As you send your child off to college, you’ll want to make sure that he or she is properly protected with the right kind of insurance. While there are definitely some types of insurance college students don’t need, here are three types of insurance to consider getting for them:

1. Auto insurance

State laws require that all drivers be properly insured. Even if your student isn’t taking a car to college, he or she might at some point be behind the wheel. In many cases, if your student is unmarried and an undergraduate, you can keep him or her on your insurance policy. It’s a good idea to have this coverage because the costs of car accidents can be devastating.

You can ask your student to help chip in for the premiums if you are concerned about the cost. Additionally, ask your insurer about good student discounts. If your student does well in school, you could be eligible for a discount that can help ease the pain on your wallet.

TIP: Offer to cover the cost of a good student driver policy. As long as your child maintains good grades, there will be no need for him or her to shell out any extra money to stay insured.

2. Health insurance

Your student is likely to need medical attention for something while at university, whether it’s for an illness or an injury, and you want to make sure he or she has access to the care needed. Many colleges offer a health plan, but you’ll want to compare that cost to the costs of other plans. Sometimes the health plan for a single student through a university can be quite expensive.

As long as eligibility requirements are met, your student can remain on your health insurance policy until the age of 26. This provides you with a way of helping your child avoid being completely devastated by a health problem while at college.

Additionally, in some cases, the university may have a free clinic that students can use for basic ailments, as well as for vaccinations and routine checkups. You may want to get medical catastrophe coverage for your student to use in case of emergencies and then have him or her rely on the clinic for smaller complaints.

3. Renters insurance

Tote up the value of a laptop, smartphone, and mini-fridge, plus clothing and other items—you might be surprised at how much of value your student has in his or her apartment. Renters insurance can help protect you and your student from losses that may occur.

One of the great things about renters insurance is that it costs very little, so chances are that your student will be able to afford it without your help. Encourage your student to get renters insurance so that expensive belongings are protected.

You can also check your own homeowners policy to see if some of the items in your student’s apartment might be covered. Also, consider that items stolen out of your student’s car are also likely to be covered by your homeowners policy.

Plan ahead

The rule of thumb for all of these financial decisions is to plan ahead. You want to be able to continue helping your child while he or she is at college, and that includes making sure that he or she is properly insured. If your student is covered by the right policies, everyone will save money in the long run.