You know what they say—it isn’t just about the destination, it’s about the journey getting there. This adage reminds us to make sure your family and your things are insured both during the journey and at your destination.
Even a minor accident en route to your cabin or campsite is no fun, and if you are towing a boat, ATV, or storage trailer, things get complicated pretty quickly. A fender bender may not do a lot of damage to your car but it may break the tow hitch altogether. Towing a disabled car is easier and cheaper than towing a car and storage trailer filled with equipment. And what if you are driving a RV? Pretty tough to jack up and replace the tire on a RV at the side of the road without some professional help.
Once you arrive at your destination and hop in the boat, other needs crop up. Needing help from others when your car breaks down is a headache; finding help if your boat breaks down out in the middle of the lake has all the makings of a migraine.
Your existing renters, homeowners, or car insurance policies likely offer you some protection while on vacation. In general policies address a couple of scenarios:
- Collision coverage comes into play when you hit something (tree, fence, car, dock) and your property is damaged or destroyed.
- Comprehensive coverage applies when your property is damaged by an event other than a collision. For example, if a fire, severe weather, or thieves cause a loss.
- Liability coverage applies when you are responsible for injury to another or to another’s property.
In addition to these major categories of coverage, policies often address situations such as those involving accidents with an uninsured or underinsured, towing and roadside assistance. Understanding your insurance policy details is critical—you need to be aware of deductibles, exceptions, and limitations. However, nobody wants to spend their summer vacation poring over an insurance policy, that’s why it’s a good idea to have an agent to do that for you.
A good insurance agent knows that the key is determining exactly what coverage you have and what you need, depends on what you like to do in the summer.
- RV owners have specialized needs, such as “full-timers” coverage if they spend lengthy periods living in the RV.
- Trailer owners are often towing boats, ATVs, or specialized equipment to their vacation destination. The cost of these items along with attendant equipment like helmets, oars, fishing tackle, and ski equipment add up quickly.
- The expenses and injuries possible in boating accidents differ from those in ATV accidents. Insurance doesn’t prevent accidents, but will help ease the financial stress that results. Whether or not a claim resulting from boating is covered under your current insurance policy will depend on the kind of claim and the kind and size of boat.
To ensure your summer vacation doesn’t turn into a nightmare for the entire family, follow common sense safety rules, and sit down with your agent and review the coverage you currently have in place to make sure you’re adequately covered for the unexpected.
