Moving into a dorm or your first off-campus apartment? Renters insurance can help protect your belongings and provide personal liability coverage if something goes wrong at your rental.
If you're renting off campus, your lease may require proof of renters insurance before move-in. Here's what college students need to know about dorm coverage, parents' insurance, roommates, laptops, bikes, summer storage, and getting proof of insurance.
Key Takeaways
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Living in a dorm? Your parents' homeowners insurance may cover some of your belongings while you're away at college, subject to the policy's conditions and limits.
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Moving off campus? Once you rent an apartment in your own name, you may need your own renters insurance policy.
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Your laptop and bike have specific limits. Under the base policy, electronics are covered up to $500 and sporting equipment, including bicycles, up to $250.
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Roommates need their own coverage. Your renters insurance does not automatically cover your roommate's belongings or liability.
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Need proof for your leasing office? Once your policy is active, you can download your insurance documents from the app the same day.
Do College Students Need Renters Insurance?
College students may need renters insurance when they live off campus, especially if their lease requires it. Renters insurance can cover personal belongings, personal liability, and additional living expenses after a covered loss. Students living in university housing may have different coverage through their parents or school.
The answer usually depends on where you live and whose name is on the lease.
Your personal belongings may include:
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Laptop and other electronics
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Phone
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Bicycle
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Clothing
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Furniture
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School supplies
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Personal items
Covered belongings are generally protected against named perils listed in your policy, including fire, smoke, vandalism, hail, and accidental water damage. Coverage only applies to the causes of loss listed in your policy.
Keep in mind that some items may have coverage sublimits. For example, electronics may be covered up to $500, while sporting equipment, including bicycles, may be covered up to $250. For higher-value items, you may consider adding a Scheduled Personal Property (SPP) endorsement to your policy.
Renters insurance can also provide personal liability coverage if you are legally responsible for someone else's injury or certain damage to another person's property.
Kanguro renters policies offer personal liability limits ranging from $25,000 to $300,000, depending on the policy selected.
Does My Parents' Homeowners Insurance Cover Me in a Dorm?
A parents' homeowners policy may cover a student's belongings while they live away from home, but the coverage is usually limited. Under the policy conditions described here, coverage can be limited to 10% of the parents' personal property limit or $1,000, whichever is greater, and the parents' deductible may apply.
For example, if your parents have $60,000 in personal property coverage, 10% would equal $6,000 of coverage for eligible belongings, subject to the policy terms.
Your parents' policy may also have requirements related to your age, student status, residence, and enrollment. Check their policy or ask their insurer before relying on that coverage.
Does Loss of Use Apply If I Live in a University Dorm?
Loss of use coverage generally becomes more relevant when you rent an off-campus home or apartment. If a university-owned dorm becomes unlivable, the school may have its own housing responsibilities or alternatives. An off-campus renter may instead rely on loss of use coverage after a covered loss, subject to the policy terms and limits.
What Is the 45-Day Rule for Student Belongings?
Under Kanguro's policy, theft coverage for a student's belongings at a residence away from home requires the student to have been at that residence at some point during the previous 45 days.
This can matter during summer break. If you leave belongings in an off-campus apartment for an extended period without returning, coverage for a theft may be affected.
Other insurers may use different conditions, so always check the specific policy that covers your belongings.
What Changes When I Move Off Campus?
Moving from a dorm to an apartment can change how your insurance works. If you sign a lease for an off-campus apartment, the apartment becomes your residence and your parents' homeowners policy may no longer provide the same type or amount of coverage.
What Does Renters Insurance Cover for College Students?
Renters insurance can cover your personal belongings, personal liability, and additional living expenses after a covered loss.
Depending on your policy, covered belongings can include items such as:
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Laptop and other electronics
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Phone
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Clothing
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Furniture
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Bicycle
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School supplies
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Personal items
Kanguro's renters policy can provide coverage for losses involving fire, smoke, theft, vandalism, wind, hail, and accidental water damage, such as an accidentally burst pipe or a washing machine overflow, subject to the policy terms, exclusions, deductibles, and limits.
Coverage only applies to the causes of loss listed in your policy. Some items may also have coverage sublimits.
What Does Renters Insurance Not Cover?
Renters insurance does not cover every type of loss.
For example, a standard renters policy generally does not cover:
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Flood damage
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Damage to your car itself
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Your roommate's personal belongings
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Damage caused by simply losing or accidentally breaking an item, unless the policy specifically provides coverage
Coverage varies by policy, so review the exclusions and limitations before assuming an item or event is covered.
What Are the Coverage Limits for Laptops and Bikes?
Not all your belongings are covered up to the same amount. Some have specific limits within your personal property coverage, and electronics and sporting equipment often have some of the lowest limits. These aren't extra coverage on top of your personal property amount — they're caps within it.
For most students, a laptop and a bike are two of the most valuable things they own, and they can also have some of the smallest limits.
Categories that commonly carry their own sub-limit include:
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Electronics — laptop, console, camera, phone
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Sporting equipment, including bicycles
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Jewelry and watches, if stolen
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Musical instruments
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Cash
The exact amounts are listed on your declarations page and can vary by policy, so it's worth checking yours before you need it.
