Road Trip!

The snow is gone and many campers already have their camp sites picked out, many bikers are planning their loop out and many young families are preparing their trailers to go!  If you are planning to hit the road soon, plan ahead to ensure your trip is a smooth one. Here are a few tried and true tips to help you along your way.

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Car Insurance

Your car insurance covers you on any road trips across Canada and into the United States, but it stops there. If you are driving any further south, crossing any more than one border, you will need to purchase additional coverage for the trip. This can be done before you leave home through your insurance provider or at the border before you cross.

Be sure to carry with you your proof of insurance card in the vehicle at all times. Also ensure that it is the most recent copy and that you have important contact information such as your insurance providers claim line.

Travel Insurance

Think travel insurance is limited to trips overseas? Or extended stays? Think again. A smart traveler will be prepared for any trip – especially the road trip. Unexpected travel expenses can happen anytime, anywhere! If you have to cancel your trip, or return home suddenly for a family emergency, travel insurance can help repay the cost of non-refundable deposits, reservations, tickets and other items you paid for in advance. It can also help with the travel expenses incurred to get home quickly. Understanding what travel insurance is right for you is important, if you want to learn more about the different travel insurance packages you can visit the McDougall Insurance travel blog.

While car insurance extends over the border, your health insurance does not, and since our neighbors to the south do not have a universal health care system, a medical emergency could turn into a financial nightmare. Travel health insurance; don’t leave home without it.

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Roadside Assistance

As luck would have it, should you break down on your road trip, it just may be in the middle of nowhere. If this happens to you, it’s good to know that help is only a phone call away. Before you hit the road, make sure you have some roadside assistance available to you.

• CAA – many drivers have this option, whether they are on a road trip or just heading to work.
• Manufacturers Roadside – many offer this assistance while the vehicle is still under warranty.
• Insurance Providers – may also offer roadside assistance and at a very reasonable rate – why would you leave home without it?

Roadside assistance can help with flat tires, running out of gas, towing, or even the dreaded locking your keys in the car. It is really one of those things you do not want to go on a road trip without. We can’t always be prepared for everything, but with some preparation you can prevent a minor pit stop from becoming a major problem. If you’re trying to plan out your next road trip visit the McDougall Insurance travel page to speak with an adviser to get the right coverage for you!