Best Car Insurance For College Students In Florida 2024

Florida has some of the highest car insurance rates across the United States with costs between 2023 and 2024 increasing over 10% and an expectation for another 7% increase thanks to the risk of damage and theft in larger cities particularly around universities, severe weather, and inflation.

That said, there are also 40 public colleges and universities divided by the Florida College System and the State University System of Florida, which means thousands of college students need insurance coverage.

With Floridians paying an average of 62% more for their car insurance compared to other states, it’s essential that college students find ways to save money on car insurance costs.

Cheapest Overall Rates For College Students In Florida

GEICO offer the cheapest rates, at an average annual premium of $3,615.

Cheapest Insurance Rates For College Drivers With Violations In Florida

Progressive provides the cheapest annual rates for college drivers with violations on their record, at $4,697.

Driving violations can significantly increase the amount a driver pays for monthly coverage regardless of age. College students will likely experience an even more significant rate increase after an accident or ticket due to their already high-risk rating.

One way to mitigate the damage of a driving violation is to work with a company like Progressive that specializes in insuring motorists with a history of tickets or accidents.

Cheapest Rates For Low-Mileage College Drivers In Florida

Low-mileage drivers can find the most affordable rates from State Farm, at an average annual premium of $2,658.

If you’re a college student who doesn’t plan on driving much throughout the school year, there’s no reason to pay for insurance you don’t need. While you’ll still need to maintain the state minimum auto insurance, several discounts, and affordable policies will align with your low-mileage lifestyle.

Most low-mileage policies offer discounted rates if you stay below a certain number of miles yearly. The limit will vary between insurance companies but is usually around 7,500 to 10,000 miles annually.

Cheapest Full Coverage Rates For College Students In Florida

Students looking for full-coverage insurance can find affordable rates from GEICO, who provide annual premiums of $3,602.

College students that commute to campus or routinely drive for work should consider a full coverage policy over minimum coverage. These plans offer additional protection, often including liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage.

While the full coverage policies offer more protection, they come at a higher cost. It’s essential to weigh the benefits of the additional insurance against the extra monthly cost.

Cheapest Rates For Minimum Coverage In Florida

Those looking for liability-only car insurance can find affordable coverage from State Farm, at $1,525 per year.

Minimum coverage policies are often an effective way to decrease overall costs but can leave you vulnerable in an accident. These low-cost plans will only cover the state minimum insurance needed to operate a vehicle, which means paying expenses out-of-pocket.

Minimum coverage policies are great options for college students as they provide the insurance needed to drive legally while keeping costs low.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For College Students In Florida – By City

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 18 Year Old College Students In Florida

Average Cost Of Florida Car Insurance For 19 Year Old College Students

Car Insurance Rates For 20 Year Old College Students In Florida

Car Insurance Rates For 21 Year Old College Students In Florida

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 22 Year Old College Students In Florida

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 23 Year Old College Students In Florida

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 24 Year Old College Students In Florida

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 25 Year Old College Students In Florida

Average Cost Of Car Insurance On Family Policy vs. Individual Policy

How Can College Students Save Money On Car Insurance In Florida

Unfortunately, for most college students, average car insurance rates are significantly higher than drivers in any other age group, even those in their mid to late 20s. So, if you are in college and don’t have the option of staying on the policy of another driver, you will need to find ways to keep your payment down.

You can stack several discounts depending on your provider with these tips and strategies:

Affiliation Discounts

There are some groups that partner with insurance providers to give you discounts like alumni discounts through Nova Southeastern University or the University of West Florida.

You can usually get discounts being part of things like honor societies, fraternities, or sororities depending on your insurance provider.

Student Discounts

If you are 18 years or younger, companies like Progressive give you a teen driver discount automatically in Florida. This means you can save on your premium and once you turn 19, look at other student discounts.

All students under the age of 23 who maintain a B average or better get a discount of 10% from companies like Progressive.

All students under the age of 25 who are in high school, college, or university can get a good student discount from State Farm if they have maintained one of the following in the previous semesters:

1. Ranked in the top 20% of their class
2. Maintained a B average
3. Had a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 or more
4. Made the Honor Roll or Dean’s List

All students 20 under the age of 20 with Allstate can save money by getting good grades as well. GEICO offers up to 15% on certain coverage for full-time students with a good academic record.

Most people are familiar with student discounts that involve achieving good grades. That said, student discounts go beyond grades.

Students can qualify for discounts if they attend school over 100 miles from home, and their car is stored or at, or driven very little.

Note: With companies like Progressive, the student discounts that get applied to college students only apply if the student is on someone else’s policy, not their own. 

