Things would sure be easy if we could tell you the company that is cheapest in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, it’s just not that easy, as there are many unknown elements such as if you are a homeowner or renter, the annual mileage you drive, if you need full coverage or just liability, and if you have maintained coverage continuously. This article will discuss some of these things and will hopefully give you a solid foundation to find cheaper car insurance.
The vehicle model on the policy is one of the biggest factors in finding cheaper auto insurance for college students. Vehicles with lower performance, a plethora of safety features, or a track record of few liability claims will cost less to insure than adrenaline junky models. The information below features coverage rates for a selection of the most cost-effective automobiles to insure in Pennsylvania.
| Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $2,458 |
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $2,650 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,688 |
| Ford F-150 STX Super Cab 2WD | $2,717 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $2,753 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $2,761 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr | $2,753 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $2,873 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $2,880 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $2,873 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $2,909 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Extended Cab 4WD | $2,917 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $2,909 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Regular Cab 2WD | $2,918 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Off-Road Package 4WD | $2,947 |
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Prices based on single female driver age 20, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Estimates do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can decrease or increase price quotes substantially.
By looking at the data, you can see that makes and models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Toyota Prius, and Ford F-150 should be the most economical vehicles to insure for students in college. The price for car insurance will tend to be higher because of the fact that there is a higher risk for college students, but generally speaking those particular vehicles will tend to have the cheapest auto insurance rates that you are likely to find.
For students in college, one of the more important considerations that are used to help calculate car insurance rates is the neighborhood you call home in Pittsburgh. Cities with larger populations tend to have more expensive auto insurance rates, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims have the enjoyment of a little cheaper coverage.
The following table lists the highest-priced places in Pennsylvania for college students in which to buy car insurance. Pittsburgh is listed at #14 with the annual price of $1,053 for the average policyholder, which is around $88 per month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $2,057 |
| 2 | Drexel Hill | $1,549 |
| 3 | Chester | $1,379 |
| 4 | Levittown | $1,379 |
| 5 | Norristown | $1,320 |
| 6 | Allentown | $1,130 |
| 7 | Erie | $1,115 |
| 8 | Easton | $1,102 |
| 9 | Plum | $1,089 |
| 10 | Hazleton | $1,088 |
| 11 | Bethlehem | $1,077 |
| 12 | Scranton | $1,071 |
| 13 | Reading | $1,066 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh | $1,053 |
| 15 | Municipality of Monr | $1,049 |
| 16 | Wilkes-Barre | $1,047 |
| 17 | Altoona | $1,042 |
| 18 | New Castle | $1,026 |
| 19 | Lancaster | $995 |
| 20 | Harrisburg | $995 |
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Table data uses approximated as specific Pittsburgh zip code can affect prices significantly.
How to get discounts on Pittsburgh auto insurance rates
Insurance providers that offer quotes for college students may additionally offer price discounts that could reduce prices by 30% or more if you can meet the requirements. A few popular companies and their possible discounts are included below.
- Farm Bureau offers discounts including 55 and retired, youthful driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, good student, and driver training.
- MetLife includes discounts for good student, multi-policy, good driver, accident-free, and defensive driver.
- Progressive offers discounts for continuous coverage, homeowner, online quote discount, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and good student.
- AAA has discounts for good driver, anti-theft, pay-in-full, good student, education and occupation, and AAA membership discount.
- American Family has savings for multi-vehicle, good driver, defensive driver, mySafetyValet, air bags, early bird, and Steer into Savings.
- GEICO discounts include multi-vehicle, air bags, multi-policy, federal employee, daytime running lights, military active duty, and five-year accident-free.
- State Farm may have discounts that include multiple autos, Drive Safe & Save, good student, accident-free, safe vehicle, anti-theft, and student away at school.
The chart below shows the comparison of insurance premiums with and without policy discounts. The premium estimates are based on a male driver, no claims or violations, Pennsylvania state minimum liability limits, comprehensive and collision coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with passive restraint, good student, anti-theft, paid-in-full, continuous coverage, and paperless filing discounts applied. In this example, theaverage yearly reduction on car insurance for college students is 19% or $358.
The chart below highlights how deductible selection can raise or lower premium costs when researching cheap insurance for college students. The prices are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no discounts are factored in.
The chart above illustrates that a 50-year-old driver could reduce rates by $274 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $414 by selecting a $1,000 deductible. Younger drivers, such as the 20-year-old example, could potentially save as much as $916 every year just by choosing higher deductibles when buying full coverage. When using a larger deductible, it is necessary to have enough spare savings to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense associated with higher deductibles.
If you aren’t sure which coverage you need and prefer to get help from a professional when comparing insurance rates for students in college, the insurance agencies below are willing to help you decide which is the best policy.
To locate a Pittsburgh car insurance agency close to where you live, click the button following the list or click here to compare prices now.
Casper Insurance Agency, Inc.
611 Mt Royal Blvd – Pittsburgh, PA 15223 – (412) 486-9200
Jack Dumbaugh – State Farm Insurance Agent
1236 Grove Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15234 – (412) 884-8100
Casto Insurance Agency
1900 Painters Run Rd – Pittsburgh, PA 15241 – (412) 257-4300
More Pittsburgh, PA insurance agents
How to find low-cost insurance for college students
The list below details some penny-pinching ideas that can help Pittsburgh drivers get more affordable car insurance.
- Multi-policy discounts save money
- Drivers with good credit ratings often pay less
- Do not get into accidents that are your fault
- Safe vehicles cost less to insure
- Do not insure for full coverage
- Compare prices frequently to find the best deal
The last item on the list is certainly valuable, as we emphasized in the article above. Coverage rates in Pittsburgh change a lot, so don’t be afraid to switch to a new company if a lower price can be found. Having a favorite company is great, but is isn’t recommended if that loyalty results in overpaying a considerable chunk of change every month. Take a few minutes and shop around and find cheaper auto insurance for college students.