If something is worth more than its sub-limit, you may be able to schedule it separately for additional coverage. This means listing the item on your policy with its own coverage amount for a small extra premium. That can make a big difference if you ever need to file a claim for an expensive laptop, camera, or bike.
You can't schedule something after it's gone.
Have an expensive laptop or bike? Add it to your policy before something happens.
Are Roommates Covered by Renters Insurance?
Not automatically. A roommate is generally not covered by your renters insurance policy unless they are added to the policy and meet the policy's eligibility requirements.
If you live with a roommate, you may be able to add them to your policy so you can share coverage under the same policy.
If your roommate is not added to your policy, their belongings are not automatically covered by your renters insurance, and your belongings are not automatically covered by theirs.
If your roommate has their own renters insurance policy, their coverage applies separately to their belongings and eligible losses.
Does Renters Insurance Cover Damage My Roommate Causes to My Things?
If your belongings are damaged by a covered cause of loss, your policy may cover the damage regardless of who caused it, subject to your deductible and the policy terms.
For example, if a roommate accidentally leaves a faucet running and the resulting water damage ruins your laptop, the loss may be covered if the cause of loss is covered by your policy.
Your policy does not automatically provide coverage for your roommate's belongings or personal liability.
Can College Roommates Share One Renters Insurance Policy?
Generally, each roommate should have their own renters insurance policy. Sharing a policy can create questions about who is insured, whose belongings are covered, how limits apply, and what happens when one roommate moves out.
If you live with roommates, make sure each person understands who is actually insured under the policy.
How Much Does Renters Insurance Cost for College Students?
The cost of renters insurance depends on factors such as your location, coverage amount, deductible, and whether you schedule high-value belongings.
Your price can also vary based on the specific policy and coverage options you select.
Instead of relying on an average, you can get a personalized quote based on your rental and coverage needs.
How Do I Get Proof of Renters Insurance?
Once your renters insurance policy is active, you can download your insurance documents from the Kanguro app the same day.
Your leasing office may ask for a document showing:
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Your name
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Rental property address
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Policy effective dates
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Personal liability limit
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The leasing company or property manager, if they need to be listed
Kanguro renters insurance policies offer personal liability limits starting at $25,000, with higher limits available. Your landlord or leasing office may require a specific liability limit based on the terms of your lease.
If your leasing office needs a specific document or has questions about your coverage, Kanguro's team can help in English or Spanish.
Can I Get Renters Insurance Without a Lease?
You may be able to purchase renters insurance before your lease is fully signed. What matters is having the information needed to insure the residence where you will live.
If your name is not on the lease or you are moving in with roommates, tell the insurer because the arrangement can affect who is covered.
Should I Keep Renters Insurance Over the Summer?
In many cases, keeping your renters insurance during summer break can be important, especially if your belongings remain in an off-campus apartment.
Under Kanguro's policy, theft coverage for belongings at a residence away from home applies only if the student has been at that residence at some point during the 45 days before the loss.
If you leave your belongings in an apartment for several months without returning, a theft during that period may be affected by this condition.
Cancelling your policy can also create a lapse in coverage. If you plan to leave your apartment for the summer, check your policy before cancelling.
Are My Things Covered in a Storage Unit Over the Summer?
Yes, with conditions. Personal belongings stored in a storage unit may be covered under your renters insurance policy, but the same limits and exclusions continue to apply. They do not change just because your belongings are stored outside your apartment.
For example, a bicycle stored in a storage unit is still subject to the $250 sporting equipment limit. If your bicycle is worth more than that, consider scheduling it individually under a Scheduled Personal Property (SPP) endorsement before placing it in storage.
If you plan to store a significant amount of property over the summer, contact us before moving everything into storage so you can make sure your belongings are properly covered.
Why Students Choose Kanguro Renters Insurance
Get coverage in seconds and proof in minutes
Once your policy is active, you can access your insurance documents through the Kanguro app, including the proof of insurance your leasing office may require.
Protect your belongings
Your policy can help protect belongings such as furniture, clothing, electronics, and bicycles against covered damage or theft, subject to your policy's terms, limits, and exclusions.
Get personal liability coverage
If someone is injured in your apartment or you accidentally cause damage to someone else's property, your renters insurance can provide personal liability coverage, subject to your policy's terms and limits.
Get temporary housing if your apartment becomes uninhabitable
If a covered loss makes your apartment uninhabitable, your policy may help cover additional living expenses, such as temporary lodging, while your home is being repaired, subject to your policy's terms and limits.
Protect your higher-value belongings
With a Scheduled Personal Property (SPP) endorsement, you may be able to insure eligible items such as a laptop, camera, or bicycle for their scheduled value instead of relying on lower standard sub-limits.
Manage your policy from the app
Access your proof of insurance and policy documents and manage your coverage from the Kanguro app, available the same day you purchase your policy.
Coverage beyond your apartment
Your belongings may be covered while you're away from your apartment, including while you're on campus, at the library, or traveling, subject to your policy's terms, limits, and exclusions.
Manage renters and pet insurance in one app
If you have a dog or cat, you can manage your Kanguro renters and pet insurance policies in one place.
Get help in English or Spanish
Kanguro's bilingual team is available to help you with questions about your policy and coverage.
Available in Florida, Georgia, and Texas
Kanguro renters insurance is available in Florida, Georgia, and Texas, subject to eligibility and policy terms.
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