Vehicle Safety Features

All college students, and other drivers, can be rewarded for installing vehicle safety or security features on their cars.

Crime data for the University of Florida reported 83 car thefts in 2022, the highest in the last decade. Whether you attend the University of Florida or somewhere else, devices that diminish your risk of car theft or increase the risk of locating the car once it has been stolen will decrease your premiums.

Used vs. New Cars

While the idea of a brand new car might seem like a better investment for a young college student, especially in terms of gas, newer cars tend to cost more in terms of car insurance because their repairs and replacement parts are much higher.

Common Auto Insurance Claims In Florida

Generally, there are four common types of auto insurance claims in Florida, which include:

• Collision Claims (5.8 claims per 100 years of a vehicle’s life)
• Property Damage Claims (3.36 claims per 100 years of a vehicle’s life)
• Comprehensive Claims (2.81 claims per 100 years of a vehicle’s life)
• Bodily Injury Claims (0.95 claims per 100 years of a vehicle’s life)

In Florida the most common car insurance claims are for comprehensive coverage brought about by inclement weather such as hurricanes, lightning, wind, and floods.

Beyond that, other common auto insurance claims in Florida are for chipped or cracked windshields, rear end accidents, backup damage, and damage to parked vehicles.

Do College Students Need Their Own Insurance, or Can They Stay On A Parent’s?

In Florida, whether or not you can remain on your parent’s policy is based on where you call home and where your vehicle resides most of the time.

Staying On A Family Car Insurance Policy

There are no age limits for how long you can remain on a parent’s policy. However, if you use your parent’s permanent address while at college or you live at home while attending college, you can typically stay on a family car insurance policy. This applies to students who live in a dorm or student housing and even extends to those who might bring their vehicle with them to college but otherwise keep it parked at home.

Read More: What Happens If I Don’t Add My Teenager To My Car Insurance?

Keeping Your Own Coverage As A College Student

As soon as you change your permanent residence to your own home and your vehicle comes with you, you have to buy your own insurance policy.

Read More: Can a 17-Year-Old Get Their Own Car Insurance?

Temporary Car Insurance

While not every car insurance provider will offer temporary coverage, it can be a fantastic option for college students who won’t be driving frequently.

Temporary auto insurance policies typically provide six-month coverage and allow customers to cancel once the period ends. This policy enables college students to avoid paying for additional months of coverage they won’t need while at school; It can also be a great option for students who plan to study abroad for a semester.

Try Usage-Based Car Insurance

Usage-based car insurance is similar to telematics in that it also tracks a driver’s behaviors behind the wheel. However, it also has another component that is especially appealing to college students.

With usage-based car insurance, you can receive discounts and lower premiums by driving less yearly. These “Pay-Per-Mile” plans are an effective way to find affordable coverage if you keep your vehicle in the dorm lot or at home for most of the school year.

Telematics Car Insurance For College Students

As a college student finding creative ways to save on car insurance is important. One of the most effective ways to lower your monthly premium is through telematics.

Telematics are devices insurance companies use to track and analyze how you drive. The safer you drive, the better your rates will be, and the more likely you will receive discounts for being a safe driver.

How To Get Discounts

Car insurance can be costly for college students, especially if any tickets or accidents are on your driving record. One way to help minimize the cost of coverage is through carrier-provided discounts.

While every car insurance company will have its own list of discounts available for policyholders, the following are a few you’ll want to look into before purchasing a plan:

• Paid in full
• Multi-vehicle
• Multi-policy
• Military
• Student away
• Good student
• Safe driver
• Defensive driving
• Low mileage
• Accident-free

Florida Car Insurance Laws

Florida requires all drivers to carry insurance if they plan on operating a vehicle. State law indicates you must purchase a policy from a licensed provider and maintain coverage throughout your registration period.

You must also have continual coverage even if your vehicle is inoperable or not being driven.

Florida requires that all drivers carry no-fault insurance prior to registering or driving a vehicle within the state lines. No-fault insurance facilitates faster and easier claims processes because you don’t have to prove to your insurance provider or another insurance provider who was at fault in order to have claims potentially approved.

Florida is a no-fault state, and that means it doesn’t matter who is at fault in an accident; you will be liable for some part of the cost. For that reason experts recommend that those who can afford it purchase higher levels of coverage beyond the state required minimums which are as follows: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) with a minimum of $10,000 in PIP and PDL (Personal Damage Liability.)

There are some additional requirements based on your circumstances. For example, if you are in a car accident that causes severe injury or fatality to other drivers, you will also need an SR-22 form filed on your behalf.