Sending a child off to college comes with a long checklist: tuition, housing, textbooks, laptops, meal plans, transportation, and seemingly endless trips to buy things for a dorm room.
But there is one important item many Illinois families forget to put on that list:
Insurance.
Whether your student is living in a dorm, renting an off-campus apartment, taking a car to school, or leaving their vehicle at home, going to college can change their insurance needs.
At Langlois Insurance Agency, we encourage parents to review their family’s insurance coverage before their college student heads to campus. A quick insurance review can help identify coverage gaps, make sure valuable belongings are properly protected, and even uncover potential auto insurance discounts.
<Photo of me, Matt Langlois, dropping my oldest off at college in 2023>
Does My Homeowners Insurance Cover My College Student at School?
In many cases, a college student living in a dorm may have some coverage under their parents’ homeowners insurance policy. But you should never assume they are fully covered.
A standard homeowners policy may extend personal property coverage to a dependent student living away from home in a college dorm. However, coverage limits, deductibles, eligibility requirements, and exclusions can vary by insurance company and policy.
Think about everything your student is taking to school:
- Laptop or tablet
- Smartphone
- Television
- Gaming systems
- Clothing and shoes
- Furniture and dorm furnishings
- Musical instruments
- Sports equipment
- Bicycle
- Jewelry and other valuables
It can add up surprisingly quickly.
Before move-in day, talk with us here at Langlois Insurance Agency about how your homeowners policy treats a student living away at college and whether there are limitations on personal property kept away from your primary residence.
Does a College Student Living in a Dorm Need Renters Insurance?
The short answer is “Maybe”.
Students living in college dormitories may have coverage for their belongings through their parents’ homeowners policy. However, that doesn’t automatically mean the existing coverage is the best solution.
There may be limits on how much coverage applies to belongings located away from home. Your family’s homeowners deductible is also important to consider.
For example, if a student’s laptop and other electronics are stolen, you’ll want to know before the loss occurs what policy applies, what the deductible is, and how much coverage is available.
Depending on your family’s insurance policy and the student’s situation, a separate renters or student policy may make sense.
Does a College Student Living Off Campus Need Renters Insurance?
College students renting an off-campus apartment or house should strongly consider renters insurance.
One of the biggest misconceptions among renters is that the landlord’s insurance will protect the tenant’s belongings.
It generally doesn’t.
The landlord insures the building—not your student’s laptop, furniture, clothing, electronics, and other personal belongings.
Renters insurance can typically provide several important types of protection:
Personal Property Coverage: Helps protect belongings from covered losses such as theft, fire, and certain types of property damage.
Personal Liability Coverage: Can provide protection if the student is legally responsible for accidentally injuring someone or damaging another person’s property.
Additional Living Expenses: Depending on the policy and circumstances, coverage may help with additional expenses if a covered loss makes the apartment temporarily uninhabitable.
For a college student accumulating thousands of dollars in belongings, renters insurance can provide valuable protection.
Does Renters Insurance Cover College Roommates?
This is another important question to ask before signing a lease.
Do not assume one roommate’s renters insurance automatically covers everyone living in the apartment.
Roommate coverage depends on the policy and the insurance company.
If several students are sharing an off-campus house or apartment, each student should discuss their situation with an insurance professional and determine whether they need their own renters insurance policy.
What Happens to Auto Insurance When a Student Goes Away to College?
College can also create important changes to your family’s auto insurance.
The first question is simple:
Is your student taking a vehicle to college?
If the answer is yes, let your insurance agent know where the vehicle will primarily be kept. A car that was previously garaged at your home may now spend most of the year in another city or even another state.
Where a vehicle is located and how it is being used can affect an auto insurance policy.
If your student is not taking a car to college, tell your agent that too.
Some insurance companies offer discounts when a college student attends school a certain distance from home and does not have a vehicle with them. Illinois insurance consumer information specifically identifies a potential “college student away from home” discount for students attending school more than 100 miles away when they do not take a vehicle with them.
Can College Students Get a Good Student Auto Insurance Discount?
Possibly.
Many insurance companies offer good student discounts to qualifying young drivers who maintain certain academic standards.
If your college student is earning good grades, don’t keep that information to yourself!
Ask your insurance agent whether your carrier offers a good student discount, what academic requirements apply, and what documentation is needed.
This is one of those times when studying really can pay.
What If My College Student Occasionally Drives Our Cars When Home?
This is exactly why you shouldn’t simply remove a college student from an auto insurance policy because they are away at school.
A student may come home for weekends, holidays, Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, and summer and may drive family vehicles while they’re home.
