There is nothing like a good old-fashioned road trip. Unlike travelling by plane or train, taking your own car gives you more time to explore. You can play your music as loud as you want, play road trip games, and bring all your favourite snacks! After packing everything you need, you might feel like you’re missing something — that might be the right insurance coverage!
You might not think it’s necessary to purchase additional coverage for a road trip. On the contrary, it can be a lifesaver if your trip is cancelled unexpectedly, if you experience delays getting to your destination, if your belongings are stolen, or if you get sick or injured on your trip.
There are a couple of insurance policies you should consider purchasing if you’re planning a road trip. Buckle your seatbelt, pack your bags, and hit the road to learn about road trip insurance.
Car insurance for a road trip
Before you start driving, you should understand what’s covered under your existing car insurance policy. If you can’t answer this question with confidence, you should call your broker to discuss your car insurance policy. Have your broker review your policy to ensure you are fully covered even if you consistently pay for your Toronto car insurance. You may want to ask the following questions:
- How long will you be on the road?
- Where are you going?
- Are you driving through multiple provinces?
- Are you driving to a different country?
- How many drivers are there?
Once you have your answers, you can work with your broker to determine if your existing liability car insurance coverage is enough to protect you on your trip. Sometimes, it’s not a bad idea to purchase additional coverage, such as collision or comprehensive or to increase your level of liability coverage before you leave. Ask your insurance broker for advice to determine what you need for your trip.
Road trip travel insurance
You may have purchased travel insurance for a trip involving a flight in the past. What you might not know is that you can also purchase travel insurance for road trips. Here are some reasons you should consider purchasing road trip travel insurance:
Unexpected delays
Even with a thoroughly planned itinerary, you could run into an unexpected delay. Your car could break down, there might be construction, or the weather might be nasty. It’s easy for plans to go off track when you least expect it. Running into delays could lead to missing reservations for your accommodations or admission to specific attractions for which you have already bought tickets. Purchasing travel insurance can be worthwhile if you encounter unexpected delays.
Medical emergencies while on a road trip
In Canada, we have access to universal health care. However, if you drive into another province, some exclusions apply. Travel insurance can help bridge the gaps and cover the costs that aren’t paid for if you get injured in another province.
If you’re visiting another country, such as the United States, you will need to purchase additional insurance coverage. Healthcare costs can add up quickly if you don’t have health insurance. Travel insurance helps prevent you from getting stuck with a hospital bill that might take years to pay off.
Road trip cancellation
Trip cancellations can happen at any time. If you have to cancel your trip at the last minute due to illness, work-related reasons, or another unexpected event, you could lose a decent amount of money. If you prepaid for any part of your trip or if there were any non-refundable components, travel insurance can help recover these costs.
Trailer insurance for your road trip
It’s not uncommon to take a trailer on a road trip. After all, a lot goes into planning a road trip, and you don’t want to experience an unexpected trip interruption. However, you might have questions such as:
In short, the answer is no if the trailer isn’t motorized. Unlike auto insurance, trailer insurance is not mandatory in Canada. However, it has to be towed by a registered and insured vehicle. All you need to tow a trailer is a valid car insurance policy to avoid penalties such as fines, vehicle impoundment, driver’s licence and, in some cases, jail time.
RV insurance for your road trip
If you’re wondering whether you should buy an RV or a trailer, you should keep insurance in mind. Choosing an RV makes sense if you are trekking across the country because it can give you somewhere to stay while on the road. However, you have to purchase RV insurance to drive your RV legally. This is a type of individual car insurance coverage that can be added as an endorsement or rider on your personal car insurance policy.
Home insurance for your road trip
Why do you have to worry about home insurance when you’re on a road trip? Well, believe it or not, you should discuss home insurance with your broker before you leave! Many home insurance policies include a vacancy clause. It means you can’t leave your home empty or un-checked for longer than a certain time period, such as 30 days.
If you are going to be away for more than a month, ask a trusted family member or friend to house-sit or check on the house while you’re gone. Your broker will have more details about the vacancy clause of your home insurance policy.
The belongings you bring on your trip may also be covered by your home insurance policy! For example, if your camera gets stolen from your car, your home insurance policy might cover this if it extends to your personal belongings. Consider extending your home insurance coverage to protect some of your valuable items.
Call BrokerLink today!
Road trips can be a lot of fun, but you should be prepared. Basic steps like knowing the phone number of your roadside assistance company and reviewing your car insurance coverage make a huge difference. Unforeseen events can happen at any time, which is why you should take precautions when road-tripping like you would when buying Ontario boat insurance or Ontario motorcycle insurance.
Since you’ll be taking your vehicle or rental cars on your road trip, you should know about the different types of auto insurance coverage available. These include, but aren’t limited to, the following:
Anything can happen on the road. That’s why you should purchase adequate insurance coverage so you can enjoy your road trip with peace of mind, knowing you’re protected. Talk to a BrokerLink insurance broker to learn more about your options today.
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