There is nothing quite as exciting as going off to college. For many students, this is their first time living on their own. And you get to spend years preparing for what you want to do with the rest of your life.
Such preparation is already pretty stressful. And the last thing you need is to add additional stress to your life. But if you don’t know everything you need to know about college drivers and auto insurance, then insane stress may just be one accident away!
Don’t believe it? Keep reading to learn the most important details about college drivers and auto insurance.
Will I Need Car Insurance at College?
At this point, certain incoming college freshman may be scratching their heads about why they would stress over car insurance. That’s because they are asking a very simple question: “Am I actually going to need my car at college?”
The answer is “most likely, yes.” College marketing often emphasizes public transit options, including plenty of university buses. And it’s true that the transit options will do a good job of ferrying you from an off-campus apartment to your classes and back again. If you live in the dorms, you may not even need to worry about that.
However, college is about more than classes. It’s about hanging out with awesome friends, checking out local events, and connecting with a new community. For everything outside of your academics, a car makes things much easier. And you need the right insurance coverage to protect yourself and your vehicle.
Can I Stay on My Parents’ Car Insurance Policy?
The fact that you need a car and low-cost car insurance while at college may sound like bad news if you weren’t expecting it. But here’s some good news: you may be able to stay on your parents’ policy rather than having to take out a separate policy of your own.
This is beneficial for several reasons. First, it’s the easiest method since you are likely already on their insurance. Second, your parents may effectively be saving money on a bundled policy that includes your insurance as well as theirs.
However, there are some drawbacks. Some parents are nervous about being liable for damage that their student driver ends up causing. And, in some cases, you may actually be able to get a better rate on your own. We recommend shopping around for quotes, consulting with your parents, and coming to a mutual decision about whether you will stay on their policy before you head off to college.
Is My Car Insurance Going to be Expensive While I’m in College?
Whether you stay on your parents’ policy or get your own, there is one sobering thing you should know about car insurance: it will likely be very expensive for you.
The reason for this is simple: insurance carriers look at several factors before determining the cost of your insurance premium. One of the biggest factors is age. Simply put, younger drivers tend to get into more accidents than older drivers.
You can try to keep the costs down by maintaining a clean driving record and exploring some of our cost-cutting ideas below. If nothing else, take comfort from the fact that your insurance is going to be much, much cheaper in just a few years. In the meantime, it never hurts to get quotes from multiple insurance companies to make sure you are getting the best price.
Can I Get a Discount On My Car Insurance?
Whether in college or not, all drivers want to spend less on their monthly car insurance premiums. But what if you could experience serious savings by making a phone call?
Every insurance carrier offers discounts for various things, including a history of safe driving. And there are certain discounts that are perfect for college students, including good student discounts for those who keep their grades up. If you don’t actually use your vehicle that often, you may qualify for an occasional driver discount (which can be perfect if you mix driving yourself with using public transit or if you live in a dorm).
In some cases, an insurance carrier may offer discounts to members of certain organizations. If you plan to join a fraternity, sorority, or club (either a student club or a local one), consider asking your carrier if this may qualify you for a discount.
Keep in mind that you won’t know which discounts are available until you call your carrier. And if you’re already contacting carriers to get insurance quotes, make sure to take the time and ask about discounts they may offer.
Spending Money to Save Money
One thing most college students have in common is that they aren’t exactly swimming in money. There will be plenty of times you can’t do something you want simply because you are saving money. But when it comes to insurance discounts for college students, there are times that you need to spend a little money in order to save a lot of money.
For example, the best way to “prove” you are a safe driver to the insurance company is to take a defensive driving course. You simply pay a modest upfront cost to take this short course. Afterward, you can get a discount on your monthly premium for years.
You can also pay to install various anti-theft devices in your car. Each device has a one-time cost, but it can help you save money for years afterward because you can prove to the insurance carrier how safe your car is with these devices.
Get the Best Auto Insurance for College Students Today
Now you know everything college students should know about auto insurance. But do you know where you can get the best insurance coverage today?
Freeway Insurance is here to provide college students with the automobile insurance coverage they need. We can quickly and easily provide you with an online quote. Or feel free to give us a call at (800) 777-5620. Finally, you can also visit us at an office near you.
