AquariaGuy

Well i've been talking to people, and they say my bike is covered under insurance if it gets stolen from my house. BUT if i lock it up somewhere and it gets stolen, it's not?

Well, that's a big problem. Since i am going away to school, i will be locking it up at school, and at my apartment which is on the 2nd floor balcony. What if someone decides to steal my bike then? How do i get it covered if i'm not at home?

Another question relating to this, i have a labtop as well. How would i get that insured, since it will be with me, not at home. I'm so confused about all this insurance stuff... agh...and afraid of my bike and labtop.

Thanks,
Matt

Kev

There is specific computer insurance you could get, I'm assuming you will be renting a place to live in how abotu renters insurance that would cover both of those items.

Guest

My sister and I were in Australia for a year living in some apartments. Someone climbed up to her second floor balcony and stole her bike. We used my mom's homeowner's insurance to cover the stolen bike.

I'd check with your parents and see if you can get the bike covered in their homeowner's insurance policy.

BTW, she didn't lock her bike- she assumed that no one could climb that high. Of course, they did- consider getting some pretty strong locks. I remember hearing that there is an extremely high probability of a bike getting stolen off a campus more than in the city parking it when you're commuting to work and back home. I wouldn't park my bike at any campus without TWO locks- one for the front, and one for the back wheels- and I would make sure the wheels were always locked to a solid, heavy, non-movable object!

Koffee

Dahon.Steve

Get yourself a junk bike since schools are notorious for bike theft. Buy the Kryptonite 3000 and a strong cable lock for the front wheel.

OH. Leave the laptop at the dorm/home. Laptops get damaged VERY easily and won't last long in the back of a bookbag. Seriously. I never knew a person who carried a laptop for long that didn't damage it in transit.

Guest

Oh, read the rest of the question.

I'm thinking the laptop would also be insured under the homeowners insurance- check again with your parents and see if that can get included in there too.

I agree with Steve- a good Kryptonite 3000 chain and a good U lock for the rear wheel should be cool.

Steve, I think he will need the laptop because he's a student, and they'll always need a computer. I don't think he's concerned about carrying the laptop around in a bookbag as much as leaving it in his apartment and having it stolen while he's at classes, riding his bike, etc....

Poor guy. I wouldn't want to be in college again for anything! Loved it, but glad it's over with!

Koff

nathank

yes, if your parents own a home you're PROBABLY covered... there are exceptions on different policies (like if you're over a certain age, like 25 or something) and limited to max values on certain things (usually jewelry and custom parts --- i.e. if you have a bike worth $500 and put $3000 accessories on it you might be SOL)...

have your parents check their policy - also check the deductable - it's either $0, $250 $500 or more - i think $500 is typical. i lowered mine to $250...

if you're not on your parents' then buy Renters... for bikes and computer should run you around $60-110/yr with a $250 deductable covering up to say $10k... costs more if youse raise the cap or lower the deductable. (im basing just on what i have paid, so can vary)

i was in college and someone broke into my girlfriend's apartment and stole her camera, my radar detector (wow, that was a while ago, eh?), plus her bike and it got all paid for after a $250 deductable - even though we lived 200 miles from her parents.

often Homerowners/Renters will cover stuff stolen OUT of your car when your auto insurance will only cover stuff permenantly installed (like CDs, camera, radar detector)

nathank

what? college was awesome! i mean i can't complain - the last 9 years since finishing undergrad have also been awesome - uh, i lived in Portland OR and now in Munich!! and play in the mountains all the time...

but college was awesome. i'd go back to that time any day -- cool people, lots of free time, so many exciting new things (oh, and girls)... (now my grad school dilemma is a different thing - still undecided if i will finish, but undergrad rocks)

i agree with the saying "College is the best 5 years of your life!"

note: i guess i should add that i was not some rich jerkoff in college - i worked 20 hours/week and was one poor guy... but being poor in college is no big deal.

i disagree. i might not buy one if i were a poor student, but if i could, i would. friends in undergrad or grad school who had them loved them. takes up less space and you're mobile so you can work in the library or your girlfriend's or the park or home visiting your parents - even if your roommate is sleeping or packing away a few 6-packs...