Renters Insurance for College Students

How to Confidently Send Your Child Off to School

Leaving for college soon? Whether your child is heading off for school or you are the child heading to school, this is a period of profound change that can be a challenging adjustment. We know you already have a long checklist of items that must be completed for this new life experience, and we're here to add one more essential item to your list.

[X] Speak with your insurance provider to ensure you or your student still has coverage while they are away!

Understanding How Homeowners Insurance Extends to Your Student

Fortunately, most homeowners insurance policies will extend to your student’s belongings while living on campus. Some insurance providers may have a list of requirements to qualify for coverage. These criteria may state that your child must be a full-time student, live on campus, be under the age of 24, or be a relative of the insured on the homeowners' policy. However, even if your homeowners' insurance policy extends to your student, the coverage limits may not be enough if your student has high-value items, such as gaming devices, computers, or other electronics.

Homeowners' insurance also may not extend its coverage to your student if they live in a house or apartment off campus. Consider obtaining a renters policy. A specified renters' insurance policy can provide robust coverage for personal belongings, as well as liability protections and additional living expenses coverage.

Renters Insurance Coverage

Renters insurance typically includes the following three coverages:

1. Personal possessions coverage can help protect your student’s belongings, such as furniture, electronic devices, and other possessions against covered perils such as fire, theft, and vandalism. This coverage can help cover the cost of replacing or repairing them up to the policy’s limits. However, as noted previously, particularly expensive items such as laptops and jewelry may require additional insurance to be covered adequately.
2. Liability protection coverage can help cover lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage for which your student is responsible.
3. Additional living expenses coverage can help pay hotel and food bills if your student’s residence becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event.

Value of Renters Insurance

Renters insurance is a valuable and affordable investment for college students. It is relatively inexpensive coverage with some premiums as low as $10 a month. The payments are especially low when compared to what it would cost to replace expensive items out of pocket. In this exciting phase of life, renters' insurance grants peace of mind, ensuring students can focus more on their studies and less on the burden of unexpected financial setbacks.

Review your homeowners' coverage with your expert Williams Insurance agent to understand how coverage may extend to your college student. We're here to help you understand what is and isn’t covered, coverage limits, and potential gaps that may necessitate renters insurance.