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SubscribeIf your son or daughter is heading to college soon, you might be scrambling to pack their favorite clothes, buy plenty of clean towels and spend lots of quality time together. What you should also consider is double checking that your insurance policies are not only up to date, but that they're also protecting your loved ones and their belongings at school. Insurance for college students will set your mind at ease amid the chaos that comes with preparing your young adult for college.
Even if your freshman student isn't taking a car to campus, you can and should review your car insurance policy before they get to school. An easily overlooked aspect of insurance for college students is the option to list your young driver as a distant student on existing auto insurance.
"First year most colleges don't allow you take a car to school," remarked Darla Avery, a longtime MMA agent in Cottage Grove, Oregon. "So, the car stays home. But, if the student is going to school more than 150 miles away from home, they can be listed as a 'distant student' on your car insurance policy and it will reduce your rate."
When the kids come home during breaks, you don’t have to change anything to keep your coverage! "The distant student designation will cover personal injury (medical) if they get into an accident at school, and when they come home, they can hop back in their car and have existing coverage currently on the vehicle during breaks," Avery added.
Discuss the following with your student:
According to the NICB, 850,708 car thefts were reported in 2024. Washington D.C. reported the highest theft rate with about 842 cars stolen per 100,00 people. The most often stolen make and model cars in 2024: the Hyundai Elantra and the Hyundai Sonata.
While dorms offer the security of lots of friends and neighbors, they also pose a risk when students leave doors open and valuables unattended. Your homeowner's policy should extend to cover your child's dorm room, but once they're living off campus at an apartment, you should update your coverage with a renter's policy.
Remind your student:
While most students would be quick to mention their smartphone or computer as their most valuable items, often you can forget about other items like valuable jewelry, small electronics, expensive clothes, or even just credit cards that are seldom used.
Before you pack:
Burglary is the third most common property crime, according to the FBI, with about 269 burglaries per 100,000 people occurring in 2022.
If your child is taking valuables that would be expensive to replace, and they're living in an off-campus apartment, you can consider adding them as individual schedules to their renter's insurance policy. With a scheduled item, you won't pay a deductible, saving you $250-$500 if they have to get replaced.
Avery pointed out to be sure you're not paying for double coverage on electronics that won't help in the event of an accident, theft or loss. Often the lure of an "extended warranty" on pricey electronics can be money spent without any added coverage. Check your insurance policies before shelling out extra money on warranties you don't need.
College years can be a time for making lots of memories and having great stories to tell years later. Under your child's renters insurance in an apartment, or your homeowner's policy liability coverage, you can be covered in case of accidental bodily injury or property damage to others.
This means, when your child accidentally busts off a sprinkler head in the hallway while they're playing hockey with a friend in the middle of the night, and the sprinklers go off across the entire apartment building for several hours and they cause several hundred thousand dollars’ worth of damage — they'll be covered.
It's a great story, but not a fun way to get into a major financial hole. That’s why insurance for college students is highly recommended.
Are you and your children covered? Give Darla or one of our agents a call today.
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