Back to school season means new routines, busy schedules, and plenty of preparation. Between school supplies, activities, sports, transportation, and getting everyone back on a regular schedule, insurance may not be at the top of your list.
But September is a great time to take a few minutes to review your coverage and make sure your family is prepared for the school year ahead.
Here’s a simple back to school insurance checklist to help you get started.
Review Your Auto Insurance.
If your teens drive to school, practice, work, or other activities, make sure your auto policy reflects your current household and drivers.
If your teen recently received their license, purchased a vehicle, or will be driving a family vehicle regularly, your insurance agent should know. These changes can affect your coverage and premium.
It’s also a good time to review your coverage limits and deductibles to make sure they still fit your needs.
Talk to Your Teen About Safe Driving
Back to school also means more vehicles on the road, school buses making frequent stops, pedestrians crossing streets, and students walking or biking to school.
Take some time to remind young drivers about the basics:
- Put the phone away while driving
- Follow school zone speed limits
- Watch carefully for pedestrians and cyclists
- Give school buses plenty of space
- Always wear a seat belt
- Avoid distractions, including passengers
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Safe driving habits can help protect your teen and everyone else sharing the road.
Check Coverage for College Students
If you have a child heading off to college, their insurance needs may change depending on where they’re living and what they’re bringing with them.
A student living in a dorm, apartment, or off campus housing may have different coverage considerations. Personal belongings such as laptops, tablets, bicycles, clothing, and other electronics may need to be reviewed.
If your student is taking a vehicle to school, make sure your insurance agent knows where the vehicle will primarily be located and who will be driving it.
Before your student heads to campus, it’s worth having a conversation with your insurance professional about what is covered and whether additional coverage is needed.
Make Sure Expensive School Items Are Covered
Today’s school supplies can include much more than notebooks and pencils. Families may be sending students to school with laptops, tablets, musical instruments, sports equipment, cameras, bicycles, and other expensive items.
Review your homeowners or renters’ policy to understand how personal property is covered, including any limits that may apply to certain types of belongings.
For especially valuable items, you may want to discuss whether additional coverage is appropriate.
Review Your Homeowners or Renters Insurance
Back to school is a good reminder to make sure your home or renter’s insurance still reflects your current situation.
Have you purchased new furniture, electronics, appliances, or other belongings? Have you completed renovations or made other significant changes to your home?
Make sure your policy information is up to date and that you understand your coverage.
Create or Update Your Home Inventory
If you ever need to file a claim, having a record of your belongings can make the process much easier.
Take photos or videos of your home’s contents and keep a list of valuable items, including model numbers, serial numbers, receipts, and other documentation when available.
Store your inventory somewhere safe and accessible, such as a secure cloud storage account. You don’t want the only copy of your inventory to be inside your home if you experience a loss.
Don’t Forget About Umbrella Insurance
As your family grows and your activities change, your liability risks can change too.
Teen drivers, swimming pools, recreational vehicles, rental properties, and other assets or activities can increase your exposure to a serious liability claim.
An umbrella policy can provide additional liability protection above the limits of your underlying home and auto policies. It may be worth discussing whether your family’s circumstances have changed.
Keep Your Insurance Information Available
When you’re juggling school schedules, sports practices, activities, work, and everything else that comes with a new school year, having quick access to your insurance information can make things easier.
With Gannon Access, you can access your policies, insurance ID cards, certificates of insurance, and claims information from your phone or computer.
It’s one less thing to keep track of when life gets busy.
Make Insurance Part of Your Back-To-School Checklist
The beginning of the school year is a natural time for a fresh start for a lot of families. While you’re organizing backpacks and calendars, take a few minutes to make sure your insurance is organized too.
Your family’s needs can change quickly, especially as children get older, begin driving, head off to college, or take on new activities. A quick review can help make sure your coverage continues to keep pace.
At Gannon Associates Insurance, we’re here to help you understand your coverage and make sure your insurance continues to fit your family’s needs.
