For many of us, if there was ever a time when taking a refreshing vacation might feel like a welcome reprieve, it’s now. But in this New Normal, COVID-19 world, safety while traveling is paramount. If you’re planning a road trip, here are a few things you can do to make your journeys as safe and stress-free as possible.
Have a plan in place to make good hygiene as easy as possible. One way to do this is to put together a simple sanitation kit. Disposable gloves, hand cleanser, and Clorox wipes will help ensure those gas station visits and pit stops are as risk-free as possible. You might also want to carry sealable bags with you to help dispose of used cleaning items.
Another great option for an overnight stay is to check in advance about their social distancing protocols. You may receive useful guidance on how to check in and out safely and efficiently.
Finally, you’ll be simplifying your journey considerably if you plan stopping points in advance, and take snacks with you. This will minimize unplanned stops along the way, and help you make smart traveling choices.
This one requires only a few minutes but can save you hours of headaches on the road if you have car problems. Make sure your auto insurance is current. Moreover, if you haven’t done so in a while, now may be an excellent opportunity to make sure your policy is suitably comprehensive.
Of course, you’ll want to make sure you and your co-drivers have collision and comprehensive coverage. But broadening your policy to ensure you have proper liability coverage means you can relax about the financial impacts of an accident.
USAA offers competitive auto insurance policies that cover all these bases, and they provide a range of helpful insurance tools for customers, including a quick and easy online claims center along with premium support you can access online. You may also find you’re entitled to family discounts, membership discounts, and additional bonuses if you or a family member serve in the U.S. military.
Here’s one last often-overlooked tip. Make sure people know where you’re going. By telling loved ones where you’ll be traveling and when you gain the luxury of not worrying when you lose connectivity between cities. Keeping everyone on the same page is always a smart move.
In a similar vein, be sure to tell your bank as well! These days, bank fraud departments are often notified when charges happen in different cities. Unusual behavior can trigger a temporary lockdown on your cards.
Taking a few moments to inform your bank of your upcoming travel plans means you can avoid the hassles of reactivating your cards while you’re out and about.
Safety isn’t always the first thing we think about when planning a road trip! It’s much easier to dwell on all that relaxation lying just around the corner. But investing a bit of time upfront in ensuring your safety makes it that much easier to relax once you’ve packed your bags and you’re ready to set out on a fun new adventure. Quality auto insurance, a sound approach to health safety, and sharing information about your trip are all great places to start.
