For many, the holidays are all about traveling to see relatives or friends. This means that ensuring you have the right auto insurance coverage before you leave home can play an important role in you and your family getting away and returning financially whole.
Whether you’re planning a road trip or leaving your car parked at home, add auto insurance to your checklist of to-dos before you go.
What the Numbers Say
According to the National Safety Council, traffic accidents tend to increase during these holidays:
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
The holidays, especially Christmas, are not much easier on parked cars. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says vehicle thefts can rise on the days surrounding Halloween through New Year’s Day.
While you may already be stretching your budget on holiday gifts, a comprehensive auto insurance policy can be worth the extra expense. This policy can help you safeguard your family’s financial well-being if you crash or your car is hit by crime during the holidays.
Auto Insurance While Traveling
If your travel plans for the holidays include driving, you have a lot to consider to have a fun and successful journey. Just like you, other people and their families are getting on the road. This increased traffic can raise the risk level of a potential accident.
There also are other factors to think about that impact driving during holiday seasons, including:
- Different weather conditions
- Fatigued drivers
- Distracted drivers
- Drunk drivers
All these factors can increase the likelihood of you getting into an accident during the holiday season. This makes auto insurance coverage a crucial check-off on your traveling planning list.
Even if you’re leaving your car at home, consider that auto thefts rise around holidays, especially at Christmas. You may have coverage to rent a car if you’re still driving, but do you have the right coverage for someone breaking into your vehicle while you’re gone?
You also have to consider whether you have coverage to drive a rental car. You can talk to your car insurance agent or look over your policy to determine whether you need additional rental coverage.
Types of Auto Insurance
Ideally, you don’t want to wait until the holidays to talk to someone at your auto insurance agency about whether you have the right auto insurance for your vehicles. But the increased risks to your vehicles around the holidays make it a great time to see that you have the right auto insurance policy.
Here are the types of auto insurance you can consider:
Liability
Most states require you to have liability insurance before you can drive your car on a public road. This insurance comes in two parts: bodily injury and property damage. If you cause an accident while driving your vehicle, any resulting injuries or property damage may be covered by your liability insurance.
Personal Injury Protection
Personal injury protection (PIP) is required in some states and is also known as “no-fault insurance” because it pays no matter who caused an accident. This coverage can pay for the medical expenses for you and your passengers if you’re in an accident. In some circumstances, it also can pay for lost wages.
Collision
This is optional coverage, but it can pay for repairs or replacement of your car if you hit another vehicle or an object, such as a fence or pole. While it’s optional, it may be required by some lenders and leaseholders.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive auto insurance can pay for repairs or replacement of your vehicle if it is damaged by something other than a car accident. Damage can be caused by a weather event, theft, or vandalism. Like collision auto insurance, comprehensive insurance is typically optional but may be required by your lender or leaseholder.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
If you are hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist insurance can help pay for your injuries and car repairs.
Beyond these coverages, you can also buy additional auto insurance that can cover such things as towing and car rentals or if you make deliveries or drive other people in your car for pay.
Plan for Your Holiday Travels
The holidays can be filled with fun, but they also can trigger stress. Planning for your holiday travels in advance can help reduce that stress before and during the holiday season. An easy stressor you can knock off your list is knowing what kind of auto insurance you have and understanding the coverage.
Whether it’s road trip coverage or coverage for your car sitting in the parking garage of an airport, you can learn the ins and outs of your coverage by talking to your auto insurance agent.
Dropping in or calling your auto insurance agency on the phone can put your mind at ease. You’ll know that you’re safeguarded against the financial risk of an accident on the road, damage to a rental vehicle, or loss from a break-in of your parked car.
Talk to an Auto Insurance Agent
If you have holiday travels marked on your calendar, you may be checking off your to-dos for your special time away. Because the holidays can present an increased risk of accidents or theft of your vehicle, you might consider talking to an auto insurance agent about your coverage.
The knowledgeable team at Garrett Insurance can help. As an independent insurance agency, we can find you the best insurance for your needs at the best price. Get in touch today.