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Renters Insurance for College Students: Do They Need It?

Parents face plenty of stress when sending their kids off to college. They worry about their child’s physical and emotional health, grades, and personal belongings. Many parents buy expensive laptops, bicycles, clothes, and books for their kids, which begs the question of whether to get renters insurance. for your college student.

It is worth noting that most homeowners policies extend some contents and liability coverage to family members away at school. However, the types of losses that happen at college may also be less than many homeowners policy deductibles, potentially leaving families to self-insure such property. In addition, what might be covered in a college dorm might not be covered in an off-campus apartment rental. 

Your independent agent can help you navigate all the questions and options to ensure you have the information necessary to make the right decision.

If possessions and personal liability are not going to be fully covered by your homeowners policy, you will need to weigh the cost of renters insurance against the benefits.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a government agency tracking higher education trends, out of 27,300 reported crimes in 2019, 33% were on-campus burglaries.

Most basic renters policies are fairly inexpensive, so it may be hard to imagine the yearly cost of renters insurance being higher than a potential theft or loss. Consider the following:

  • Though renters insurance premiums vary by state, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners estimated the average yearly cost in 2019 to be $174 (or $14.50 per month).
  • The contents of a dorm room or college apartment, such as computers, textbooks, bicycles, earbuds, clothes and other common items can be easily valued in the thousands of dollars.
  • Business Insider noted renters insurance can also protect you from personal liability if someone is injured in an off-campus rental.

At the end of the day, you might want to reach out to a professional to figure out if renters insurance is right for you and your student.

Contact your independent agent today to rethink your insurance.

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