College-bound? AAA says don't forget your car coverage and cybersecurity

Aug. 13--WILKES-BARRE -- Students heading to campus can avoid costly surprises by planning for car trouble, reviewing insurance coverage, guarding against theft and tapping into other savings.

From vehicle breakdowns and property theft to identity fraud and unexpected expenses, college students face a variety of risks when living away from home.

AAA encourages students and parents to prepare before returning to campus by reviewing vehicle maintenance needs, insurance coverage, security precautions and available money-saving benefits.

Have a car care and repair plan

AAA says parents should discuss vehicle maintenance and emergency roadside situations with students before they head to college.

"Many students are managing vehicle maintenance on their own for the first time," said Jana Tidwell, Public Affairs Manager for AAA Club Alliance. "Understanding routine maintenance and knowing where to turn for repairs can help prevent costly breakdowns and keep students safe on the road."

Car care tips

AAA offers these car care tips for parents and college-bound students:

--Find a trusted repair facility near college for routine or unexpected repairs -- AAA.com/repair provides a list of AAA-approved auto repair facilities across the country. Keep the contact information handy.

--Perform regularly scheduled maintenance -- Parents should review the vehicle owner's manual with the student, explain the recommended maintenance schedule and coordinate planned service, especially oil change, tire tread check and rotation, air filter replacement and wiper blade changes. Be sure the vehicle is serviced before taking it to school.

--Prepare for roadside service needs -- Parents can provide their student with a AAA membership (can often be added to parent's membership at no or very low cost) to provide peace-of-mind in case of a dead battery, flat tire or other problem. Even if your student doesn't have a car away at college, a AAA membership offers peace of mind. The coverage follows the member, not a vehicle, and means help is on the way if they're broken down along the road in a car owned by a friend or roommate. Learn more at AAA.com/membership.

--Keep an emergency kit in the vehicle -- Be sure it is well-stocked with a flashlight and extra batteries, jumper cables or a portable jump starter, portable air compressor to inflate tires, first-aid kit, basic tool kit and bottled water. In winter, add a small snow shovel, warm clothes, ice scraper/snow brush, flares or reflective triangles and something for traction such as coarse kitty litter or sand.

Properly protecting property

AAA says dorm rooms and college town apartments can be hot spots for thieves. Just two roommates could have thousands of dollars' worth of electronics alone laptops, tablets, smartphones and gaming systems as well as other items of value in their small living space.

"College students living away from home should understand they may have limited coverage under their parents' homeowner's insurance policies and should double check that they have the coverage they need -- perhaps with a separate renter's policy -- before they head to school," said Dan Scroggins, Vice President, Personal Lines Insurance, AAA Club Alliance.

Burglaries, robberies and motor vehicle thefts are included in the most frequently reported college campus crimes. Among the most common items stolen from college dorms and apartments are electronics, cash and credit/debit cards, bicycles, scooters, jewelry and clothing.

Renter's or homeowner's insurance tips for students

--If you live in a dorm, some personal possessions may be covered under parents' homeowners or renter's insurance policies -- Expensive items, such as electronics, may be subject to coverage limits under a standard homeowner's policy, and some states require a special student endorsement. Review coverage with your agent before heading to campus.

--If you live off-campus, purchase renter's insurance to protect you and your belongings -- It can also protect you from liability in the event someone is accidentally injured on the property. Renter's insurance is often required by apartment complexes.

--Leave valuables at home -- While some valuable items, such as laptops, are needed on campus, items such as expensive jewelry are best left at home.

--Create a possessions inventory -- Create a detailed inventory of all items in your dorm room or apartment. In the event you need to file a claim, an up-to-date inventory will make the process easier.

--Safeguard your items from theft -- Always lock your room or apartment door and never leave belongings unattended on campus. The library, dining hall, and other public places are hot spots for property theft on campus.

Auto insurance tips for students

--Coverage may depend on location -- If you bring a car to campus and remain on your parents' policy, coverage likely still applies. If you attend an out-of-state school, make sure your coverage follows you and that it meets the minimum requirements for that state. Students planning to stay away from home year-round should check with their agent to see if they are still covered on their parents' policy.

--Contact your insurer -- Even if the student is leaving a car behind at home as they move away to college, notify your insurance provider of the change. A separate policy might be required. The parents or child may be eligible for one or more discounts, especially if bundling auto and home/rental policies.

Beware of Identity Theft

In addition to ensuring they don't fall prey to vehicle or property theft or damage, AAA has an additional reminder for college students.

"Students can become targets for ID theft because they sometimes don't have a long transaction history, making it more difficult to identify unusual activity," AAA's Tidwell said. "Scammers use both low- and high-tech methods for stealing a student's personal information, from looking over a victim's shoulder to sending out bogus credit card offers to stealing financial information on shopping sites."

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 1.3 million complaints of identity theft in 2025 and roughly 3 million cases of related fraud for the same period, resulting in total financial losses of more than $15.8 billion. College-bound students can help guard against identity theft by following these tips:

--Monitor your credit -- AAA provides ProtectMyID Essential, the Experian Identity Theft Protection service, as a free member benefit. Members can visit AAA.com/identitytheft to set up credit card and financial alerts and track their credit score.

--Guard your numbers -- Provide personal information, such as PINs or Social Security numbers, only when absolutely necessary. Avoid carrying your social security card and driver's license together and refuse to lend your ATM or credit card to anyone.

--Choose strong passwords -- Using a "passphrase" can be more secure than a single password. Use two-factor authentication if available. Be sure to use different passphrases for different accounts or sites.

--Use caution with mailed documents -- Mailboxes for dorms and campus-area apartments may not be secure. For important transactions that could include personal information, use a permanent address such as your parents' home or get a PO box.

--Be sure online payments are secure -- Avoid using public Wi-Fi when making an online payment or purchase. Not only does this increase the risk of your confidential information being stolen, but it potentially enables malware to be put on your computer.

--Be careful on social media -- Becoming too comfortable with social media platforms may cause you to give away too much information in your posts, making it easier for thieves to guess your passwords or answer security questions. Set profiles to private and only accept friend requests from people you know.

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Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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