Insurance for students

Some university Halls of Residence include insurance as part of their accommodation fees. Don’t assume this is the case; always check it for yourself with your accommodation officer. If it is not included then check your parent’s policy before buying your own insurance. However as soon as you move out of Halls you will need to insure your belongings for yourself or face a hefty financial payout if your kit gets stolen or damaged. (Home insurance quotes)

Finally, check the terms and conditions for cover during holiday periods. Standard student contents insurance will usually not cover the contents of your room if left unoccupied for more than 35 days unless the cover has been extended. A more comprehensive policy will usually cover your possessions during the long holidays. If you are covered on your parents’ policy, double check their clauses with regards to holidays.

Be secure…
Make sure you are security conscious while you are away to minimise the risk of being burgled. Do not leave your doors and windows in halls or shared accommodation unlocked when you are away and keep an eye out for suspicious loiterers. Never leave expensive equipment lying around in full view of onlookers. Security mark your property - this makes it harder for a burglar to sell stolen goods and can help the police to return items to you
Use the Home InsuranceWizard for home insurance quotes

Other insurance to consider:
Bicycle Insurance
Pedal power to lectures is a typical scene around a university campus. Make sure that you always lock your bike up, even if you are just running to pick up a book from the library or going in to the newsagent. Never leave it unlocked in the garden of your student house as this is the first place thieves will look. Replacing a stolen bike can be expensive so make sure you insure it. Don’t assume that your bike is insured with your student possessions insurance. Standard insurance policies often exclude them and ask you to pay an additional premium to cover them. Alternatively you could opt to take out a specialist bicycle insurance policy. Bike insurance quotes.

Travel Insurance
Whether you are planning a mini break, week away skiing or a couple of months away during the long summer holiday don’t forget to pack your travel insurance. It is likely to be the last thing on your mind when you are budgeting for a trip away but it should not be overlooked as will be invaluable should you have accident and need medical attention or if you lose your belongings or need to cancel your trip due to illness or injury to yourself or your family.

If you are planning on making the most all your university holidays with trips away then it may be worth while looking at an annual travel insurance policy. However check the maximum number of days you can be out of the UK at any one time. For longer trips you may need to look at a specific backpacker’s policy. Travel insurance quotes

Car Insurance
If you are fortunate enough to have access to a car while you are at university you must make sure that it is insured. It is illegal to drive an uninsured car. The minimum legal level of car insurance is third party insurance. This is the least expensive way to insure a car and is recommended as the cheaper option if the vehicle is of low value. Many young drivers face the question of whether they should be a named driver on their parents’ policy or start up their own insurance policy. Although the latter is often more expensive in the short term, it allows you to start building up your No Claims Bonus and you will therefore benefit from lower premiums in following years and have access to a wider range of insurers. Often students’ addresses attract higher premiums as there is more risk of crime but there are ways to save on your car insurance…. Motor insurance quotes

Health Insurance
Private health insurance is an increasingly useful financial investment in an era of long NHS waiting lists. It provides reassurance that treatment is available promptly and the policyholder has a guarantee that healthcare costs will be covered if they are injured or taken ill. While private hospitals are generally not equipped to act as emergency wards, private healthcare will cover medical costs, ensure that you receive care quickly and often allow you to choose where you receive it.

If your parents have a family medical insurance policy they should be able to still include you up to your early 20s (age varies between insurers) regardless of whether you are living at home or elsewhere. However if you invest in your own private medical insurance policy at a younger age you will benefit from cheaper premiums. Health Insurance quotes

Credit card protection
With thousands of credit/debit and store cards being lost or stolen every day and credit car fraud on the increase it is sensible to protect your plastic with card protection insurance.

A good credit card insurance policy will provide you with a single number to call to report your cards lost or stolen and one reference number to cover all the cards you specify. One phone call and all your cards are cancelled. Card Protection Insurance

How to save…
The most effective way to insure your belongings on a shoestring student budget is to do your research for the most relevant policy for your needs Don’t pay for what you don’t need and read the small print. Shop around on an internet comparison service to find the best premium and to save time and hassle. Don’t just accept any renewal price. Read terms and conditions and watch out for the exclusion clauses. Good research means more disposable income!