It has been said that traveling is a way of collecting moments – not things. Whether you are hitting the road with friends and family or taking a solo trip abroad, you should be able to enjoy your time without worrying about how your car insurance coverage might be affected and whether you are covered away from home. Before putting the car in drive or buying a plane ticket, smart drivers take the time to talk with their car insurance agent about their coverage needs. Continue reading to find out how and why traveling can affect your insurance protection.
Coverage Road Trips Out of State
When you take your vehicle out on the open road, you trust that your car insurance has you covered; that is, at least, until you cross state lines. What happens then? Fortunately, most car insurance companies provide coverage that extends to all 50 states and sometimes even Canada. If you plan on taking your adventure anywhere else, though, such as Mexico, take the time to give your agent a call first. Standard car insurance policies typically do not provide coverage in Mexico. For that, you may need a temporary international insurance policy that will take care of your liability, provide legal assistance, and cover your vehicle while you are out of the country.
Coverage for Other Drivers
Anyone who has ever taken a road trip knows that eyes can grow weary after watching the miles pass by for hours at a time. The safest way to avoid the dangers of driver fatigue is by either stopping to rest or taking turns with other passengers behind the wheel. Of course, while switching off is safer, you should also know how doing so might affect insurance coverage if there were an accident. In most cases, coverage on a vehicle extends to other drivers who are not named on the insurance policy so long as the car’s owner has given the driver permission to operate the vehicle. Once the limits on the vehicle owner’s policy have been reached, the driver’s coverage may kick in to provide additional coverage until its limits have been exhausted as well. Give your car insurance agency a call to verify the details within your own policy.
Extended Travels Abroad
If your travels take you overseas for a long period of time, you should keep your car insurance in force – even if you are leaving your vehicle behind. Whether you are leaving for military deployment, studying abroad for school, serving as a missionary, traveling for work, or simply taking an extended trip for leisure, the way you handle your car insurance coverage could have long-lasting effects.
First, never cancel your policy altogether, even if no one will be operating your vehicle back home. Gaps in your coverage, regardless of the reason, can lead to major increases in premiums when you purchase coverage again in the future. Instead, we recommend lowering the limits on your policy, but retaining comprehensive protection that will continue to protect your stored or parked vehicle against potential hazards, such as fire, vandalism, and inclement weather.
