The type of vehicle requiring coverage is probably the biggest factor when quoting the cheapest auto insurance for college students. Vehicles with more horsepower, poor safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost significantly more to insure than more economical and safe models. The next table illustrates insurance premiums for the most cost-effective vehicles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $3,364 |
| Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan | $3,370 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $3,364 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD 2-Dr | $3,443 |
| Toyota Prius | $3,713 |
| Ford F-150 STX Regular Cab 4WD | $3,741 |
| Ford Explorer XLT AWD | $3,749 |
| Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan | $3,942 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $3,990 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $3,996 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $3,990 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $3,996 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $3,990 |
| Get a Custom Quote Go | |
Data based on single male driver age 20, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Rate information does not factor in garaging location in Scottsdale, AZ which can revise premium rates significantly.
Looking at the numbers, cars like the Ford Escape, Honda Accord, and Honda CR-V are likely to be some of the cheapest vehicles to insure for students in college. The cost of a car insurance policy will be more costly just due to the fact that there is more exposure for college students, but in general those specific models will have the best insurance prices compared to other vehicles.
Buying low-cost insurance is not easy, and deciding which companies have the cheapest auto insurance rates for college students involves more quotes for comparison. Each auto insurance company has a proprietary formula for setting prices, so to begin we’ll rank the auto insurance companies with the overall best prices in Arizona.
It’s a good idea to know that Scottsdale auto insurance rates are impacted by many things which can substantially change the cost of coverage. This is why consumers need to take the time to do a thorough rate comparison to get the lowest insurance quotes for college students. Insurance prices can be determined by many things and change substantially, so the cheapest option the last time you compared rates may now be quite expensive.
Find the Cheapest Car Insurance for College Students
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hartford | $845 |
| 2 | Safeco | $896 |
| 3 | Auto-Owners | $915 |
| 4 | Progressive | $1,118 |
| 5 | Travelers | $1,119 |
| 6 | USAA | $1,124 |
| 7 | GEICO | $1,177 |
| 8 | Ameriprise Group | $1,184 |
| 9 | Allied | $1,209 |
| 10 | CSAA | $1,213 |
| 11 | Farm Bureau Mutual | $1,247 |
| 12 | Safe Auto | $1,297 |
| 13 | Unitrin | $1,317 |
| 14 | State Farm | $1,377 |
| 15 | Farmers | $1,378 |
| 16 | Titan | $1,418 |
| 17 | American Family | $1,420 |
| 18 | Amica | $1,429 |
| 19 | MetLife | $1,505 |
| 20 | California Casualty | $1,506 |
| Quote Your Rates Go | ||
The Hartford quotes some of the best car insurance rates in Scottsdale at around $845 a year. Safeco, Auto-Owners, Progressive, and Travelers would also make the list of some of the cheapest Scottsdale, AZ auto insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you have coverage with Progressive and switched to Safeco, you could see a yearly price reduction of upwards of $222. Policyholders with Travelers might save as much as $223 a year, and USAA customers might see rate reductions of $228 a year.
Remember that these policy prices are averaged across all drivers and vehicles in Arizona and and are not figured with an exact vehicle garaging location for college students. So the auto insurance company that can offer the best rates for your situation may not even be in the top 28 companies in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to compare prices as often as possible using your own driver and vehicle profiles.
Finding a good quality company can be challenging considering how many companies sell coverage in Arizona. The company ratings in the lists below could help you analyze which coverage providers you want to consider when trying find the best insurance for college students. These rankings are for companies with a nationwide focus, so companies without a large exposure will not be included in the list.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurers in Scottsdale Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- Titan Insurance – 95%
- USAA – 94%
- AAA Insurance – 91%
- State Farm – 90%
- Nationwide – 90%
- The Hartford – 89%
- GEICO – 89%
- The General – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
- Liberty Mutual – 88%
Does it make sense to buy full coverage?
