Insurance, College Planning, Virginia

Back to School in Virginia: 7 Insurance Things Parents & College Students Should Know

A 5-minute read that can help you avoid insurance surprises when your student heads to college.

If you’re sending a student to college in Virginia or heading to college yourself, there are a few insurance questions worth answering before move-in day.

Will your belongings be covered in a dorm? What about an off-campus apartment? Does your auto insurer need to know that your car is moving to college? Could you qualify for a student discount?

You don’t need to know everything about insurance. You just need to know what to check.

Here are 7 things Virginia parents and college students should know before the school year begins.

1. Renting Off Campus? Your Landlord's Insurance Doesn't Cover Your Stuff

If you're moving into an apartment, don't assume the landlord's insurance protects your personal belongings.

A landlord's policy generally covers the building—not your laptop, phone, clothes, furniture, bicycle, television, or other possessions.

That's one reason the Virginia State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance recommends that students living off campus consider renters insurance.

Renters insurance can help protect personal property from covered losses and can also provide liability protection. Exactly what's covered depends on the individual policy, including its limits, deductible, and exclusions.

What to do: Before moving into an apartment, find out what renters insurance would cover and whether it makes sense for your situation.

2. Living in a Dorm? Check Your Parents' Policy

Students living in campus housing may have some coverage through a parent's homeowners or renters insurance policy.

According to the Virginia Bureau of Insurance's guidance for students heading to college, a parent's homeowners or renters policy may cover a student's belongings while the student lives in on-campus housing.

But don't assume everything in the dorm is automatically covered.

Coverage limits and deductibles may apply, and certain valuable belongings can have additional restrictions.

What to do: Parents, contact your insurance agent before move-in and ask:

• Are my student's belongings covered while living in a dorm?

• What is the coverage limit?

• What deductible applies?

• Are there special limits for expensive items?

A quick policy review can give both parents and students a clearer answer before something happens.

3. Know How Much Stuff You're Taking to College

A laptop might be one of the more expensive items in the room. Then add a phone, clothes, shoes, headphones, television, gaming system, bicycle, furniture, kitchen items, and everything else you're taking to school.

It adds up quickly.

The Virginia Bureau of Insurance recommends creating an inventory of personal belongings. An inventory can help you estimate your insurance needs and can also be useful if you need to file a claim.

What to do: Use your phone to take photos or a video of your dorm room or apartment. Keep receipts, serial numbers, or other information for expensive items when possible.

It doesn't need to be complicated. The goal is simply to know what you own.

4. Taking a Car to College? Tell Your Insurance Agent

If you're taking a car to college and it will normally be kept at a different address, your insurance company should know.

The Virginia Bureau of Insurance specifically advises families to tell their insurance agent or company where a student's vehicle will be kept when that location differs from the address on the policy.

Who owns the vehicle matters, too.

If you're unsure whether the student should remain on a parent's auto policy or have another arrangement, ask your insurance professional rather than guessing.

What to do: Tell your agent:

• Who owns the car

• Who regularly drives it

• Where the student is attending college

• Where the vehicle will normally be kept

Those details help your insurance professional review the situation accurately.

5. Know Virginia's Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements

Students who drive should understand at least the basics of their auto insurance.

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, for Virginia auto policies effective on or after January 1, 2025, the minimum liability limits are:

• $50,000 for bodily injury or death of one person

• $100,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people

• $25,000 for property damage

These are Virginia's legal minimum requirements. They are not a recommendation for how much insurance you personally should carry.

Your appropriate coverage depends on your individual circumstances.

What to do: Don't just know that you “have insurance.” Understand your coverage, deductible, and limits and know where to find your insurance information if you need it.

6. Good Grades May Help You Save

Parents already have plenty of college expenses. It's worth asking whether your student qualifies for any available auto insurance discounts.

The Virginia Bureau of Insurance recommends asking your insurance agent or company about good-student discounts for students who maintain good grades.

Discount availability and eligibility requirements vary, so don't assume one automatically applies.

What to do: Ask your insurance agent:

“Are there any student discounts or savings opportunities we qualify for?”

It's a simple question worth asking during your back-to-school coverage review.

7. Do a Quick Insurance Check Before Move-In Day

Before the boxes are packed and the car leaves the driveway, spend five minutes reviewing these questions together:

Where will the student live?

Dorm, apartment, or at home?

What belongings are going with them?

Do you have a basic inventory?

Is the student taking a car?

Where will it normally be kept?

Who owns the vehicle?

Does your insurer have the correct information?

Have you reviewed your current coverage?

Do you understand the applicable limits, deductibles, and exclusions?

Are student discounts available?

Ask rather than assuming.

Does the student know what to do if something happens?

Make sure they know where their insurance information is and who to contact.

Five Minutes Now Can Answer Important Questions Later

Back-to-school insurance doesn't have to be complicated.

If you're a Virginia parent or college student, focus on three things:

Where will the student live? What are they taking with them? Where will the car be kept?

Those answers can help identify which insurance questions you need to ask.

And if you're not sure whether your current renters or auto coverage fits your student's new situation, you don't have to figure it out on your own.

Have Questions About Your Student's Insurance?

The Tabetha Campbell Thompson Agency can help Virginia families review their current coverage, answer questions, and discuss renters and auto insurance options for the school year.

Contact Tabetha Campbell Thompson Agency

Frequently Asked Questions

Do college students need renters insurance in Virginia?

College students living in an off-campus apartment in Virginia should consider renters insurance because a landlord’s insurance generally does not cover the student’s personal belongings. Renters insurance can help protect belongings from covered losses and may also provide liability protection. Coverage, limits, deductibles, and exclusions vary by policy.

Does my homeowners insurance cover my college student in a dorm?

A parent’s homeowners insurance may provide coverage for a college student’s belongings while the student lives in a dorm. However, coverage limits, deductibles, and exclusions may apply. Before your student moves in, review your policy and ask your insurance agent how belongings such as laptops, electronics, bicycles, and other valuables are covered.

Should I tell my insurance company if my student takes a car to college?

Yes. If your student takes a car to college, tell your insurance company where the vehicle will normally be kept, especially if that location differs from the address on the policy. You should also confirm who owns and regularly drives the vehicle so your insurer has accurate information about your student’s situation.

Can a college student stay on their parents’ auto insurance?

A college student may be able to remain on a parent’s auto insurance policy, depending on factors such as who owns the vehicle, where it is kept, and who regularly drives it. Because each family’s circumstances are different, parents should review the arrangement with their insurance agent before the student leaves for college.

Are there auto insurance discounts available for college students?

College students may qualify for auto insurance discounts depending on the insurer and their eligibility. For example, some insurers offer good-student discounts to qualifying students. Parents and students should ask their insurance agent about available student discounts and other savings opportunities rather than assuming a particular discount automatically applies.

This article is for general educational purposes. Insurance coverage, limits, exclusions, discounts, and eligibility depend on the individual policy and circumstances. Speak with a licensed insurance professional about your specific situation.