Back to School and Insurance; What You Should Know

It’s important to know that the premium you are charged for your Massachusetts Auto Insurance policy is partially based on garaging, that means where the vehicle “sleeps at night”.

You can understand. If you live in a small country town and the crime level is low then the cost for insurance is less than if you live in the city where crime is more prevalent.

If you have a student lives at school and they take a car with them, it’s important that the
insurance company knows it. We have seen claims delayed by incorrect garaging. Sometimes
it’s easier to pay the additional premium, than it is to find out that the company is denying
your claim for this reason.

Something else we see regularly, lack of renters insurance. If your child lives in the dorm then
your contents (your stuff) is covered by the parents home owner insurance policy. Watch out
for items like computers, golf equipment, cameras, bicycles. These things can have a high
value. Many insurance companies will have a maximum limit on how much they will pay for
such items. Get the values, notify your insurer. Then there is no question about what’s
covered and for how much.

We recommend Renters Insurance for those students that live off campus in an apartment.
Renters insurance covers the items you bring into that dwelling. Your clothing, furniture,
dishes, drapes…This insurance policy also includes liability protection. If someone gets hurt in
the apartment and says you were negligent, the insurance company will help defend the
claim. Be aware that some policies exclude things like dogs or animals completely. Other
plans don’t cover you for host liquor.

Let’s say your college student has a party at their off campus house. Someone has too much
to drink and hurts another person later that night in an automobile accident. The injured
person could bring litigation against the people who supplied the booze. No Host Liquor
means NO defense in that situation.

We handle Massachusetts Auto Insurance, Massachusetts Renters Insurance and everything
in between. Our staff is waiting for your call regarding student away at school. We invite you
to call or click today. www.jmdins.com

For almost “40” years J.M. Doherty Insurance Agency has been “steering you in the right
direction”. Thank you!! HD