Good Student Discount
If your child has an 80% average or better on their most recent report card, college transcript, or university GPA record, they may qualify for an additional student discount on auto insurance.
This page is for general education only. Student discounts, age rules, grade requirements, distance requirements, proof required, and occasional driver pricing vary by insurer.
How the good student discount works
Some insurers offer a discount when a young driver is a strong student. A common eligibility marker is an 80% average or better, or the equivalent GPA from a college or university transcript.
This discount is often around 10%, but the actual amount depends on the insurer, the student’s age, licence class, driver assignment, school status, proof provided, and policy structure.
High school students
A recent report card showing an 80% average or better may help qualify the student driver, depending on the insurer’s rules.
College or university students
A recent transcript or GPA record may be used if the insurer accepts post-secondary proof and the student meets the required academic threshold.
Is your student living 100 km or more away from home?
If your student lives away from home while attending college or university, you should let your broker know. When the student is listed as an occasional driver on a parent’s policy and the vehicle stays at home, some insurers may apply a significant student-away-at-school discount.
We often see the distance threshold around 100 km or more away from home. Where available, this can create substantial savings on the occasional driver charge — sometimes as much as 50% off the occasional driver surcharge, depending on the insurer.
Tell your broker before the school year starts.
If your student moves away to school and does not take a vehicle with them, that can be a very different insurance situation from a student who takes a car and drives it at school.
The difference can affect garaging address, vehicle use, driver assignment, occasional driver charges, and discount eligibility. Do not assume the insurer already knows.
Vehicle stays home vs. vehicle goes to school
This is one of the most important details. The discount can change depending on whether the student has regular access to a vehicle while away at school.
| Student Situation | Insurance Impact to Review |
|---|---|
| Student lives at home | The student may be rated as an occasional or principal driver depending on actual vehicle use, household vehicles, and insurer rules. |
| Student lives away 100 km or more and vehicle stays home | The student may qualify for an away-at-school discount if they only drive when home during breaks, weekends, or holidays. |
| Student takes the vehicle to school | The vehicle may need to be rated where it is kept, and the student may be treated as the principal driver. The away-at-school discount may not apply. |
| Student has their own vehicle | Ownership, principal driver assignment, multi-vehicle eligibility, and whether a separate policy is needed should be reviewed before buying. |
| Student only drives during holidays | Keeping the student properly listed may help preserve insurance history while reducing the cost if the insurer offers away-at-school pricing. |
What proof may be needed?
Each insurer sets its own documentation requirements. Before assuming the discount applies, ask what proof is needed and how often it must be updated.
- Most recent high school report card showing the average.
- College or university transcript showing GPA or grades.
- Proof of current enrolment.
- Student’s school address or residence address.
- Distance from home to school, often around 100 km or more for away-at-school discounts.
- Confirmation that the vehicle stays at the parent’s home if the away-at-school discount is being requested.
- Confirmation of whether the student is an occasional driver or principal driver.
Do not remove a student driver without asking first
Some families want to remove a student driver from the policy while they are away at school. That may not always be the best approach. If the student still comes home and drives, they may need to remain listed.
Keeping the student properly listed can also help preserve continuous insurance history, which may help them later when they eventually need their own policy. The key is to structure it correctly, not simply remove and add them back without understanding the consequences.
These discounts are easy to miss
Families often add a new driver and then forget to update the file when grades improve, when school starts, when the student moves away, or when the vehicle stays home.
A quick policy review can sometimes find both the good student discount and the away-at-school discount. The combined savings can be meaningful, especially when the student is being rated as an occasional driver.
Good grades
If the student has an 80% average or better, send the report card or transcript and ask whether the discount applies.
Away at school
If the student lives 100 km or more away and the vehicle stays home, ask whether the occasional driver surcharge can be reduced.
Questions to review with your broker
- Does my insurer offer a good student discount?
- Is the required average 80% or another threshold?
- Can a GPA from college or university qualify?
- What proof does the insurer need?
- How often does the report card or transcript need to be updated?
- Does the student qualify for an away-at-school discount?
- Is the school 100 km or more away from home?
- Is the vehicle staying at home or going to school?
- Is the student correctly listed as principal or occasional driver?
- Should the student stay listed to build insurance history?
- Would multi-vehicle, driver training, telematics, or bundle discounts also apply?
Important discount and coverage disclaimer
This page is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not underwriting approval, claims advice, legal advice, or a promise that any insurer will offer a specific student discount, away-at-school discount, occasional driver reduction, or premium.
Good student discounts, grade thresholds, GPA recognition, age limits, school distance requirements, occasional driver charges, principal driver assignment, vehicle location, documentation requirements, policy eligibility, and renewal terms are controlled by the insurer’s application, declarations page, rating rules, underwriting guidelines, policy wording, and discount rules.
Always disclose accurate driver information, school address, vehicle location, vehicle use, report card or transcript details, and household driver information to your broker or insurer.
Continue learning about insurance savings
Driver Training Discount
Learn how approved driver training may help new drivers access better pricing.
Multi-Vehicle Discount
Learn how multiple vehicles in the household may create savings opportunities.
Telematics Safe Driving Discount
Learn how app-based driving programs may help some young drivers prove safer habits.
Good student discount FAQs
What average is usually needed for a good student discount?
Many insurers use an 80% average or better as a common benchmark, but the exact requirement varies by company.
How much is the good student discount?
It varies by insurer, but the discount is often around 10% where available and where the student qualifies.
Can college or university students qualify?
They may. Some insurers may accept a college or university transcript or GPA record, depending on the student’s age, school status, and the insurer’s rules.
What is the away-at-school discount?
It is a discount that may apply when a student driver lives away from home for school, usually far enough away that they have limited access to the vehicle. The distance is often around 100 km or more, depending on the insurer.
How much can the away-at-school discount save?
Where available, it can be significant. Some insurers may reduce the occasional driver surcharge by as much as 50%, depending on eligibility.
What if the student takes the car to school?
Tell your broker. The vehicle may need to be rated at the school address, and the student may be considered the principal driver instead of an occasional driver.
Should I remove my child from the policy while they are away at school?
Not without speaking to your broker. If the student still drives when home, they may need to remain listed. Removing them may also affect insurance history.
References and further reading
These resources support the general educational information on this page. Your actual discount and rating must be verified through your own insurer and policy documents.
