Are you or your teen performing well in school? Your auto insurance company may reward you with a good student discount, which lowers rates for college or high school kids with a high grade point average or GPA. Providers offer this rich bonus because students that perform well academically tend to be better drivers that get into fewer accidents and file fewer claims.
The good student discount can knock a sizable percentage off your insurance rates. For instance, GEICO offers up to 15% savings. Typically, students would need to hold about a “B” average for the reward to kick in. The precise grade point average (GPA) depends on your carrier.
In this article, you’ll learn everything about good student discounts, including the following key points:
- How the it works
- How to get it
- Who offers the good student discount
- Other ways that student drivers can save money
- Answers to frequently asked questions
How the Good Student Discount Works
Most insurers offer various discounts for their customers to lower their premium. These include savings for safety equipment, customer loyalty and safe driving. Each one has the potential to reduce your rates by a certain percentage. Not only that, but you should be able to combine them to save a significant amount of money on your car insurance.
Ultimately, these the good student discount works similarly to any other. To qualify, you must fulfill a set of specific academic requirements. Each insurer will have its own eligibility criteria.
How to Qualify
Qualifying is pretty simple: perform well in school. Insurance companies are very reasonable when it comes to expectations regarding the good student discount. They don’t expect straight A grades or extra work that would burden families. For the most part, you only need a report card with all B grades to be eligible.
Even so, each provider has its own program rules. However, they all look at student grades. Remember that the specific grade point averages and numerical values will vary depending on the company. Here’s a short list of what most carriers require:
- Age 16 to 24. The discount is typically only for people that are college- or high school-aged. If you’re enrolled in college and are over the age of 24, chances are you might not qualify.
- Maintain a “B” average. A “B” average is the constant among most insurers to qualify. According to the College Board, a “B” average is equal to about a 3.0 GPA.
- Be a full-time student. Typically, you must attend school full-time to be eligible.
Required Proof of Eligibility
Your insurer will require evidence proving that the student qualifies. Nationwide refers to this as “proof of academic achievement.” Here are the different types of academic achievement you may be asked to provide:
- Current or recent report card/transcript
- Form with a school administrator’s signature
Homeschoolers Can Also Qualify
Homeschooled kids can also qualify. But their requirements are a bit different because of their unique situation. It’s also a little harder for homeschool students because they normally need to provide standardized test scores.
For homeschoolers to qualify, they’ll need to provide recent PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores. Students will normally need to be in the top 20% of national scores to qualify.
Companies Offering The Good Student Discount
Most companies offer car insurance perks to families of top performers in school. In fact, each of the nation’s top 10 insurers offer a good student discount. But each insurer has unique rules and rewards. Some companies will offer you more savings than others. Providers might have different requirements as well.
Below is a list of each of the major insurance companies offering a discount for academic achievement.
GEICO
GEICO offers savings for families of through its “Driver’s Education Discounts” category. It rewards young drivers between 16 and 24 with an excellent academic record up to 15% in savings on their policy.
Young drivers can also take advantage of the Driver’s Education Discount, where you will need to complete a driver’s ed course. GEICO also offers a bonus if younger drivers take a defensive driving course. This can also help new drivers lower their risk by showing that they’re taking steps to get better at driving.
State Farm
State Farm has a discount for good students under 25 years old. As normal, pupils must provide State Farm with a recent report card or transcript to verify their grades. A 3.0 GPA or B grade average should qualify for a 25% price break. Homeschoolers will need to provide a standardized test result from the last 12 months showing that they’re in the nation’s top 20% of scores.
Progressive
Progressive saves customers 10% on average when a student younger than 23 maintains a “B” average across all of their classes. Progressive also offers a chance for you to save when you have a student away at school. You can get this discount if your kid is away at college and leaves the car at home.
Allstate
The Allstate “Smart Student Discount.” The insurer says you can save up to 20%. To qualify with Allstate, young scholars will need to have at least one of the following:
- Pass the teenSMART® driver education program (this is the driver’s education reward)
- Be a full-time student under 25 years of age
- Get good grades i.e., “B” or 3.0 GPA
- Attend a school at least 100 miles away from home (this is the student away at college discount)
Allstate also provides fantastic savings for safe drivers through its Safe Driving Bonus program.
