As you prepare for summer, you may be gearing up for a road trip. Whether you plan on taking your regular passenger vehicle, renting one, or getting an RV, you should be aware of various forms of auto insurance protection. Remember, auto insurance is a requirement in most states. Not having proper insurance can cost you way more money than keeping up with your monthly premium. Here are some important considerations before you set out on your next weekend, week-long, or never-ending summer trip.
Maintain Your Standard Coverage
Having standard car insurance is a must. It protects you if you have random breakdowns on the road, such as flat tires or damage from severe weather. For example, many standard auto insurance policies come with extra services, such as AAA’s. Because of this additional coverage, you don’t have to worry about fumbling for a roadside assistance number or paying that extra money because it’s either part of your auto insurance or a small additional fee, such as around $15 monthly. Having access to this type of emergency coverage through your standard insurance can be a godsend, especially if you’re in the middle of nowhere or alone at night on the road.
If you’re not satisfied with your existing auto insurance, you may always switch it out for a better policy. Many people do insurance bundles to get a better rate. For example, if you’re a homeowner or have health and life insurance, you may be able to bundle that with auto insurance for a better deal. Then, you can make one payment, and you won’t have to worry about any of your insurance policies lapsing.
Regular auto insurance is protection in case you get into a collision, whether it’s your fault or someone else’s. A car collision can be scary even if you walk away without a scratch. One of the reasons it can cause your trepidation is if you need to make a major payment because you damaged someone else’s car. By maintaining your standard coverage, you can at least have the ability to comfortably exchange information and contact your insurance in case your vehicle needs repairs or you need to pay for the other driver.
Have Travel Insurance
With so many people traveling as part of their regular nomadic way of life or as part of their summer breaks, having additional coverage when you’re not in your hometown is essential protection. Your travel insurance comes in handy if you get into any type of accident or get sick while away. This insurance covers the cost of hotels or flights in case you need to cancel them before the trip starts. What if you or one of your family members or friends get sick? If illness occurs and ruins your trip, your travel insurance may be able to cover it. While people may assume travel insurance is only for international trips, you can also get it for your domestic coverage. Don’t assume you only need it for an airplane trip. If you were taking your car on the road, you are still traveling away from your hometown, so you should check into any policy that can help ensure your domestic or international trip. According to Insurify, over a million people bought travel insurance in 2023.
Consider Stacking Insurance
Heard about stacking insurance? This can come in handy if you find yourself under-insured, particularly after a collision. When you use it under one policy, you can stack uninsured and underinsured motorist policies within a single car insurance policy. You can combine the limits of two vehicles under one policy to help cover an accident. For example, if an uninsured driver hits you, their insurance will help pay your medical expenses for up to 50,000 if that is what your stacked insurance will cover. In some cases, you may be able to stack it across different car insurance policies. For example, you may have your name on a policy for your car and a policy for another family member’s car, like your spouse or a child. Stacking car insurance policies for extra coverage will allow you to pool the coverage limits from both of these separate policies.
Preparing for Mexico
As long as you have a solid auto insurance policy, you don’t have to worry about your road trip throughout the United States. You should also be covered if you go to Canada, but you can always double-check your policy to make sure. However, if you plan on going south of the border into Mexico, you should invest in extra tourist auto insurance coverage.
Another consideration for Mexico is the heat. While Mexico can be hot year-round, it can be particularly hot during spring and summer. Hot weather is well known to make tires blow out quicker and cause your car to overheat. If you plan on making such a trip to Mexico or any arid climate like that, make sure you have your car serviced by having your tires inflated, checking the oil, and preparing your car by adding tinting.
Start Gathering Quotes
If you plan on changing your auto insurance or getting it for the first time, you don’t have to opt for the first policy you find. Like any service you get, you should start gathering quotes and comparing them. Consider the amount of coverage you need for the type of driving and the amount of it that you do. If you know you’re on the road the entire summer, now may be the perfect time to increase your overall coverage and play it safe.
Remember that when you get auto insurance for the first time or switch to a new policy, you have to consider how much you want to pay monthly. What you pay every month is known as the premium and your deductible amount is what you’re going to pay out of your pocket for vehicle repairs. The lower the premium, the more deductible that you’ll pay. On the other hand, the higher the premium, the less deductible out of your pocket to worry about.
RV Protection
If you plan on leaving your passenger vehicle at home or hitching it onto your main road trip vehicle, such as your RV, then you should have additional protection for your temporary mobile home. An RV can come in a range of sizes, but if you’ve never driven one before, you may increase your chances of an accident or breakdown. So, in addition to practicing driving your RV before you set out on your extended trip, you should have adequate coverage for this type of vehicle. After all, your RV will likely be your temporary home away from home, where you sleep and cook your meals when you’re not stopping off at a hotel. You don’t want your RV to break down in the middle of nowhere, especially when you’re with your family and friends.
You should consider whether or not you plan to rent or drive an RV that you own. An RV rental may also require insurance before you set out. However, if you drive the RV that you own, then you may need to get that sucker protection before you start your trip. Your RV insurance will cover any losses if there is an accident that causes damage to the vehicle itself. If your RV causes damage to someone else’s property or vehicle. You can get proper insurance for your mobile vehicle from major companies, such as Geico, Allstate, farmers, and more.
This insurance covers a range of RV vehicles, including Towable RVs that include fifth wheel trailers, folding campers, and truck campers. They cover Motorized RVs, such as motorhomes as well as your standard class A, class B, and class C RVs that tend to be most popular with roadtrippers. Do you plan on hauling your ATV or motorcycle for your trip? If so, you may also be able to get separate insurance for your toy hauler.
Type of Coverage
If you haven’t, so, already become familiar with the types of coverage that come with your various insurance policies. Your liability coverage is for damage or injuries when you’re at fault. Your comprehensive coverage is to help with non-collision incidents, such as when your vehicle is damaged from a natural disaster like a flood or high winds. It can also cover theft or vandalism of a vehicle. Therefore, you should be aware that if you’re in an area prone to car theft, your insurance premium may be higher because of the risk. Personal injury protection is extra coverage that goes beyond any damage to the vehicle. In other words, if you get into an accident when you’re at fault, and you not only damage someone’s vehicle but cause them bodily harm, then your personal injury protection covers that.
As you can see, you have many considerations this year when it comes to your car insurance. You should have insurance if you haven’t already gotten it. If you plan on using a large vehicle like an RV for your trip, then you need adequate protection for this type of vehicle. Try to get as much coverage as you can, such as comprehensive, liability, personal injury, and travel insurance to be covered across the board. With the right type of insurance, you can ensure that you and your loved ones are safe this summer.