College-Bound Students Don’t Forget Property Protection And A Car Care Plan – The Southern Maryland Chronicle

TOWSON, MD (Monday, August 17, 2020) As COVID-19 brings new challenges for college students and their parents, car care and property insurance may get lost in the back-to-school shuffle.AAA Mid-Atlantic reminds students living away at college and their parents to not overlook these important steps to make sure vehicles and other belongings have adequate protection.

Homeowners and renters insurance tips for students:

Safeguard your items from theft.Always lock your dorm room door and never leave belongings unattended on campus. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the library, dining hall and other public places are the primary areas where property theft occurs on campus.

According toConsumer Reports, dorm rooms can be a hot spot for thieves. Two roommates could have $6,000 or more worth of electronics alone laptops, tablets, smartphones and gaming systems as well as other items of value in their small living space.

According toU.S. Department of Education data of crimes reported on college campuses, theft of personal property is the most common crime, followed by motor vehicle theft.

Auto insurance tips for students:

If you have questions about any or are concerned about gaps in your existing coverage, contact a local insurance agent at 866-AAA-4YOU, or aaa.com/insurance.

Lessons on Car Maintenance for College Students:

In addition to reviewing insurance coverage, students heading to college should also address the important subject of vehicle maintenance and repair.

Before sending a son or daughter off to college with a car, AAA Mid-Atlantic encourages parents to sit down with their students and discuss plans for proper vehicle maintenance, as well as how to deal with unexpected problems when parental rescue is more than just a few minutes away.

Take COVID-19 Precautions Inside the Car

With interaction comes the need to regularly clean the inside of the car to protect from COVID-19.For a list of cleaning products that will destroy the COVID-19 virus, visithttps://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2. Choose carefully because some cleaning products may damage or discolor your upholstery or dash.

Follow the CDCs recommendations for preventive measures if passengers are allowed in the car:

Check and Maintain TiresTires are one of the easiest components of a vehicle to maintain, but they are frequently overlooked until something goes wrong. Every student should have a tire pressure gauge in their vehicle, know where it is located, and understand how to use it properly. While there are a variety of tire pressure gauges, those with electronic readouts might be the easiest for the teen to use.Explain that tires should be checked at least once a month when the tires are cold.

Show your young adult where to find the vehicle manufacturers recommended tire pressure typically on a label located on the drivers door jamb or in the vehicle owners manual. It is important to let them know they shouldnotuse the inflation pressure found on the tire sidewall. That is the tires maximum pressure level, but it might not be the correct pressure for the tire when used on their particular vehicle.

To demonstrate proper tire care, AAA offers a number of short videos that can be viewed on theAAA YouTube channel.

Know the Vehicles Maintenance SchedulePerforming the manufacturers regularly scheduled maintenance on a vehicle will greatly extend its life and help ward off more costly repairs down the road. While its a good idea to make sure your students car is current with all maintenance items prior to sending them off to college, its possible some items will be due while they are away.

Sit down and go over the owners manual with your son or daughter. Explain the recommended maintenance schedule and remind them that in addition to basic oil changes other important items such as filters, batteries and brakes must also be regularly checked and maintained. AAA recommends that parents and studentscreate a shared calendar with reminders so both are aware of any upcoming required maintenance or services.

The school year spans the winter months when inclement weather can place added demands on vehicle electrical systems. The average lifespan of a car battery is three to five years, so AAA recommends that any battery in this age range be checkedbeforethe student leaves for school. In many areas, the AAA Mobile Battery Service will come to a members home and provide this service at no charge.

Find a Repair Facility Near College

It is important for parents to help students identify an auto repair shop they can trust near their school in case routine servicing or unexpected repairs become necessary.

If unfamiliar with the area around a college, visitAAA.com/Repair to locate nearby AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities. As a free public service for all motorists, AAA inspects auto repair shops around the country and only approves those that meet and continually maintain high professional standards for equipment, customer service, cleanliness and training.

When first arriving at the college, AAA recommends parents and students visit the selected repair shop and meet the staff. Ask for some shop business cards that you and your young adult can keep handy in case an emergency arises.

Prepare for Roadside EmergenciesIt is also important for parents to prepare their children for a breakdown or other roadside emergency especially if they are attending college too far away to call home for help.

Make sure the students vehicle has a well-stocked roadside emergency kit with contents suitable for local weather conditions during the school year. A basic kit should include a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, first-aid kit, bottled water, rags or paper towels, a tire pressure gauge, a blanket, granola or energy bars, and a selection of basic hand tools. Add an ice scraper, snow brush and kitty litter or other material to increase traction should snow or ice be an issue.

For added peace of mind, provide the student with a AAA membership, which offers reliable roadside assistance through a large dedicated network of service providers with good coverage in and around the college. AAAs many benefits are available to members no matter whose vehicle in they are in, so parents wont have to worry about their teen being stranded in a friends vehicle with no access to emergency road service.

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College-Bound Students Don't Forget Property Protection And A Car Care Plan - The Southern Maryland Chronicle