College & Insurance

College Bound: What Parents Need to Know About Insurance Coverage

As colleges and universities across the country prepare to welcome students for another academic year, families are navigating everything from dorm move-ins and apartment leases to tuition payments. One item that should always be on the back-to-school checklist is insurance.

“College brings changes in where students live, what they own and how they use their vehicles, and those changes can affect insurance coverage,” said Kenton Brine, president of NW Insurance Council. “A quick conversation with your insurance company or agent before students head to school can help families understand what is covered, identify potential gaps and avoid costly surprises.”

Whether your student is living at home, in a residence hall or in an off-campus apartment, here’s what parents and college-age students should know about insurance coverage:

• Start with an insurance checkup: Contact your insurance company or agent to review your current policies and discuss your student’s living arrangements. Coverage for a student’s belongings can vary depending on whether they live at home, in school-sponsored housing or off campus.
• Understand dorm room coverage: A student who lives in a college dorm and remains a member of the parents’ household may have coverage for personal belongings under the parents’ Homeowners or Renters Insurance policy. Coverage limits, exclusions and deductibles apply, so families should review their policy before move-in day.
• Consider Renters Insurance for off-campus housing: Students living in an off-campus apartment or rental home may need their own Renters Insurance policy. Renters Insurance can help protect personal belongings and provide liability coverage if the student is responsible for injury to another person or damage to someone else’s property. Some landlords also require tenants to carry coverage.
• Tell your insurer when living arrangements change: A permanent move away from the family home can affect whether a student qualifies for coverage under a parent’s policy. Check with your insurance company or agent rather than assuming coverage follows the student.
• Ask about auto insurance discounts: If your student attends college away from home and leaves the family vehicle behind, you may qualify for a student-away-at-school discount. Eligibility and distance requirements vary by insurer. Many insurers also offer discounts for students who meet certain academic requirements.
• Delivery and rideshare work can create coverage gaps: Students who use a personal vehicle to deliver food or packages or provide rides for a fee should talk with their insurer before starting the job. A standard personal Auto Insurance policy may exclude or limit coverage when a vehicle is being used for commercial purposes – but coverage is typically widely available, easy to add, and affordable.
• Know which policy covers belongings in a vehicle: Auto Insurance generally does not cover personal belongings stolen from a vehicle. Homeowners or Renters Insurance may provide coverage for those items, subject to the policy’s deductible, limits and exclusions.
• Create a back-to-school inventory: Before moving in, document the electronics, furniture, clothing, sporting equipment and other belongings your student takes to school. Photos, receipts, serial numbers and estimated values can help families determine how much coverage is needed and make the claims process easier after a covered loss.
• Consider Tuition Insurance: Tuition Insurance may reimburse some or all eligible education expenses if a student must withdraw from school for a covered reason, such as a serious illness or injury. Coverage, exclusions and costs vary considerably, so families should compare options and carefully review policy terms before purchasing.

Protecting Belongings on Campus

College students often bring laptops, phones, tablets, gaming systems, bicycles and other valuable belongings to school. Theft can occur in residence halls as well as classrooms, libraries, dining halls and other shared spaces.

Students can easily bring thousands of dollars’ worth of electronics, clothing and other belongings to campus,” said Brine. “Taking a few simple precautions and knowing what insurance coverage you have before something happens can make a big difference.”

Students can reduce the risk of theft and property damage by taking a few basic precautions:

• Lock up every time: Lock dorm rooms, apartments and vehicles, even when leaving for only a few minutes. Don't hide spare keys outside an apartment or residence.
• Keep valuables out of sight: Never leave phones, laptops, backpacks or other valuables unattended in libraries, classrooms, dining halls or other public spaces. Avoid leaving valuables in vehicles; if you must, keep them out of sight.
• Protect your technology: Use passwords, device-locking features and location-tracking tools on phones, tablets and laptops. Record serial numbers and other identifying information for expensive electronics.
• Protect bicycles and e-bikes: Use a quality lock and secure the bicycle to a fixed object. Keep a record of the serial number and consider registering the bicycle with the college or local law enforcement agency if a registration program is available.
• Cook with caution: Cooking equipment is a leading cause of fires in dormitory-type properties. Students should never leave cooking unattended and should follow their college’s rules regarding appliances allowed in residence halls. Make sure sleeping and living areas have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

As colleges and universities across the country welcome students back for another academic year, families are navigating everything from dorm move-ins to tuition payments. Whether your student is attending classes in person or remotely from home, one critical topic often overlooked is insurance coverage.

