Student Discount for Car Insurance

If you cover a student-aged driver on your auto insurance policy — or are one yourself — it can be tough to find affordable quotes. Given their lack of driving experience, drivers aged 16 to 25 pay over 115% more per year than the average driver: $1,667 per six-month policy, versus the U.S. average of $774. Although this rate hike varies from state to state, most car insurance companies offer discounts for students with good grades — GPAs of 3.0 or above. Coupled with a good driver discount, a good student discount can lead to savings of $186 per year on car insurance.

The above figures are not insurer- or state-specific, so pricing variability will exist. Let’s break down the best good student car insurance discounts by insurance company.

GEICO offers three ways to earn a student discount on auto insurance. A good student discount, a good driver discount, and an affinity membership discount. In order to earn GEICO's good student discount, you must maintain a “B” average or better. To qualify for good driver savings, need to maintain a clean driving record for five or more years. To receive affinity membership insurance perks through GEICO, you'll need to be a member of a fraternity, sorority, honor society, and alumni or university organization.

Nationwide offers a good student discount. Qualifying students must be 16-24 years old full-time high school or college students with a "B" average or better. You will need to provide proof in the form of a recent report card or a form signed by a school administrator. Nationwide also offers a safe driver discount for drivers who have not had at-faults and moving violations within the past five years.

The primary student car insurance discount Allstate advertises is a good student discount, which this company refers to as a smart student discount. Eligible drivers must be under the age of 24, unmarried, and meet one of three requirements:

• Maintain a "B" average or a GPA of 2.7 or above. Homeschooled drivers must show proof of performing at or above the 20th percentile in the PSAT, SAT, or ACT.
• Successfully complete Allstate's driver education program, teenSMART®.
• Attend school or university more than 100 miles away from where the insured vehicle is garaged.
  
  

State Farm offers a unique way for young drivers to save. State Farm's Steer Clear program allows young drivers to earn a safe driving certificate via a mobile app. To qualify and receive a discount, drivers must meet these requirements:

State Farm claims a savings of up to 15% by enrolling in Steer Clear.

State Farm also offers some standard student discounts for students away at school, good drivers, driver training, and good students. To earn State Farm's good student discount — of up to 25% — a driver must keep their GPA above 3.0.

Liberty Mutual advertises two ways for students to save on auto insurance: a good student discount for students with a "B" average or better, and a student away from home savings package. The latter is reserved for students who reside more than 100 miles away from the residence and vehicle listed on the policy.

Progressive's good student discount requires that full-time students maintain a "B" or better-level GPA. The company also offers a distant student discount for students (age 22 or younger) who live more than 100 miles from home and don't have a vehicle while at school. Progressive also offers a teen driver discount for parents adding a driver (18-years-old or younger) to their policy.

Note: Student discounts from Progressive are not available in California.

If you qualify for USAA car insurance coverage, you could earn a good student discount. USAA's eligibility requirements for this discount include:

To earn Farmers’ good student discount, a driver must be under age 25, enrolled in school full-time and maintain an average grade of "B" or better. Earning a spot on the dean’s list or honor roll also qualifies a student for Farmers' discount.

Failing to qualify for a good student discount doesn't necessarily mean you can't find cheap car insurance. Shop around, weighing as many options as possible: a number of rating factors are used to determine your insurance premium, and different companies will price policies differently based on these factors.

See below for premium estimates for young drivers without a good student discount. These pricing estimates show rates for a teen added to a car insurance policy with two parents. View our full methodology here.

AVERAGE 6-MONTH RATES FOR 16-19-YEAR-OLD TEEN DRIVERS ADDED TO PARENTS' POLICY