Do you need cheap student car insurance? Whether it’s the latest model of an SUV or an older car, you must carry a car insurance policy that meets the minimum limits of liability coverage of your state.
But keep this in mind: the more car insurance you want, the more it will cost. As a student, money may be your most important concern. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to search for car insurance that comes at a cheaper rate for students.
The good news? We’re here to help guide you toward the lowest student car insurance rates possible, and that includes discounts just for students. We’ll begin by exploring minimum liability coverage requirements. But you always can begin comparing quotes now by entering your zip code into our free car insurance comparison tool.
Minimum Liability Coverage
Here’s what you need to know: each state has a prescribed minimum limit of liability coverage that all drivers of vehicles must carry. The minimum limit of liability coverage has two parts — bodily injury liability and property damage liability. As an example, we’re taking a look at the Mandatory Minimum Limits of Liability Insurance according to California’s Department of Insurance:
Bodily Injury Liability
- $15,000 for death or injury of any one person, for any one accident.
- $30,000 for all persons in any one accident.
Property Damage Liability
- $5,000 for any one accident.
In the above case, the liability coverage may be defined as 15/30/5. In this case, the limits of liability coverages are:
- Maximum up to $ 15,000 for injury to one person in one accident
- Maximum up to $ 30,000 for more than one person in one accident, and,
- Maximum up to $ 5, 000 for property damages.
Again, this is an example pertaining to the state of California. Limits vary by state, so be sure to check in with your respective department of insurance.
Additional Student Car Insurance Coverage
It’s crucial to understand that this liability coverage does not cover any injury or property damage caused to you. It’s also important to note that you could find yourself liable to pay compensation which may be much higher than your minimum limits.
Given the increasing costs of medical and healthcare services, as well as the cost to repair vehicles, payments may easily become too expensive for you to pay out of pocket.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that students should purchase additional coverage to protect against additional costs. But here’s the deal — additional coverage is not required by the law. The most important and popular additional coverages are collision insurance and comprehensive insurance.
Collision coverage refers to physical damage, and therefore covers the cost towards repairing one’s car when it hits another vehicle, crashes into something, or turns over. This coverage is paid regardless of the person at fault in the accident.
On the other hand, comprehensive coverage pays for losses caused by any other reason except a collision with another vehicle, such as theft, fire, vandalism, hail, falling objects, or hitting an animal.
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How to Get Cheap Student Car Insurance
Getting cheap student car insurance is as easy as following these steps:
- Calculate your specific needs. How much coverage do you need? Are you willing to go above the state’s minimum requirements? Do you anticipate doing a lot of driving (i.e., going on long road trips with friends)?
- Get multiple quotes. You can begin the process by using our free car insurance comparison tool.
- Analyze various terms & conditions. Here, it never hurts to ask plenty of questions.
- Ask for discounts. As we will discuss below, several are available specifically for students.
- Finally, purchase a policy. And remember, it’s always a good idea to get quotes each year.
The following are the factors that you should keep in mind as you compare different quotes. Remember that your premium is based on these factors.
- Age, Gender & Marital Status
- Driving Record
- Annual Mileage
- The distance between your home and office
- No. of Accidents
- No. of Moving Violations
- Model & Type of Vehicle
- Average Mileage
Unfortunately, car insurance rates are known to be higher than normal for students and teens. The good news, is that we’re digging into the discounts that could help you reduce your rates.
Most Common Student Car Insurance Discounts
Whether it’s for earning good grades or maintaining a good driving record, discounts are possible for any student driver. We’ve compiled a list of the most common ones below:
- Clean Driving Record
- No Accidents in 3 Years
- No Moving Violations in 3 Years
- Driver Training Courses
- Defensive Driving Courses
- Anti-Theft Devices
- Low Annual Mileage
- Air Bags
- Anti-Lock Brakes
- Daytime Running Lights
- Student Drivers with Good Grades
- College Students away from Home
- Long-Time Customer
Another discount you won’t want to forget? Bundling policies. A number of insurance companies offer incentives to customers who are willing to buy multiple policies from them — for instance, both your car and your renter’s insurance.
Two Important Issues In Comparison Of Quotes
After getting your cheap student car insurance quotes, be sure to consider two important points:
The Cheapest Quote: While comparing quotes, you may find a quote cheaper than many other quotes. However, cheaper may not always be better, especially if that means a reduction in coverage Bottom line? Pay close attention to what kind of coverage is included in your quote.
Factors for Comparison: Most people make the mistake of comparing quotes only on the basis of price. Remember to always consider additional factors such as risk coverage, history of claim settlement by the insurer, financial ratings through organizations such as S&P Global or Moody’s, and customer satisfaction studies from J.D. Power.
Purchasing Cheap Student Car Insurance
If you’re a student and want to purchase cheap student auto insurance, the best thing you can do is make yourself familiar with the various processes and types of car insurance.
Your search begins today. Find the affordable student car insurance policy you need today by using our free cheap student car insurance quote finder.