August 20, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 13 PIANJ: Is your college student protected? As college students and their families prepare for the beginning of the school year, insurance considerations should be at the top of their college checklist, accord- ing to the Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey. This trade association, which represents agents across the state, reminds students and their parents to contact their insurance agent to verify the specifics of their policies and educate themselves about any coverage limitations. Parents may need to purchase additional coverage for their child’s possessions, depending on where he or she will live at college. “Check your homeowner’s policy to see if the items your child is taking to college are covered in case they are damaged or stolen,” said PIANJ President Glenn Tippy, CPCU, CLU. “Make a list of possessions such as computers, televisions, stereos, cameras, and jewelry, including the original cost and their purchase date. If the value of these items exceeds the off-premises cover- age limit of your homeowner’s policy, you may want to purchase additional coverage. You’d be surprised how everything adds up.” Students living on campus may be pro- tected by their parents’ homeowner’s policy, as long as the student maintains residency in the parents’ household. Some insurers expressly define what “residency” means in their policy, but many insurers leave room for interpretation. Before a claim occurs, be for college-bound kids. If a child is attend- ing school more than 100 miles from home without custody of a household vehicle, his or her parents may be eligible for a reduc- tion in auto insurance premiums. If the child has custody of a vehicle at school, the insurer may want to rate his or her parents’ insurance based upon where the vehicle is garaged. Remember to instruct a child on what to do in case of an accident and make sure he or she knows where the important documents (i.e. insurance card and vehi- sure to find out what criteria your insurer uses. College students who are renting an off- campus apartment or house while away at school should consider purchasing a renter’s policy. In order to get the best protection, choosing a scheduled coverage option often makes sense for high-value possessions, such as computers, musical instruments, and jewelry. Auto insurance is another consideration cle registration) can be found, suggests PIANJ. “It’s a good idea to contact your profes- sional, independent insurance agent when- ever a major life change occurs. College is one of them,” Tippy added. “Parents and students should be fully aware of the options available to them.” PIANJ is a trade association represent- ing professional, independent insurance agencies, brokerages, and their employees throughout the state.