Car insurance for college graduates

*Rates reflect a renter with their own auto insurance policy.

How being a college graduate impacts car insurance

College graduates are typically just starting out in their careers and may be handling their finances alone for the first time. It may feel challenging to keep tabs on all your bills, like your utilities, renters insurance and car insurance, grocery bills and debt repayments, and to budget your spending accordingly. In most states, you’ll be required to purchase a car insurance policy in order to legally operate a vehicle. If this is your first time on a policy of your own, it’s important to know that a number of factors impact your car insurance rates, which could also help you know how to lower your premium.

• Geographic location: Where you live in the country often has a big impact on how much you pay for car insurance. In some areas, the cost of living, medical expenses and vehicle parts and repairs could be higher, as well as a higher likelihood of accidents — all of which affect premiums. According to Bankrate’s 2022 study of quoted annual auto insurance premiums, Louisiana, Florida, New York, Michigan and Nevada are the nation’s most expensive states for car insurance. After graduation, college students may want to consider insurance rates associated with states they may be considering moving to, if budget is a concern.
• Credit score: You may be surprised to learn that, in most states, car insurance rates vary by insurance-based credit score. Generally, drivers with poor credit pay higher premiums, as they are statistically more likely to file claims. College graduates with student loan debt may find that they face higher premiums as a result. Even if you have no debt, you may not have much credit built up due to your age, which can have a negative impact on your overall insurance-based credit score. Building your credit history might help you find lower premiums over time.
• Driving record: Young drivers (under 25 years of age) are among the most risky and expensive age groups to insure, due a higher likelihood of accidents leading to costly claims. If you can maintain a clean driving record — meaning no speeding tickets, accidents or DUI convictions — you may avoid even higher rates upon renewal or when applying for a new policy. In some cases, your motor vehicle record also impacts your eligibility for coverage altogether.
• Annual mileage: An insurance company may ask how often you drive and how far you drive each day, week or year in order to gauge how often you are on the road. Being a frequent driver equates to more opportunities to be involved in an accident and file a claim. The more miles you drive, the more you may pay for car insurance premiums. However, the reverse is also true; the fewer miles you drive, the more you might save.

Cheap car insurance for college graduates

While many things can negatively impact the cost of car insurance for college graduates, there are steps that you can take to lower the financial burden. For instance, making timely payments on your student loans can help improve your credit score which could result in a more favorable rate over time, if you live in a state that allows credit as a rating factor.

Additionally, maintaining a clean driving record for five years or more might earn you more affordable rates than those who have accumulated multiple traffic violations. Perhaps the best way to ensure you find the cheapest rate for car insurance as a college graduate is by thoroughly researching the providers in your region. Each insurance company’s rates are different, so you should be able to find the most affordable fit by shopping around and comparing multiple quotes from separate providers.

College student discounts

In addition to driving safely, improving your credit score and shopping around, college students may be eligible for special auto insurance discounts based on their location and academic performance:

• Good student discounts: If you graduated with a B or better letter-grade average, some car insurance companies will offer you a good student discount on your policy, up to age 25, even if you’re no longer in college. Be sure to discuss the eligibility qualifications with your agent for this savings opportunity.
• Distant student discounts: Generally distant student discounts are given to students who go to school 100 or more miles away from home who do not take a vehicle with them. If you were on your parents’ policy and had this discount, you will likely lose it once you graduate, since you are no longer a student. However, if you plan to go on to pursue a graduate degree and you still do not have a car on campus, you may still be eligible for this discount. Speak with a licensed agent to determine whether this discount works for your situation.
• Young driver programs: Although you may be feeling like you have fully reached adulthood upon graduating college, insurers still generally consider you to be a “young driver” until you are 25. As such, you may be eligible to participate in the young driver programs that companies offer, which could help you save on insurance costs by practicing safe driving.
• Telematics programs: Telematics systems in vehicles collect data on drivers including driving habits, mileage and fuel usage. Some insurance companies offer discounts for drivers who receive consistent safe-driving feedback from their telematics programs, such as Allstate DriveWise, or Nationwide SmartRide.

Other ways for college graduates to save on car insurance

Aside from discounts, driving behavior, credit score improvement and shopping around, college graduates may find additional ways to save through the following methods:

• Compare vehicles: Insurance companies may consider certain vehicles a higher risk to insure than others and may come with a higher premium. Before purchasing a vehicle, consider researching the car’s safety features and ratings, and looking into how much it may cost to insure by your provider. Some vehicles are cheaper on average to insure than others.
• Increased deductible: Full coverage policies have two deductibles: one for comprehensive coverage and one for collision coverage. Raising your deductible means you are willing to cover more expenses out-of-pocket in a claim for damage to your own car, but it can also provide immediate savings on your premium to help you allocate funds for the unexpected. Just make sure you choose a level you can afford to pay if you do file a claim.
• Bundle insurance: If you own or rent a home following graduation, consider bundling a homeowners insurance policy or renters insurance policy with your auto insurance. Doing so could save you a significant amount, depending on which provider you select.

Coverage options to consider for recent college graduates

Along with the cost of insurance, college graduates may want to consider the range of coverage options their policy includes. The following are some car insurance coverage options that college graduates may wish to consider adding to their policies for greater financial protection:

Roadside assistance

Many insurance providers offer roadside assistance as an optional add-on. This protection is intended to help you connect with your provider’s roadside assistance network if your car breaks down unexpectedly.

Glass insurance

Some providers offer endorsements specifically for the glass in your vehicle. A windshield replacement or glass chip can be expensive to repair, but if you have a “full glass” endorsement on your policy, you may not need to pay your comprehensive deductible to have the glass restored. Especially if you live in an area with a high rate of property crime, glass insurance coverage could prevent you from shouldering the weight of this financial burden.

Guaranteed asset protection (GAP coverage)

Gap insurance helps ensure that you can settle the debts on your car loan if your new vehicle is deemed a total loss following a covered accident. The moment you leave the car lot, your car begins depreciating in value. With gap insurance, the difference between the balance of your car loan and what the vehicle is actually worth may be covered, preventing you from having to pay out of pocket to pay off your loan.