Is Your College Student Taking a Car to School? Don’t Forget to Check Your Auto Insurance

Sending a child off to college comes with a long checklist—tuition, textbooks, dorm supplies, laptops, clothes, and everything else they’ll need for the semester. But there’s one item families sometimes overlook:

What happens to their auto insurance when they leave for college?

Whether your student is taking a vehicle with them or leaving it at home, it’s a good idea to talk with your insurance agent before move-in day.

If Your Student Is Taking a Car to College

If your college student is taking a vehicle with them, let your insurance agent know where the vehicle will normally be kept while they’re at school.

This is particularly important when the college is a significant distance from home. Where a vehicle is regularly garaged can be a factor in an auto insurance policy and its premium.

Even though your student may still consider your house "home," their vehicle could spend most of the year somewhere else.

A quick conversation with your agent can help make sure the insurance company has the correct information and that your coverage is set up appropriately.

What If the Car Stays at Home?

There may be good news if your student is heading away to college without a vehicle.

Some insurance companies offer a Student Away at School discount when an eligible student attends college more than 100 miles from home and doesn't regularly have a vehicle with them.

Requirements vary by insurance company, so don't assume the discount automatically applies. Ask your independent insurance agent whether your carrier offers it and whether your student qualifies.

Don't Forget About Good Student Discounts

Good grades may help with more than scholarships.

Many auto insurance companies offer Good Student discounts for eligible young drivers who meet certain academic requirements.

If your student has maintained good grades, ask your agent whether your current insurance company offers a discount and what documentation is required.

What About Their Belongings at College?

Think about everything your student may be taking with them: a laptop, tablet, television, clothes, furniture, electronics, and other personal belongings.

How those belongings are protected can depend on where your student lives and your existing home insurance coverage.

If they're moving into an apartment or other off-campus housing, renters insurance may also be worth considering. Renters insurance can provide important protection for personal property and liability at a relatively affordable cost.

Your insurance agent can help you determine what your existing policy may cover and whether separate renters coverage makes sense.

A Quick Insurance Review Before Move-In Day

College changes a lot for a family, and sometimes those changes affect insurance too.

Before your student heads to campus, consider asking your insurance agent:

• Is the insurance company aware of where the vehicle will be kept?
• Does our student qualify for a Student Away at School discount?
• Are we receiving any available Good Student discount?
• How are our student's belongings protected while they're at college?
• Should our student have renters insurance?
• Are our current auto insurance limits and deductibles still appropriate?

Taking a few minutes to review these questions now can help avoid unexpected insurance issues later.

Have a College Student Heading to School? We're Happy to Help.

At JD Auvil Insurance, we're an independent insurance agency, which means we can help families review their coverage and understand the options available from the insurance companies we represent.

We help individuals, families, and businesses with auto insurance, home insurance, renters insurance, commercial insurance, and life insurance throughout Carrollton, Smithfield, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton Roads, and communities across Virginia and North Carolina.

If someone in your family is heading off to college, give JD Auvil Insurance a call. We'll be happy to review your insurance with you and help make sure everything is ready for the school year.