What Is the Distant Student Discount?

Last Updated on December 29, 2025

Many auto insurers offer a distant student discount (sometimes called a student away at school discount). If a student is living at college without regular access to a household vehicle, insurers often consider them a lower day-to-day driving risk—which can lower your premium.

This discount is most commonly used when the student stays on a parent’s auto insurance policy but only drives during breaks and holidays.

Below is how the distant student discount works, who typically qualifies, how to request it, and when a different strategy may save you more.

Key Takeaways

• A distant student (student away at school) discount can lower premiums when a student lives at college and doesn’t have regular access to a covered vehicle.
• Many insurers require the school to be a set distance from home (often 100+ miles), plus enrollment and age requirements that vary by company and state.
• If the student takes a car to campus or drives frequently, the distant student discount usually won’t apply—your policy should reflect the correct garaging address and driving use.
• Families may save even more by adjusting how the student is listed (removed, excluded, or temporarily added), but those options can affect coverage—so confirm the rules with your insurer.

What Is the Distant Student Discount?

The distant student discount is a pricing break for students—usually younger drivers—who are away at school and aren’t driving a covered vehicle regularly. It helps offset the fact that young drivers are expensive to insure, even when they aren’t behind the wheel every day.

It’s especially common for students who leave the family car at home and only drive occasionally. As a driver gets older (and continues to avoid claims), rates often improve—many people notice a bigger shift around age 25.

Typical Eligibility Requirements

Every insurer sets its own rules, but distant student discounts usually hinge on the same core idea: the student is away at school and does not have regular access to a household vehicle.

• Distance from home: Many insurers use a distance rule (often 100+ miles from the home address).
• Enrollment status: Some require full-time enrollment.
• Age limit: Some insurers set an age cutoff (commonly early-to-mid 20s).
• No regular access to a vehicle: The student must not keep or use a listed vehicle at school.
• Occasional driving only: The student typically drives only during breaks, holidays, or occasional visits home.

If your student does have a car at school, the distant student discount usually won’t apply. In that situation, follow this guidance instead: what’s the best way to get car insurance if I have a car at college?

How to Get the Discount Added to Your Policy

Most of the time, you don’t “apply” online and hope it appears. You (or the policyholder) should call the insurer or agent and ask specifically about a distant student or student away at school discount.

What You’ll Typically Need

• School name and student status (full-time/part-time)
• College address or proof of residence (dorm, apartment, lease, or housing letter)
• Confirmation the student does not have regular access to a listed vehicle while at school
• Updated annual mileage estimates (many families can lower mileage when the student is away)

Important: Don’t guess on where the vehicle is kept or how often it’s driven. If the student is actually driving a vehicle at school, you want the policy to reflect that accurately to avoid coverage problems later.

How Much Can You Save?

Savings vary widely by insurer, state, and how your policy is structured. Some companies apply a clear discount, while others simply place the driver into a different rating category (so it lowers the premium without showing a “discount line”).

The biggest savings usually come from the same underlying reason: the student is driving less and doesn’t have day-to-day access to a vehicle.

When the Distant Student Discount Is Not a Good Fit

The distant student discount is often not the right option if:

• The student takes a vehicle to school (even occasionally).
• The student is commuting from home or living close enough that they drive frequently.
• The student rarely drives at all (even when home).

In the last scenario, a different approach may save more than the discount—such as removing the student from the policy (or changing how they’re listed).

Alternatives If the Student Drives Very Little

If the student won’t be driving for long stretches, you may have options that reduce premiums more than a distant student discount—depending on the insurer and your household needs.

Option 1: Remove the Student From the Policy

If the student truly won’t drive any household vehicles for an extended period, you may be able to remove the student from the car insurance policy. This can reduce premiums, but you must be confident the student won’t need to drive.

Option 2: Use an Excluded Driver Endorsement

Some insurers allow you to list a driver as excluded. This can lower premiums, but it comes with a serious downside: if the excluded driver operates a covered vehicle and causes a crash, there may be no coverage. Learn how this works before choosing it: what is an excluded driver for car insurance?

Option 3: Temporarily Add the Student Back During Breaks

Some families adjust drivers seasonally—removing the student while they’re away, then re-adding them for holidays or summer. If your insurer allows it, this can be a practical compromise: can you temporarily add someone else to your car insurance policy?

Stack the Distant Student Discount With Other Student Savings

If you qualify for a distant student discount, ask about other discounts that can stack:

• Good student discount: Many insurers offer savings for a B average or higher (or similar academic requirements). Start here: good student discount for car insurance.
• Usage-based insurance: If the student is driving infrequently and safely, telematics programs may help: is usage-based car insurance right for you?
• Pay-in-full discounts: Some carriers charge less if you pay the term upfront: is it better to pay car insurance in full or monthly?
• Automatic payment discounts: If offered, autopay can be an easy win: automatic payment options for car insurance

Over the long run, the biggest “discount” is still safe driving. Avoiding tickets and at-fault accidents helps you maintain a clean driving record and keeps premiums trending down as the student gains experience.

FAQs on the Distant Student Discount

Final Word on the Distant Student Discount

If a student is living away at college and doesn’t have regular access to a household vehicle, the distant student discount can be a simple way to reduce premiums while keeping the student properly insured for breaks and visits home.

The key is matching the discount to reality: if the student has a car at school or drives frequently, you’ll usually need a different policy setup. When in doubt, call your insurer, explain the student’s living and driving situation, and ask what option gives you the best combination of savings and correct coverage.