Paying a lower price for auto insurance is probably important to the majority of drivers, and one of the easiest ways to find cheap insurance for college students is to buy liability only. The example below illustrates the comparison of auto insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The price estimates are based on no claims or driving citations, $100 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no policy discounts are applied.
As an overall average, physical damage coverage on your policy costs $1,917 per year over and above liability only. That is a large expense which might make you wonder if buying full coverage is worth the money. There is no exact formula for phasing out full coverage on your policy, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is 10% or more of the settlement you would receive from your company, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
Why it’s important to shop around
Scottsdale auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially change the cost of a policy. Improving your credit score, moving to a different location, or getting a ticket for careless driving can cause premium changes that can now make some companies more affordable than the competition.
Not only may things change on your end, but insurers modify pricing multiple times each year to adjust for unexpected claims or profits. Heavier than normal losses can result in more expensive premiums, while a profitable period may result in cheaper Scottsdale car insurance rates.
As an example, the chart below analyzes the cheapest car insurance in Scottsdale, AZ for a 40-year-old male driver with no prior accidents, a clean driving record, and a high credit rating. If we estimate rates based on his current rating profile, The Hartford may have the cheapest car insurance rates in Scottsdale at $1,074 annually. This is $354 less than the average price paid by Arizona drivers of $1,428. Auto-Owners, Safeco, Travelers, and USAA are the rest of the cheapest Scottsdale, AZ auto insurance companies.
Now we will give the driver from the first rate comparison a claim surcharge, poor credit, and a speeding ticket. Because each company uses their own method for establishing rates, comparing insurance quotes could now result in a different set of the cheapest car insurance companies in Scottsdale as shown below.
GEICO now has the best price in Scottsdale, AZ with Ameriprise Group, Allied, CSAA, and Auto-Owners also having competitive pricing. This example illustrates why it is so important to spend some time comparing rates when trying to get the best insurance rates for college students. Auto insurance prices can be determined by many different factors and change frequently, so the most economical company when you last compared rates may now be one of the more expensive options.
The Scottsdale, AZ, insurance agents below can most likely aid you in deciding which car insurance company is the best fit, since some drivers wish to get some guidance when comparing insurance rates for students in college. It can be challenging to find the cheapest rate yourself, so getting advice from a licensed agent can bring satisfaction knowing you have adequate asset protection. To locate a Scottsdale insurance agent near you, click the button following the list.
- Jeremy Mueller Insurance Inc
8700 E Pinnacle Peak Rd # 110 – Scottsdale, AZ 85255 – (480) 515-5223 - Brandon Mueller – State Farm Insurance Agent
6149 N Scottsdale Rd #106 – Scottsdale, AZ 85250 – (480) 991-0119 - Desert Mountain Insurance Services – Medical Malpractice
2918 N 67th Pl – Scottsdale, AZ 85251 – (480) 348-2200 - Pinnacle Ins Agency Inc.
8700 E Vista Bonita Dr – Scottsdale, AZ 85255 – (480) 513-3131 - Dennis Dowling – State Farm Insurance Agent
5310 E Shea Blvd #3 – Scottsdale, AZ 85254 – (602) 996-8811
View more Scottsdale, AZ insurance agencies
How to find low-cost auto insurance for college students
Here are some penny-pinching suggestions that can help Arizona drivers quote cheaper coverage.
- Buy your homeowners policy from the same company as your auto insurance
- Don’t have frequent claims
- Clean up your credit rating
- Do not insure for full coverage
- The safer your car, the less it costs to insure
- Higher deductibles save money
- Compare rates regularly to ensure the best deal
The last tip is particularly critical, as we hit on in the prior article. Car insurance prices in Scottsdale can change in a short period of time, so don’t be unwilling to switch to a new company if a lower-cost policy is available.
Staying with the same company for years is fine, but is isn’t recommended if that stubbornness costs you a small fortune year after year. Take a couple minutes and compare rates and find cheaper car insurance for college students.