Send Your Child To School Safely And Smartly

As your kids head back to college, they’re thinking about textbooks, supplies, classes, and their social lives. They’re probably not worried about insurance coverage, liability limits, and a host of other issues that should concern them.

That’s why they have parents, right? If you’re concerned about your children’s welfare, you should take a good, long look at their insurance coverage before they start college.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Make Sure Your Kids Are Covered Before They Start School

Here are some factors you may never have considered about insurance and college bound students — but definitely should:

  • Living Space: If a student resides in school-provided housing like a dormitory, she will still be covered by her parents’ insurance policy (with certain limitations). However, if she’s living off-campus, she will most likely need her own insurance, such as a renters policy.
  • Adequate Coverage: A homeowners policy typically provides 10% of contents coverage to another residence occupied by a family member. So, if your policy has $300,000 in contents coverage, your child will automatically have $30,000 worth of coverage. But will that be enough for all of her belongings?
  • Loss Protection: Nowadays it’s impossible to get through college without a computer. The standard home policy covers loss of computer by theft, subject to the deductible, but not such common disasters as spilled liquids, being dropped, or damage from a power surge. Check with your agent about increasing coverage.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT AUTO INSURANCE FOR YOUR STUDENT

For many college students, transportation is a modern necessity — especially if you want them to visit home often. Some important things to know:

  • Many insurance companies offer discounts for students attending school more than 100 miles from home without a car.
  • If your child does have a car at college, it’s much more cost-effective to register the car in your name and add it to your policy. A youthful driver owning his own car can be prohibitively expensive to insure.
  • Loaning her car to a friend or roommate could affect your policy and should be discussed with your agent. Frequent borrowing is generally not recommended, as it can complicate a policy and lead to expensive liabilities.

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN – BE PREPARED!

Advise your child on three important actions when they get into an accident:

  • Safety First: If there are injuries, dial 9-1-1 immediately.
  • Write It Down: Get the names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance company name, vehicle make and model, and tag number for every party involved.
  • Take Pictures: Get photo records of the accident scene, plus any vehicle damage and personal injuries.

WE CAN HELP

For more advice about preparing your kids for college, contact us at George A. Bell & Son. We’ll talk to you about getting all the coverage you need to ensure the best college experience for the most important people in your life.

0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *