California can be an expensive place to live, but that doesn’t mean that car insurance for students has to be. Because California law mandates auto insurance there is a wide base of insurance companies that offer cheap, affordable auto insurance. Students often find that their rates can be higher than their parents, but with a few tips on reducing your rate, it doesn’t have to be that way.
8 Ways for Students to Reduce Their California Auto Insurance Rates
1) One of the best ways to get a lower rate as a student is to buy a car with safety features. This could include anything from anti-lock brakes to daytime running lights. In California, most companies react favorably to safety devices like airbags and car alarms. Having even one of these features can significantly reduce your rate.
2) Another way to get cheap CA auto insurance as a student is to maintain good grades. Oftentimes insurance companies will provide a lower rate to students who have straight A’s and B’s. If you fall in this category it may pay to let the insurance company know.
3) A third way to lower your rate as a student in California is to reduce your mileage. An insurance company looks at how far you drive your car each day. Obviously, the longer you drive your car the higher the chance of getting in an accident. If you can lower your mileage an insurance company may give you a lower rate as the chance of an accident has gone down.
4) One option for many students is to stay on their mom and dad’s insurance. While this may require you to swallow your pride it is often the cheapest option. If you do choose this option it will require you to have the car registered in your parents name and your full time residence must be claimed where they live. Some students choose to stay under their parent’s insurance while at school and then when they graduate have the car registered back in their name so they can purchase a new insurance plan.
5) Maintaining good credit history is another huge way to reduce your student auto insurance rate. An auto insurance company will look at how you have paid your bills in the past – if you were timely in paying your bills in the past then the insurance company assumes you will be timely in paying your auto insurance bill.
6) Another option is to buy a smaller car. This does not include a sports car, as insurance companies see owners of sports cars as more likely to speed or have the car damaged in some way. The rationale behind buying a smaller car is that the cheaper a car is to maintain or repair then the cheaper the car insurance is likely to be. The opposite is true also – the more expensive an auto is to repair or maintain then the more expensive it will be to insure.
7) Getting quotes from various insurance companies is of paramount importance for a student. Looking around and comparing prices can save you hundreds of dollars. With our free quote finder at the top of the page or on our home page you can compare California auto insurance quotes from top insurers side by side for free!
8) A clean driving record can also lower your insurance rates as a student. If you can provide a certificate of completing a drivers training course or proof of attendance to a defensive driving course the insurance company will often give you a much lower rate.
If your driving record is less than clean and you cannot get any California insurance company to cover your vehicle the state has a plan called the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP) that will assign you to an insurance company. Under CAARP the insurance company is required to take you and after three years of a clean driving record you can purchase a regular insurance plan without CAARP. To qualify for CAARP you have to physically apply to them, if you are turned down by other auto insurance companies you will not automatically be enrolled in CAARP – you must apply for it yourself.
Save Money on California Student Car Insurance Now!
Because California has so many providers of auto insurance it is easy for students to get good rates, provided they follow some of the tips outlined above.
While age and experience can work against you as a student it doesn’t need to if you take the time to shop around and compare quotes that different California insurance companies give you. If you choose to go with just liability (the cheapest option) be aware that the minimum liability requirements in California is 15/30/5,000- meaning that up to $15,000 is awarded in one bodily injury, $30,000 for all bodily injuries in an accident, and $5,000 for any property damage incurred in an accident. With a few extra minutes invested in researching California rates a student can get an affordable rate that will fit their lifestyle.
Take a few quick moments and use our free tool at the top of the page to get a California car insurance quote comparison now!