“College introduces new risks, both physical and financial, that families need to prepare for,” said Kenton Brine, president of NW Insurance Council. “Understanding what’s covered and what’s not can save you thousands in the event of theft, damage, or unexpected withdrawal.”

Whether a student in your household is attending college from home online or away on campus, here’s what parents and college-age students should know about insurance coverage:

• Start with a coverage checkup: Contact your insurance company or agent to review your current policies and explore options. If your student’s belongings are stolen or damaged while living on campus, they may be covered under your standard Homeowners or Renters Insurance, depending on your student’s living arrangement.
• Dorm room coverage: Students living in school dorms are typically covered under a parent’s Homeowners Insurance. However, coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles still apply. Review your policy to understand what’s protected and what’s not.
• Off-campus living requires Renters Insurance: If your college student lives off-campus, they will likely need their own Renters Insurance to cover personal property (at their residence or in their vehicle) and liability. Most landlords now require proof of coverage as part of the lease agreement.
• Permanent move-outs may affect coverage: If your college student has permanently moved out and isn’t living in campus housing, their personal property may no longer be covered under your policy. Your student must reside in your household (or in school-sponsored housing) for his or her personal property to be covered under your policy.
• Auto insurance discount for distant students: Students attending college at least 100 miles from home and not driving the family car may qualify for a discount. Many insurers also offer reduced rates for students who maintain a B average or higher.
• Delivery driving can create coverage gaps: If your student uses their personal vehicle for delivery work, such as food or package services, standard auto policies may not provide coverage. Many insurers offer endorsements or separate policies to cover business use. Be sure to ask your insurance company or agent.
• Theft or damage in vehicles: If items are stolen from or damaged inside your student’s vehicle, Homeowners or Renters Insurance may cover the loss, minus the policy’s deductible.
• Create a back-to-school inventory: Document the items your student brought to school. A detailed inventory can help determine how much insurance is needed and will help speed up the claims process.
• Consider Tuition Insurance: Some insurers offer Tuition Insurance, which reimburses most or all of the cost of tuition and/or student housing if a student must withdraw from school due to a covered illness or emergency. Policies typically cost one percent of the total tuition. It is critical to shop around, read reviews and read the policy language carefully.

Preventing theft or damage

Burglary is one of the most reported criminal offenses on college campuses. In 2021, The National Center for Education Statistics reported 6,500 campus burglaries, or 28 percent of reported on-campus crimes.

“College students often bring thousands of dollars’ worth of electronics, clothing and other valuables to school,” said Brine. “A few simple precautions can go a long way in preventing theft and damage.”

Here are a few smart safety tips for students:

• Always lock up: Even if you’re leaving for a short period of time, lock up your dorm or apartment.
• Keep valuables out of sight: Theft often occurs in classrooms, dining halls, libraries and other public spaces. Never leave your phone, laptop or backpack unattended. If storing items in your car, put them in the trunk or somewhere out of sight.
• Secure your Technology: Use a security cable with a combination lock to anchor your device to a sturdy object. Engraving your electronics with your name or student ID can help authorities recover stolen items.
• Cook with caution: Cooking equipment was involved in nine out of 10 fires in dormitories, and an average of 3,379 fires in college dormitories, fraternities, sororities and other related properties were reported each year from 2017 to 2021, according to the National Fire Protection Association. If you live in a dorm, apartment or house make sure the room you sleep in and each living area has a working smoke alarm.