College Student Insurance Checklist
What Parents Should Review Before Move-In Day
Sending a child off to college comes with a long checklist. Between tuition, textbooks, housing, transportation, and everything needed for move-in day, insurance can easily get overlooked.
Whether your student is living in a dorm, renting an off-campus apartment, or taking a car to school, now is a good time to review your insurance coverage. A few simple conversations with your insurance agent can help make sure your student is properly protected while away from home.
Are Your Students’ Belongings Covered in a Dorm?
College students bring a surprising amount of valuable property with them, including laptops, tablets, phones, televisions, clothing, bicycles, and other personal belongings.
If your student is living in a college dorm, some of their belongings may be covered under your homeowners insurance policy. However, coverage limits and deductibles can vary, and certain types of property may have additional limitations.
Before move-in day, review your homeowners policy with your insurance agent so you understand what is covered and whether additional protection should be considered.
What About Students Living Off Campus?
Moving into an apartment or house changes the conversation.
Students living off campus may need their own renters insurance policy. Renters insurance can help protect personal belongings from covered losses such as theft or fire while also providing personal liability protection.
Some landlords may even require tenants to carry renters insurance as part of the lease agreement.
Renters insurance is generally an affordable way to provide an additional layer of protection for a student living away from home.
Is Your Student Taking a Car to College?
If your student is taking a vehicle to school, make sure your insurance agent knows where the car will primarily be kept.
Where the student attends college, where the vehicle is garaged, how frequently it is driven, and who owns the vehicle can all affect the policy.
Students attending college without a vehicle may also have different insurance considerations. Depending on the circumstances and insurance carrier, certain discounts may be available when a student attends school a certain distance from home without taking a vehicle.
It is worth reviewing these details rather than assuming the existing auto policy should remain unchanged.
Does Going to College in Another State Affect Coverage?
If your student is attending college outside your home state, talk with your insurance agent before they leave.
Insurance requirements and policy considerations can vary by state, particularly when a student has a vehicle or lives permanently off campus.
Your agent can review your specific situation and help identify whether any changes should be made.
Don’t Forget About Valuable Electronics
Laptops, smartphones, tablets, gaming systems, cameras, and other electronics are part of everyday college life. Unfortunately, they can also be expensive to replace.
Before your student leaves, create an inventory of the valuable belongings they are taking with them. Keep receipts when available and consider taking photos of higher-value items.
A simple inventory can make things much easier if you ever need to document belongings following a covered loss.
Add an Insurance Review to Your College Checklist
Preparing for college is about more than packing boxes and buying textbooks. It is also about making sure your student has the appropriate protection once they leave home.
Before move-in day, consider reviewing:
• Homeowners coverage for students living in dorms
• Renters insurance for off-campus housing
• Auto insurance if your student is taking a vehicle
• Coverage considerations for students attending school away from home
• Protection for laptops, electronics, and other valuable belongings
Every family’s situation is different, and insurance coverage varies by policy and carrier. A quick insurance review can help identify potential coverage gaps before the school year begins.
Have a student heading to college? Contact KVCW Insurance to review your current coverage and make sure your family is prepared for the year ahead.
