Auto Insurance for Children at College (2024)
Auto insurance for a child at college is necessary for many parents since these students are usually still dependents. When you have a dependent who drives, it always put you at risk. Keeping your child insured while they are at college keeps them protected while they are away from home.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Oct 18, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 18, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Anyone who has less than five years of driving experience is classified as a high-risk driver
- College students who have a permanent address at home are considered dependents on their parents’ tax filings
- If your child has regular access to a car while they are away at college, they should stay on your policy
- Encourage your college student to get good grades, and they will qualify for a Good Student Discount
- College students who live in their own apartments should buy their own auto insurance policy for coverage
- As adolescents, college students are considered to be a different driver type
Teens and young adults can’t do anything to escape the fact that they are going to be classified as high-risk drivers when they first get their licenses. They need to understand age and experience are factors that affect auto insurance rates.
Being considered high-risk is why rental agencies surcharge renters under 25 and why auto insurance companies assign highly inflated premiums to vehicles that are driven by the inexperienced driver in the home.
Parents go through a tornado of emotions when their little babies go from diapers to graduating high school in the blink of an eye. Many parents start to wonder about auto insurance for a child at college. Do parents need to keep their college kids on their policy? Here’s a guide on insuring college students.
If you are also looking for insurance for college students, start comparison shopping today for the best auto insurance rates. Enter your ZIP code above to get started!
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When Your College Student is Attending School Nearby
If you were lucky enough to convince your student to attend a college in your local area, you don’t have to worry about saying the emotional goodbyes.
Some young adults want to move as far away from home as possible to enjoy their new-found independence and others understand just how much it costs to move to a new state or city.
As long as your child is living in your home while they are attending a local college or university, you should keep him or her on your auto insurance just like they were when they were in high school.
When Your Child Leaves Your Home and Attends School Far Away
When students are attending school far away from their childhood home, there still may be a need for auto insurance coverage. It all depends on if the student takes a car with them or if they have regular access to other vehicles to commute to school or work.
You should always keep students on your insurance if they are regularly driving at college.
You know you have to insure a car that they take with them, but you should also have that barrier of protection if the student will be borrowing or renting cars.
It’s better to pay the premium than to face an uninsured loss where you could lose everything.
Why do you need to keep a college student away at college on your auto policy?
You have to take a step back and assess the whole situation so that you can fully comprehend why it’s so important to approach the insurance topic the right way.
Students who are away at college are usually still dependents. When you have a dependent who drives, it always put you at risk.
If you’re paying for room and board or you’re helping your child pay for college tuition, they are financially dependent on you, and this can work against you if there’s ever an accident.
When parents make the mistake of removing their children too soon, they won’t have any liability protection to pay for claims made by other drivers. They also won’t be entitled to having the insurance company cover the cost of legal defense.
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When will a college student who is still on your policy be covered?
You might be surprised at home many different scenarios where your teen might need coverage to drive a car when they are away. You can’t keep an eye on your college student all the time, so you don’t truly know if they will be driving.
As much as you’d like to trust your children, it’s always possible that they are doing things they aren’t telling you.
Even though the intention is innocent, if something happens while they are driving a non-owned car, that innocent joyride can turn into a nightmare.
Here are scenarios where your teen will be covered if you keep them on your policy:
- They drive a friend’s car while they are away at school
- They have to drive someone else’s car because of an emergency near the campus
- They return home and drive your vehicles or their friends’ vehicles in your local area
Is there a discount for students who go away to college?
A student who is attending school miles and miles away from you without their car isn’t quite the same type of risk as a student who stills lives with you.
They may still be a risk, but they aren’t exposed to the same level of risk as a student who has regular access to a vehicle and who can come and go as they please.
Most auto insurance carriers offer their customers the option to take advantage of a Student Away at College discount when their student is attending full-time school at least 100 miles from their primary residence.
For the student to qualify for the savings, they must be 24 or younger. You may have to provide proof of their attendance at a school far away.
Ask your insurance agent if they offer insurance discounts to help get cheap car insurance for your child.
Ask About Good Students Discounts
Both local and distant students can qualify for Good Student Discounts as long as they earn a 3.0 or higher and they are attending college full-time.
These discounts for getting good grades are a great incentive for your student to do good in school and save up to 30 percent off of their premiums.
Along with discounts for student drivers, you can also check into discounts for safe drivers if the student has a good driving record. If they completed driver education, the student may be eligible for a driver training discount.
Let your college student stay on your policy for as long as they are dependent on you. When they become independent, they can start to shop for their policy. Use an online auto insurance quote tool and see what the price difference will be.
Start comparison shopping for insurance for college students today by using our FREE online quote tool! Enter your ZIP code below to get started and find an auto insurance company near you that offers discounts for students!
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-age-gender-and-marital-status-affect-your-car-insurance_b_6973360
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/082514/cheap-car-insurance-college-students.asp
- https://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/rpt/2005-R-0715.htm
- https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/a-parents-guide-to-insuring-a-teen-driver
- https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2013/09/26/is-your-college-student-properly-insured
- https://www.irmi.com/term/insurance-definitions/supplementary-payments
- https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2015/06/12/is-it-covered-the-purpose-of-supplementary-payment/
- https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/9-auto-insurance-discounts-not-miss
- https://doi.nv.gov/News_Notices/Press_Releases/Auto_Insurance_101_for_Teen_Drivers/
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do college students need auto insurance if they are living away from home?
Yes, college students who have a vehicle and are living away from home should have auto insurance. It is important to maintain coverage to protect against accidents, theft, and other unforeseen events.
Will my child be covered under my auto insurance policy while they are at college?
It depends on the specific policy and insurance company. Some auto insurance policies may extend coverage to children who are attending college and living away from home. It’s best to contact your insurance provider to confirm the details and any potential limitations.
What if my child doesn’t have a car at college, do they still need auto insurance?
If your child doesn’t have a car at college and won’t be driving any vehicle, they may not need their own auto insurance policy. However, it’s essential to review your existing policy to ensure it covers them adequately when they occasionally borrow or rent a car.
Can my child stay on my auto insurance policy if they attend college out of state?
In most cases, yes, your child can remain on your auto insurance policy if they attend college out of state. Auto insurance policies typically cover drivers in various locations. However, it is recommended to inform your insurance provider about the change in location to ensure your child remains properly covered.
Are there any discounts available for college students with auto insurance?
Yes, many insurance companies offer discounts specifically for college students. Common discounts include good student discounts for maintaining high grades, distant student discounts if the student is attending a college far from home, and discounts for completing driver’s education courses. Contact your insurance provider to inquire about available discounts.
Should my child notify the insurance company about their college attendance?
Yes, it’s important for your child to inform the insurance company about their college attendance, especially if they are taking a vehicle with them. Notifying the insurance company ensures that they are aware of the change in circumstances and can adjust coverage accordingly.
What happens if my child gets into an accident while at college?
If your child gets into an accident while at college, the insurance coverage should typically apply, provided they are properly insured. The claims process will proceed as it would for any other accident. It’s important to report the accident to the insurance company promptly and follow their instructions.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.