Back to School in NE Ohio: Buses, Dorms, and Better Insurance Habits
The end of summer always brings a mix of emotions. Whether you are celebrating the return of a quiet house or stressing over buying the right calculators, the back-to-school season means a major shift in our daily routines.
Suddenly, our morning commutes are filled with yellow school buses, while some parents are playing Tetris with boxes in the back of an SUV bound for a college campus. At Yoder-Bontrager Insurance, we want to make sure your family is protected during this busy transition. Here are a few quick insurance reminders for the new school year.
Sharing the Road: School Buses and Auto Insurance
With school back in session, your morning drive requires a bit more patience.
- The Flashing Lights: In Ohio, you must stop at least 10 feet away from a school bus when its red lights are flashing, and the stop arm is extended.
- The Neighborhood Watch: Kids are unpredictable. Slow down in residential areas and school zones, keeping an eye out for students darting into the street.
- The Insurance Impact: We all want to keep the community safe, but from a purely financial perspective, getting a ticket for passing a stopped school bus is considered a major moving violation. A citation like this will cause a severe spike in your auto insurance premiums. A few extra minutes of patience will protect the kids and your wallet.
College Bound: Dorms vs. Apartments
Sending a child off to college is incredibly exciting, but it also brings up a lot of questions about protecting their belongings (like that expensive new laptop or bicycle). The type of housing they choose dictates how their insurance works.
- Living in the Dorms: If your student is living in an on-campus dormitory, their belongings are typically covered under your standard Homeowners Insurance policy as a percentage of your “off-premises” personal property coverage.
- Moving to an Apartment: If your student is moving into an off-campus house or apartment, your homeowners policy might cover them or they might need their own Renters Insurance policy. It is highly affordable and ensures their personal property is protected from theft, fire, or water damage, while also providing them with personal liability coverage.
- The College Car: If your student is taking a vehicle with them to a college in a different city or state, let us know! The “garaging address” of the vehicle affects the auto policy, and keeping this information up-to-date ensures there are no hiccups if they ever need to file a claim.
Focus on the Grades, We Will Handle the Coverage
This season is stressful enough without having to decipher policy documents. Let us handle the heavy lifting.
If you have a student heading off to an apartment or taking a car out of state, give our friendly team at Yoder-Bontrager Insurance a call. We would be happy to review your policies and ensure your family is fully covered for the semester ahead!