Holidays are a lot of fun and driving around in a car while on vacation is a soothing experience. But this can be spoiled by any untoward incident involving your vehicle. Such incidents or accidents won’t just spoil your vacation but can also lead to insurmountable costs if you don’t have the right insurance coverage.Before you get a car rental for trip you have to be aware of some stuff concerning travel car insurance.Look at this post to learn about it.
Here is how you can make the correct insurance choices before you pack your bags and hit the road:
Understanding Travel Car Insurance
PLANNING IN ADVANCE:
The best thing to do before you get packing is to double check your car insurance policy. This holds a lot of value if you wish to take your own car along. Another important policy to check twice is your travel insurance.
You might have to alter your coverage to suit the situational requirements.
To ensure adequate coverage, three possible options can be explored:
personal car insurance, insurance offered by your credit card or insurance from a rental agency.
– PERSONAL CAR INSURANCE
Alberta auto insurance makes it mandatory for drivers to have a specific third party liability insurance in order to cover issues like property damage, injury or death resulting from an at-fault accident. This third party liability insurance differs from state to state in different countries and will probably fall short when you drive abroad. Hence, it might be a good idea to spend a few more dollars each month to enjoy peace of mind.
Things take a U-turn when you are driving a hired or rental car. This may make your personal car insurance void of any benefits. In such a case, you need to consult with an insurance agent or adviser to better understand your coverage.
– CREDIT CARD
Credit cards often come with enticing offers of paying rental through their card. However, it is recommended to validate the scope and conditions of the protection offered as not every place you travel to, will have the same set of rules governing your cars.
– RENTAL AGENCY
If you plan on renting out a car or any other vehicle during your travel, it is often recommended to get an on the spot insurance from the rental agency itself, if they offer any. Although insurance offered by such rental agencies is bound to be more expensive as you get it instantaneously without prepaying, it is a safe bet nonetheless.
You can check for the exact pricing for such insurance covers by determining the model of the vehicle, it’s brand, rental location, age of the driver, medical issues if any, and the number of drivers who would be staying behind the wheels during the rental period.
You can avoid double payments at such places by ensuring that you do not already hold a third party liability coverage of specified amounts. This can be confirmed by your insurer.
PREPARE YOURSELF:
- Be wary of your surroundings at all times. Sometimes, it is better to familiarize yourself with the local laws and government. Traffic regulations and road signs are just as important if you are driving around and you should take initiatives to understand them.
- You can validate your coverage according to the itinerary of your stay by getting in touch with your insurer.
- Always get in touch with companies with a stellar record and brand image in the insurance industry as they are more likely to provide you with the best possible deals around.
- Always check for the natural conditions of the destination you are traveling to. Adverse weather conditions or probable natural calamities can have an adverse effect on your insurance cover if its taken on the spot.
DOCUMENTS TO KEEP HANDY:
When traveling, there are certain documents you need to keep around to avoid any hassles in case of emergencies. Here are some documents that you need to pack while on the road:
- A passport
- Valid driver’s license
- Vehicle registration
- Proof of insurance
- Car rental contract and all related documents
- International Driving Permit (IDP)
- Your health card
- proof of medical and hospital insurance
- Your credit card
Most, if not all of these documents should ideally be in English. You should also carry additional copies of each of these documents in case of loss or theft.
Take a look at this article to find more travel tips for your road trip.