Before changing or removing a college student’s auto coverage, talk to your us about how frequently the student will drive and where they attend school.
Saving a little money isn’t worth accidentally creating a significant coverage problem.
What About Expensive Laptops, Jewelry, Musical Instruments or Sports Equipment?
College students can have some surprisingly valuable property.
A standard homeowners or renters policy may provide coverage for many belongings, but certain expensive or specialized items can have coverage limitations.
If your student is taking valuable jewelry, a high-end computer, camera equipment, a musical instrument, expensive sports equipment, or other high-value property to school, mention it to your insurance agent.
Additional coverage may be appropriate depending on the item and your existing policy.
Should College Students Create an Inventory?
Yes. A college student should create an inventory of the belongings they take to school.
Before move-in day, take photos or videos of valuable items and record identifying information such as serial numbers when possible.
Keep receipts for major purchases such as laptops, televisions, bicycles, furniture, and electronics.
A simple inventory can make the claims process much easier if belongings are stolen or damaged in a covered loss.
What Insurance Does a College Student Need?
There isn’t one answer that applies to every student.
A college student’s insurance needs may include:
- Coverage under a parent’s homeowners policy
- Renters insurance
- Auto insurance
- Additional coverage for valuable personal property
- Personal liability protection
The right combination depends on where the student lives, what property they take with them, whether they have a vehicle at school, and the terms of the family’s existing insurance policies.
College Insurance Checklist for Illinois Parents
Before your student leaves for college, review these questions with your insurance agent:
Where will your student live? Dorm, apartment, fraternity or sorority house, or another type of housing?
Are their belongings covered? Determine whether your homeowners policy extends adequate coverage to their college residence.
Do they need renters insurance? This is especially important for students living off campus.
Are they taking a vehicle? Make sure your auto insurance reflects where the vehicle is actually being kept and used.
Are discounts available? Ask about good student and student-away-at-school discounts.
Are they taking expensive property? Discuss laptops, jewelry, musical instruments, sports equipment, and other high-value belongings.
Is your liability protection adequate? College means more independence—and potentially more situations where liability coverage becomes important.
Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance for College Students
Do college students need renters insurance?
Students living off campus should strongly consider renters insurance because a landlord’s insurance generally does not cover the student’s personal belongings. Students living in dorms may have some coverage through their parents’ homeowners policy, but coverage limits and exclusions should be reviewed.
Does homeowners insurance cover a child away at college?
A parent’s homeowners policy may provide some personal property coverage for a dependent student living in a college dorm. Coverage varies by policy and insurance company, so parents should confirm the coverage, limits, deductible, and exclusions with their insurance agent.
Does my college student need auto insurance if they don’t take a car to school?
Possibly. A student who doesn’t have a vehicle at school may still drive family vehicles when home. Some insurers may also offer a student-away-at-school discount rather than requiring the student to be removed from the policy.
Can college students get cheaper auto insurance for good grades?
Many insurers offer good student discounts to qualifying young drivers. Requirements vary by insurance company, so parents should ask their agent what grades or documentation are required.
Does a landlord’s insurance cover a college student’s belongings?
Generally, no. A landlord’s insurance typically protects the building itself, not the tenant’s personal property. Renters insurance can help protect a student’s belongings and provide personal liability coverage.
Should I call my insurance agent when my child goes to college?
Yes. Going away to college can affect homeowners, renters, and auto insurance. An insurance review before the semester begins can help make sure your student is properly protected and identify potential discounts.
Sending a Student to College? Let’s Review Your Insurance First.
College is a big transition—for students and parents. Insurance probably isn’t the most exciting part of preparing for college, but it’s one of those things you don’t want to discover you misunderstood after a theft, accident, fire, or other loss.
At Langlois Insurance Agency, we’ve been helping individuals and families protect what matters most for more than 40 years. As a locally owned, family insurance agency serving New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Manhattan, Homer Glen, Lockport, Joliet, and communities throughout the Lincoln-Way area and Illinois, we’re here to help you understand your coverage—not just sell you a policy.
If you have a son or daughter heading to college, give us a call. We’ll review your current homeowners and auto insurance and help determine whether renters insurance or additional coverage should be considered.
Call Langlois Insurance Agency at 815-485-2106.
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Important Insurance Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered insurance, legal, or financial advice. Insurance coverage, eligibility, limits, exclusions, and requirements vary by policy, insurance carrier, and individual circumstances. Always consult with a licensed insurance professional to review your specific situation and coverage needs before making changes to your insurance policies. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions of the actual policy issued.