What Auto Insurance Do You Need if You Drive Students?

Generally, if you’re a teacher, driving students is not recommended — especially if you’re driving your personal vehicle. Even with adequate insurance coverage, you’re taking on some amount of liability risk should something happen. If a student is injured while riding in your vehicle, you should be prepared for the risk of a lawsuit. A situation like this could also potentially impact your employment at the school.

You’re at even greater financial risk if you don’t have adequate coverage — for example, if you need to file a claim and your insurer determines that you were driving for business-related reasons, there is a higher chance of the claim being denied if that’s not included on your policy.

Something else to consider is the additional mileage on your vehicle, as well as gas costs, if you’re regularly driving to school-sanctioned events. Be sure to ask whether you will be reimbursed for this before committing to driving students.

Of course, the decision to drive students is up to each teacher’s individual risk calculus and tolerance. Some have blanket rules that they never drive students, while others are more comfortable doing so if needed.

There are several situations where you may be in a position of needing to give a student a ride:

• Transporting students to and from field trips
• Taking students to school-related events, such as away sports games or other competitions, especially on weekends
• Driving them in emergencies, such as if they missed their bus and no parent or guardian is available to pick them up

These situations may be especially common in more rural areas or at smaller school districts with more limited transportation options. Always weigh the risks and your comfort level before deciding to give a student a ride, and speak to your administration if you have concerns.

A standard personal auto insurance policy always includes some type of liability coverage, though exact minimum coverage requirements vary by state. Most states require both bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, which helps pay for the other party’s repairs and medical expenses for accidents that you cause.

If you live in an at-fault state, which is most states, and someone else causes an accident, their insurance is responsible for paying any related medical expenses for you and your passengers. In no-fault states, you’ll need to add personal injury protection to your policy, which pays for your injuries regardless of fault.

When transporting students, you may be getting into a gray area as to whether your claim will be covered with just a standard policy, as it could be considered work-related.

Before driving students, even in a school-owned vehicle, it’s crucial to do your due diligence and make sure you’re adequately insured. Start by checking with your school district to see what policies they have in force that may apply, especially if you’re being expected to transport students on official school business, such as on field trips.

For example, many schools have commercial auto policies that cover vehicles they own, as well as umbrella liability coverage that may apply to auto incidents. However, be sure to check whether school policies apply to your personal car — this may be possible if the district has a hired and non-owned auto insurance policy, which covers employees’ personal vehicles that are sometimes used for business.

If you regularly drive students, you should also look into adding a business use endorsement to your personal auto policy. This provides coverage for certain business-related driving without needing to get a full, separate commercial auto policy.

It’s also wise to add uninsured motorist coverage to your policy. If you’re in an accident caused by an uninsured driver, you will be on the hook for your repair and medical costs without this coverage, as it can be very difficult to recover damages from drivers without insurance.

Insurance Companies Offering Educator-Specific Coverage

Certain companies, like Horace Mann and Liberty Mutual, offer customized auto insurance options for teachers that are worth looking into. They offer benefits like personal property coverage for work materials and a waived deductible for collision claims on school property or at a school-related event. However, only Horace Mann offers liability coverage specifically for transporting students in your covered vehicle.

Here is an overview of the steps you should take if you may be transporting students in your car. Being diligent will help you protect yourself from being held liable in the event of an accident.

1. Check with your administration. If your school or district expects you to sometimes drive students to school events, start by checking with them about the policies and coverage they have in place that may cover you in these situations.
2. Speak with your insurance provider. The next step is to contact your own insurance company to discuss your specific situation and confirm what’s covered and what’s not. An insurance agent will be able to advise you on what additional coverage you may need, if any.
3. Always get written confirmation. Whether you’re relying on a school insurance policy or your own, always get a copy of the policy in writing and confirm that it covers what you think it does. If you speak with an insurance agent over the phone and they tell you your policy is adequate, get that confirmed in writing before proceeding.

Depending on the school district, driving students may be expected of teachers in certain situations. For example, schools may not have enough resources to drive students on a field trip or to a sports game at another school and may rely on teachers to help. It’s important to remember that driving students means taking on a huge liability and responsibility, and not all teachers are comfortable doing so. Always make sure to speak with your insurance company first to check if you need additional coverage, such as a business use endorsement.