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Heading off to college or university brings a long list of changes for students and their parents.

There’s tuition to pay, a place to live, classes to organize and probably more than a few boxes to pack.

But there’s another item worth adding to the back-to-school checklist: auto insurance.

When a student moves away for school, what happens with the family auto policy depends largely on one question:

Is the vehicle going to school with them, or is it staying home?

Either way, it’s a good idea to contact your insurance broker before move-in day. A change in where a vehicle is kept, how it is used or who has regular access to it can affect your insurance.

If Your Student Is Taking a Vehicle to School

If your son or daughter is taking a vehicle with them to college or university, let your insurance broker know.

The vehicle may be spending most of the year at a different location and its use may change significantly. Instead of driving around home, for example, your student could be using it to commute to campus, get to work or travel back and forth on weekends.

Your broker may need to know:

• Where the student will be living
• Where the vehicle will normally be kept
• How the vehicle will be used while they’re at school
• Approximately how much they expect to drive
• Whether anyone else will regularly drive the vehicle

The important thing is not to assume that because the student and vehicle were already insured, nothing needs to change.

Your policy should accurately reflect how and where the vehicle is being used.

If you’re unsure whether your student’s move affects the policy, contact Munn Insurance before they leave. We can review the situation and make sure the insurer has the information it needs.

What If Your Son or Daughter Goes Away for School but the Car Stays Home?

This situation is just as important — and it could create an opportunity to save.

Suppose the student is listed as a driver on the parents’ policy but is moving away to attend university or college. They won’t be taking a vehicle with them and won’t have regular access to the family cars while they’re away.

It might seem logical to simply remove them from the policy.

Before you do that, talk to your broker.

Depending on the insurance company and the circumstances, an away-at-school discount may be available for a student who is living away from home for school and does not have regular access to the insured vehicle.

That could allow an eligible family to reduce the cost of keeping the student listed while they’re away.

Discounts and eligibility requirements vary by insurer, so the key is to ask rather than assume.

Think Before Removing a Student From the Policy

Saving money is one consideration, but there may also be a longer-term benefit to keeping your student appropriately listed on the family auto policy.

Maintaining continuous insurance history can be helpful when a young driver eventually needs to purchase auto insurance of their own. Removing a student from the policy while they are away at school could create a break in that insurance history.

A break in coverage means the student may no longer be building recent and continuous insurance experience while they are away. When they eventually apply for their own policy, having a longer, continuous insurance history may help demonstrate that they have been consistently insured and could help them qualify for insurance-company discounts or preferred rating, where available. That could be a significant impact on their premium when they go to pay for insurance themselves.

That doesn’t mean every student should automatically remain listed in exactly the same way. The right arrangement depends on the student, the vehicles, the insurer and the circumstances.

The important point is this: don’t automatically remove your student from the family policy just because they’re away at school.

Talk to your broker first. There may be a way to reduce your premium while still maintaining the student’s insurance history.

What Happens When They Come Home?

Students usually come home throughout the school year.

There may be Thanksgiving weekends, Christmas break, reading week, summer vacation and plenty of shorter visits in between.

And when they’re home, they may want to drive the family vehicle again.

If your student is living away for school but will occasionally drive when they’re home, tell your broker. They can explain how the insurer handles occasional access and whether an away-at-school discount or another arrangement is appropriate.

The goal is to make sure you understand the coverage before your student gets behind the wheel.

Add Auto Insurance to the Back-to-School Checklist

Before your student heads away to college or university, take a few minutes to review the family auto insurance.

Ask yourself:

• Is the student taking a vehicle to school?
• Will the vehicle be kept at a different location?
• Will the way the vehicle is used change?
• Is the student leaving the family vehicles at home?
• Will they still drive when they return for weekends or holidays?
• Could an away-at-school discount apply?
• Should they remain listed on the family policy?

You don’t need to know all the answers.

That’s what your broker is there for.

At Munn Insurance, we can review your family’s auto insurance, explain your options and help make sure your coverage reflects your changing needs.

And if your student is also moving into residence or an off-campus apartment, it’s a good time to review their home or tenant insurance needs as well.

Have a student heading away to college or university? Call Munn Insurance at 1-855-726-8627 before they hit the road. We’re here to help.