College guide
College move in: is your student's stuff covered?
How your homeowners policy usually treats a dorm room, when a student needs their own renters policy, and the inventory to make before move in day.
When I sold insurance, "my kid's going to college, is their stuff covered?" was a question parents asked a lot. The honest answer is usually "sort of," and the details matter.
Before you load up the car, here's how coverage for a college student usually works, and the ten minute inventory that makes any claim a lot easier.
Living in a dorm
Here's the good news. Many homeowners and renters policies extend some coverage to a student's belongings while they live in campus housing. Personal property coverage usually follows your stuff off premises, and a student in a dorm is often still treated as part of your household.
The catch is the limit. The Insurance Information Institute says coverage for belongings away from home is typically 10 percent of your personal property limit. So if your policy has $100,000 in personal property coverage, your student might have about $10,000 for everything in the dorm room. That may be plenty, or it may not, once you add up a laptop, a TV, a gaming console, a bike and a closet full of clothes.
There are usually conditions, too. According to the NAIC, a student who is under 26, enrolled in classes and living in on campus housing may be covered under a parent's policy. Age limits and rules vary by company, so call your agent or read the "insured" definition in your policy before move in day.
Living off campus
This is where a lot of families get caught. Once a student moves into an off campus apartment or house, many policies stop treating them as part of your household, and their stuff usually isn't covered under your policy anymore. The NAIC puts it plainly: in many cases the student's property isn't covered if they live off campus.
That means they'll usually need their own renters insurance. A lot of landlords require it anyway. Renters insurance also typically includes liability coverage, which matters if a guest gets hurt or your student accidentally floods the unit below. Read more in do I need renters insurance.
Roommates are another thing to watch. Your policy covers your student's stuff, not their roommate's. If the roommate's TV gets stolen or ruined, that's on the roommate's own policy. The NAIC recommends each adult tenant carry their own coverage.
Laptops, bikes and theft
Theft is the big one at college. Laptops, phones, bikes and textbooks disappear from dorms, libraries, cars and bike racks. Theft of personal property is usually covered, subject to your limits and deductible, but a few things trip people up:
- Proof. The insurer will usually want to know what it was, what it was worth and that you owned it. Serial numbers and photos make this easy.
- Police report. Most insurers expect one for theft. File it with campus or local police right away.
- Special limits. Jewelry, watches and some other valuables often have lower theft limits. A pricey camera or instrument may need to be scheduled.
- Phones. Many families rely on a separate phone protection plan instead of homeowners coverage, since the deductible often eats most of the claim.
The deductible problem
Even when coverage applies, your homeowners deductible applies too. If your deductible is $1,000 or more and the stolen laptop was worth $1,200, the claim probably isn't worth filing. A claim can also show up in your claims history, which some insurers look at when you renew.
That's why some parents buy a separate policy for the student even when the dorm is technically covered. The Insurance Information Institute notes that dorm specific policies tend to have lower deductibles than home insurance policies.
Student renters and dorm policies
You've basically got three options:
- Rely on your homeowners policy if your student is in a dorm, your limit covers what they're bringing, and you're okay with your deductible
- Buy a renters policy in the student's name, which is usually the move for an off campus apartment
- Buy a dorm or student specific policy if you want a lower deductible or more coverage than your 10 percent gives you
Whatever you choose, check whether it pays replacement cost or actual cash value. A four year old laptop isn't worth much on an actual cash value basis. Here's the difference in plain English. And if you're the one packing the truck, moving insurance covers what happens on the way there.
Make an inventory before move in
This is the easiest thing you can do, and it's best done while everything's still in boxes in the driveway. The NAIC says a list of possessions with purchase prices, model numbers and serial numbers is the kind of thing insurers look for.
- Photograph every bigger item: laptop, tablet, TV, monitor, gaming console, mini fridge, microwave, bike
- Photograph the serial number on each electronic item and bike frame
- Note the brand, model and what it cost (or costs to replace today)
- Snap a quick photo of clothes, shoes, bedding and textbooks as a group
- Save receipts for anything new you bought for school
- Store it in the cloud and share a copy with your student
- Do a quick video of the room once it's set up, which also helps with any damage deposit
Our home inventory checklist has a full list if you want to be thorough. And while you're at it, this is a great time to do your own house too. Check whether your own limits still fit with how much personal property coverage do I need.
Do the dorm list in a few minutes
I built AfterProof because making a contents list by hand is brutal, and nobody wants to do it on move in day. Snap photos of your student's stuff, the AI identifies each item and finds what it costs to replace today, and you get a PDF you can send an adjuster if something gets stolen. For a bigger list, the web app lets you finish it from a computer.
Quick answers
Does my homeowners insurance cover my child in a college dorm?
Often, yes. Many homeowners policies extend coverage to a student living in campus housing, usually limited to around 10 percent of your personal property limit and subject to age and enrollment rules. Check with your agent.
Does a college student living off campus need renters insurance?
Usually, yes. Many parents' policies don't cover a student's belongings in an off campus apartment, and many landlords require renters insurance anyway.
Is a stolen laptop at college covered by insurance?
Theft is usually covered under personal property coverage, up to your limits and after your deductible. File a police report and have photos or the serial number ready.
Does my policy cover my student's roommate's stuff?
No. Your policy covers your household's belongings, not a roommate's. Each roommate usually needs their own coverage.
Is dorm insurance worth it?
It can be if your homeowners deductible is high or the 10 percent off premises limit won't cover what your student brings. Dorm and student policies often have lower deductibles.
This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Every policy is different, so check yours or ask your agent.
Sources: NAIC, renters insurance for college students, CNBC via NBC New York, Insurance Information Institute on dorm coverage, Insurance Information Institute, what's covered by a standard homeowners policy.
