When planning your family vacation, you’re looking to relax, have some fun, and enjoy a break from school and work. The last thing you want to worry about is what happens if things go wrong during your trip. Thankfully, your home and auto insurance are designed to protect you even when you’re away. Here are a few ways your home and auto insurance protect you when you’re traveling:
1. Road service coverage
While hitting the open road is a great adventure, sometimes breakdowns happen. Your auto insurance may provide you with emergency road service coverage, which can reimburse you for towing expenses, delivery of fuel, repair parts, and labor charges.
2. Coverage for others to drive your car
Sharing driving duty with others on a road trip? Rest assured, if you give other licensed drivers permission to use your car, they are usually covered. This includes teens with learner’s permits!
3. Rental vehicle coverage
When you’re offered insurance coverage through your rental company, you likely won’t need it. Generally, your auto policy should apply to the rental vehicle as long as you are driving within the United States (including your deductible). Always read the contract carefully and ask the rental agent to explain anything if you’re unsure.
Additionally, you can add vehicle rental and trip interruption coverage to your auto insurance to help if you have an accident away from home. With this protection, you may be reimbursed for a rental car if you have a covered claim, and if you have an accident more than 100 miles from home, you could also apply this coverage to travel expenses like transportation, lodging, and meals. Expense limits differ by state, so talk to your insurance representative about the types of coverages where you live.
4. Coverage for belongings and damage at a hotel or home rental
If you or your kids are the victim(s) of theft or your kids accidentally cause damage while you’re renting a vacation home or staying in a hotel, you have coverage for your personal property and liability coverage for situations you are legally liable for.
Your insurance is meant to protect you and your belongings and give you peace of mind whether you’re at home or away. Since every policy is different, it’s best to check with your agent if you have questions about your deductible or coverage.
Holly Kilgore is an insurance agent with Country Financial ® in West Linn, Oregon, and mom of four kids. She can be reached at holly.kilgore@countryfinancial.com.
“COUNTRY Financial®” is the marketing name for the COUNTRY Financial family of affiliated companies (collectively, “COUNTRY”), which include COUNTRY Life Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, and their respective subsidiaries, located in Bloomington, Illinois.