Nationwide
Nationwide applies a good student discount to families with kids between 16 and 24. If your child is a top performer in school, it will reduce your premium up to 15%. However, your savings depend on the driver and the state you live in. Speak with your agent to find out exactly how much you can save.
To qualify, students must maintain a “B” or 3.0 GPA and present either a report card or a signature from a school administrator. Homeschoolers must provide a standardized test that scores in the nation’s top 20%.
USAA
USAA provides a discount for families with good students between 16 and 25 maintaining at least a B or 3.0 grade point average. You can get this perk everywhere except Hawaii and North Carolina. USAA says that families can save 3%. That’s the smallest savings available from this category of policy reward. But USAA is already the least expensive insurance option. So, it’s hard to complain.
Farmers
Farmers allows young drivers under the age of 25 in college or high school to receive a good student discount for excellent grades. You must provide proof of academic achievement to qualify. You’ll likely get anywhere from 10-15% knocked off your rates.
Travelers
Travelers rewards families with high-achieving full-time pupils a good student discount. You must maintain at least a “B” average to qualify. Most premiums will see savings of 8% on average.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual offers families of full-time learners that maintain a “B” average or higher a good student discount. You’ll need to provide proof of academic achievement to qualify. This could be a recent transcript or a document that a school administrator has signed. Liberty Mutual doesn’t tell you how much you’ll save on its website. But you can always speak with an agent to get an idea of the exact amount.
American Family
American Family offers savings to families with school-aged drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 with at least a “B” average. AmFam adds the wrinkle that students must appear on the “Dean’s List,” “Honor Roll,” or an equivalent to qualify.
Farm Bureau Financial Services
Farm Bureau lowers rates when a student driver between 16 and 25 maintains a “B” grade point average in school. Savings for vary by state and situation. You’ll need to reach out to a Farm Bureau representative or an agent to learn more.
Good Student Discounts by Company
| Insurance Company | Qualifying Ages | Max Savings |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | 16 and 24 | 15% |
| State Farm | Under 25 | 25% |
| Progressive | Under 23 | 10% |
| Allstate | Under 25 | 20% |
| Nationwide | 16 to 24 | 15% |
| USAA | 16 to 25 | 3% |
| Farmers | Under 25 | 10-15% |
| Travelers | Under 25 | 8% |
| Liberty Mutual | Under 25 | 10% |
| American Family | 16 to 25 | Varies |
| Farm Bureau | 16 to 25 | Varies |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the good student discount?
The good student discount is a win-win for families with school-age drivers because it incentivizes excellent grades in exchange for lower rates. Most insurers require a 3.0 or B grade point average to qualify. However, each provider has its own rules and qualifications. Refer to their websites for more information.
How much can families with kids in school save?
How much you can save depends on the insurer that you do business with. But you should expect to save anywhere from 10-15%. This range of savings is based on the amounts that each insurance company lists on their websites.
Which insurers reward good grades?
Every major car insurance company offers discounts to families of good students based on school grades. It’s also likely that small or local insurers have some sort of financial reward for academic high-performance. If you’re unsure of whether your provider offers it, you’ll want to check out its website or speak with your agent. In either place, you may also get an idea of how much you can save.
How old do students have to be to qualify?
You’ll need to be anywhere from 16 to 24 years old to qualify. This means that both high school and college students can qualify. Some insurers, such as State Farm, allow you to be up to 25 years old.
How will your insurance company verify your GPA?
Pupils will usually need to maintain a “B” average to qualify for the discount. You’ll need to prove that you or the young driver on your policy have good grades. Insurers will want a copy of the student’s transcripts or a signature from a school administrator. Homeschool kids will generally need to provide a PSAT, SAT, or ACT score that ranks in the top 20% in the nation.
Can you qualify if you take online courses or study at home?
Absolutely. Insurers lower premiums for many forms of learning. You’ll always need to prove your eligibility. But if you’re any kind of student, perhaps vocational training or homeschooled, you probably qualify for this discount if your grades are good. If you’re unsure, it never hurts to ask your agent.
