College move-in season is one of the most exciting — and overwhelming — times in a family’s life. You’re buying dorm supplies, loading up the car, and trying not to cry in the parking lot. The last thing on your mind is insurance.
But here’s the thing: a few simple moves made before your student leaves can protect them financially, save you money, and — as we are learning firsthand in our own family — make sure you’re still legally able to help if something goes wrong.
At 643 Insurance, we work with families across Arizona and Tennessee every August to get these details right. Here’s what we recommend to every parent of a college-bound student.
1. Keep Your College Student on Your Auto Policy — Even Without a Car
This is the one that surprises parents most often: you should keep your college student listed on your auto insurance policy even if they aren’t taking a car to school.
Why? Because if your student borrows a friend’s car and gets into an accident, your auto policy is often what protects them. Many people assume that the owner’s insurance covers everything — but that’s not always how it works. Depending on the situation, your student could be left exposed if they’re not listed on an active policy.
The Away-at-School Discount
Here’s the good news: if your student is living a certain distance from home — typically 100 miles or more — and isn’t regularly driving your vehicle, many carriers will offer what’s called an away-at-school discount. This can reduce your premium while still keeping your student covered.
The key word is “ask.” This discount doesn’t apply automatically. Your agent needs to know your student is away at school to apply it. One five-minute phone call could save you money every month for the next four years.
Action item: Call your insurance agent before move-in day. Let them know your student is heading to school, where they’ll be living, and whether they’re taking a car. Ask specifically about the away-at-school discount.
2. Get Renter’s Insurance If They’re Living Off-Campus
If your student is moving into an apartment or renting a house, renter’s insurance isn’t optional — it’s essential. And in many cases, landlords now require it before signing a lease.
Here’s what surprises most parents: your homeowners policy may provide some coverage for your student’s belongings while they’re away at school — but the limits are often much lower than you’d expect, and it varies significantly by carrier. A laptop, gaming setup, clothing, and other belongings can add up to thousands of dollars in personal property that may not be fully covered.
A standalone renter’s insurance policy covers:
• Personal property (theft, fire, water damage, and more)
• Personal liability — if someone is injured in your student’s apartment
• Additional living expenses if they’re temporarily displaced
The cost? Typically $10–$15 per month. That’s less than most people spend on streaming services — and it’s one of the most valuable policies available at any price.
Action item: If your student is living off-campus, call us to set up a renter’s insurance policy before they move in. We’ll make it quick and easy.
3. Consider Life Insurance — Rates Have Never Been Lower
This one tends to catch parents off guard. Life insurance for a college student? It sounds unnecessary — even a little morbid. But from a financial planning standpoint, it’s one of the smartest moves a young adult can make.
Here’s the simple truth: life insurance premiums are determined primarily by age and health. An 18–22 year old who is young and healthy will qualify for the lowest rates they will ever see in their lifetime. A healthy 20-year-old can often get a $500,000 term life policy for less than $20–30 a month.
There’s also a practical consideration worth mentioning: if your student has co-signed student loans, some of that debt doesn’t simply disappear if the unthinkable happens. A life insurance policy can protect the people who signed alongside them.
Action item: Have the conversation with your college student. It doesn’t have to be heavy — frame it as smart financial planning. We’re happy to walk both of you through the options with zero pressure.
4. The One Thing That Has Nothing to Do With Insurance — But Every Parent of an 18-Year-Old Needs to Know
This one is personal.
Our daughter just turned 18. She’s living at home and attending college locally — so the dorm-room send-off isn’t quite our reality right now. But something we learned this year stopped us in our tracks: the moment your child turns 18, you lose the automatic legal right to make medical decisions on their behalf.
Even if they’re still living under your roof. Even if they’re on your insurance. Even if they’re your child in every sense of the word — once they’re legally an adult, you are not automatically their medical decision-maker in an emergency.
That means if something happened — a car accident, a medical emergency, anything — and your 18-year-old was unconscious or unable to communicate, a hospital could legally be restricted from sharing information with you or acting on your instructions without the right documents in place.
The Documents Every 18-Year-Old Should Have
This isn’t our professional wheelhouse — we’re insurance agents, not attorneys. But we’ve learned enough to know this matters, and we have excellent referrals to attorneys or legal professionals who can help families get these documents in order quickly and affordably. The key ones to look into include:
• Medical Power of Attorney — designates a trusted person (usually a parent) to make healthcare decisions if the student is incapacitated
• HIPAA Authorization — allows medical providers to share health information with designated family members
• Durable Power of Attorney — allows a designated person to manage financial and legal matters on the student’s behalf if needed
• Healthcare Directive / Living Will — documents the student’s own wishes for medical care in extreme circumstances
These documents can often be prepared quickly and at a reasonable cost through an estate planning or family law attorney. If you don’t have a relationship with one, we’re happy to point you in the right direction.
This isn’t meant to scare you — it’s meant to prepare you. Getting these documents in place before your student leaves for school (or before the school year gets underway) is one of the most important things you can do as a parent of an adult child. We wish someone had told us sooner.
The Bottom Line
Sending a kid to college is one of the biggest transitions a family goes through. Most parents are focused on the logistics of move-in day — and understandably so. But a little time spent on these four things before they leave can make a significant difference in how protected your family is.
At 643 Insurance, we help families across Arizona and Tennessee get their coverage right. Whether it’s updating your auto policy, setting up renter’s insurance, or exploring life insurance options for your college-aged student — we’re here to make it simple.
And if you have questions about the legal documents piece, just ask. We’ll connect you with people we trust.
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