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Students urged to insure their possessions

05/09/05

Students are being advised to make sure they have comprehensive insurance coverage before heading off to university, whether it be car insurance or home insurance.

Experts say that school leavers should give some thought to protecting their valuables and take a number of key precautions to avoid being hit hard in the event of a burglar.

With the average student now possessing an ever-increasing array of consumer goods, the importance of good coverage is being highlighted.

Equipment such as hi-fi goods, digital music players, laptops, computers and expensive televisions are all potential gold mines for opportunistic thieves, with insurance a key precaution.

Richard Mason, director of insuresupermarket, told the Observer how a wide range of insurers offer the opportunity to add contents to their existing home insurance.

"Students can add their possessions to parents' home contents cover. Several of the big insurers, including Norwich Union, LloydsTSB and More Than, Direct Line, Tesco, Esure and Saga offer this option for no extra charge," he said.

"The cover includes up to £5,000 worth of possessions or 15 per cent of the sum insured on the parents' policy - which is normally about £30,000, therefore providing insurance for £4,500 worth of possessions."
However, some extra items such as bicycles or musical instruments may require additional policies.