details — state, age, gender, credit score, driving record, car info, coverage type and ZIP code — to get accurate quotes. Military families can indicate their status for additional discounts.

Whether you stay on your parents' policy or get your own coverage, this tool helps you compare rates and find insurance that fits your college budget.

While young drivers face higher insurance premiums, college students can access discount opportunities designed for their circumstances. Beyond the widely available good student discount, several lesser-known discounts are tailored to college life. These specialized savings options recognize the unique living situations, reduced driving habits and institutional affiliations common during your higher education years.

For a comprehensive overview of auto insurance discounts, visit our complete guide. Below, you'll find discounts applicable to college students to help make your coverage more affordable.

Staying on your parents' car insurance policy is often the most cost-effective option for college students. However, insurers may have specific requirements about when you can remain on the plan and when you need to switch to your own coverage.

As your independence grows during college, specific circumstances make getting your own auto insurance policy necessary. Consider transitioning to an individual policy if you've established a permanent residence away from your parents' home, achieved financial independence or encounter specific state laws or insurer requirements that require separate coverage.

College students have several excellent insurance options, with Auto-Owners, GEICO and Travelers leading our rankings for service quality and affordability. Family policies typically offer better value than individual coverage, with savings averaging $288 annually. However, this changes as you progress through college. Rates generally decrease each year, and individual policies become more competitive by senior year.

The best choice depends on your situation. Students staying on family policies should consider GEICO for consistent low rates, while those needing individual coverage often find State Farm most affordable. Don't overlook good student discounts and usage-based programs, which can provide additional savings. Most importantly, review your coverage annually as your needs and circumstances change throughout college.

These questions cover what college students ask us most about car insurance, from coverage options and costs to managing your policy while you're in school. Whether you're living in dorms, going to college out of state or figuring out what happens after graduation, these answers help you make smart insurance choices without breaking your budget.

Study Overview

MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance quotes for high school and college students using a sample driver profile. The research compared rates for individual and family policies to highlight cost differences, offering insights into the most affordable options for students.

Data Sources and Depth

We collected data from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services for our survey. Our sample comprised 19,516 quotes from six companies in 100 U.S. ZIP codes.

Driver Profile

We used an average driver profile based on a composite of the following criteria:

• Toyota Camry LE
• Clean driving record
• 12,000 miles driven annually

We created this profile to determine average costs for young drivers across the U.S. and modified it by age to gather age-specific quote data.

Coverage Levels and Deductibles Explained

In car insurance, a deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket for comprehensive and collision claims before your insurer covers the remaining costs (Note: Liability coverage typically doesn't include deductibles). A full coverage policy includes comprehensive and collision coverages, each subject to its own deductible:

• Comprehensive coverage: Covers damage from noncollision events like theft, vandalism, fire or falling objects
• Collision coverage: Covers damage from at-fault collisions with objects or other vehicles

For national averages, MoneyGeek used a sample driver with 100/300/100 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage under a full coverage policy.

100/300/100 represents the following:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $100,000 property damage liability per accident

Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.