How to Find Affordable Car Insurance for College Students

Believe it or not, it is possible to get a good auto insurance policy if you’re a college student. Just like with anything else you just need to know how to look, and what to look for. Just remember that car insurance is more than just the right price (I know that’s important) but you also need to make sure that it’s a policy that will provide you with what you need.

                             This post is sponsored by Charlie’s Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM

Here are a few tips for college students shopping for car insurance:

DO COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN CAR INSURANCE POLICY?
A lot of people call asking if their college student needs their own insurance. The answer is – it all depends. It depends on where you’ll be living, who owns the vehicle, etc. You most definitely need to talk to your agent to discuss all the factors surrounding your student.

WHERE DOES THE COLLEGE STUDENT LIVE?
If your parents’ address is still your permanent address, you may be able to keep the vehicle you drive on their car insurance policy (depending on who owns it). If you live on campus, or rent an apartment during the school year – you should be able to keep everything the same.

WHOSE NAME IS ON THE TITLE?
If the car is titled to your parents OR if its titled to both you and your parents even if you are taking it to school with you, you should be able to stay on your family car insurance plan.
IF your are solely on the title, most likely you’ll need to get your own policy.

DO I NEED TO HAVE INSURANCE IN A DIFFERENT STATE IF I AM GOING TO COLLEGE OUT OF STATE?
If you’re a college student attending college in a different state than your primary residence, you should be able to keep your car insured in your ‘home’ state. If you have moved to the different state on a permanent basis, then you need to be sure that it’s registered and insured in that state.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WITH CAR INSURANCE COVERAGE AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
Whether they move away, or commute, you do want to make sure that your policy’s current coverage is suitable for your new situation.

Things to consider:
Is the college student taking the car to school? Where will it be parked? If it is parked outside , you may want to consider comprehensive coverage. This coverage will help repair/replace a vehicle that has been damaged by things such as hail, a tree limb falling, or vandalism.
Collision coverage may be a good idea as well, the more you drive, the more likely hood an accident could happen. Collision will help pay for repairs/replacement if your car is damaged in an accident.

If you have a loan or a lease on your vehicle, you do have to carry both collision and comprehensive coverage. Once the loan is paid off, you can decide what coverages may be best for you. Though removing these coverages will decrease your premium, depending on the value of the vehicle, you may want to keep the coverage for awhile.

CAR INSURANCE DISCOUNTS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
If you are looking to save money on your car insurance now that you are in college (or your kid is in college) ask about these discounts:

RESIDENT STUDENT
If the car is staying at home while you live on campus, you may be able to save some money. Since the insurance company knows you won’t be driving as frequently, they may pass the discount on to you.

GOOD STUDENT
Most good student discounts will follow you through college – all the way up to age 25. Be sure to ask your agent if you qualify!

Obviously there isn’t a one for all type of car insurance policy, especially for college students. We all have different situations and different needs, but it’s good to have an idea of what to expect when you start looking into it. Since rules, rates and discounts vary by state, be sure to contact your local agent.