Summer vacations are a time for rest and relaxation, but they're often so jam-packed with exciting activities that you're exhausted (and potentially jetlagged) when you return home. So filing an insurance claim is the last thing you want to do after returning.
Fortunately, with thorough preparation-and a little help from trusted friends and family if needed-you can be sure that the only thing you need to do when you get home is unpack.
Follow this vacation prep checklist to prevent insurance claims while you're away.
What to bring with you:
Proof of Insurance
Whether you're renting a car or road tripping in your RV, be sure you have easy access to your proof of insurance. Mobile apps and digital accounts like the Keller-Brown Insurance online portal are the best way to keep your insurance information organized and easily accessible. With a smartphone, you'll always have your proof of insurance in the palm of your hand.
Vaccine cards
Before embarking on your trip, look into local rules and regulations pertaining to masking and vaccination. Although most restrictions have subsided, regulations vary by state and by city. Plus, regulations could change while you're traveling. To be safe, keep your vaccination cards on hand. Or take a photo of your card or upload them to a mobile app to keep them easily accessible just like your insurance information.
Rental car insurance
If you're renting a car on your trip, rental car insurance is important. And depending on what kind of car you rent and the details of your car insurance policy, it could be essential. Buying insurance from the rental car company can protect you from owing money in the event of an accident. For additional information, read our guide to everything you need to know about renting a car.
What to do before you travel:
Ensure all insurance policies are current
Before traveling, make sure there are no outstanding bills for any of your insurance policies. Unpaid bills could jeopardize your coverage, leaving you at risk in the event of a claim. Another important step is to ensure you've recently conducted a review of your insurance coverage.
In an insurance review, a trusted professional like Keller-Brown Insurance will assess your current risks, changes in value to any of your property and recommend updates to your policies. With inflation impacting prices across the market, it's important to be sure you've reviewed your insurance before leaving on a trip. Otherwise, you may suffer damage that your policy won't cover. Find out why now is the time to review your insurance coverage.
Invest in trip insurance
Another wise insurance investment is trip insurance, which can protect you from a variety of unexpected expenses that may arise while traveling. Trip insurance can come in handy if you get injured on vacation or even if the airline loses your luggage. Traveling is expensive, but trip insurance can ensure you can devote your spending to the fun stuff.
Leave your pets in the care of a trusted individual
Trustworthy pet care is important to having a relaxing vacation. When traveling, it's not only important that you trust your pet sitter, but also that your pet trusts them as well.
If you decide to hire a professional pet sitter, verify they're covered by pet sitters insurance. Pet sitters insurance covers the cost of vet bills that could arise if your pet is injured while in their care.
And consider investing in pet insurance if you haven't already. Whether you're leaving your pets in the care of a family member or boarding them while you're away, pet insurance is a worthy investment. Should an accident occur, pet insurance can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for emergency care.
Use technology to reduce your risk
Home security systems and water sensors are just a few of the tools you can invest in to protect your home while you're away. With these tools, you can have peace of mind knowing that a trusted representative can respond to emergencies as they arise. In fact, with some of these systems, emergency services can be dispatched to your home right away.
Keep your property secure
Locking doors and windows is a no-brainer. However, in Southern Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland, a lot of us have other areas on our property that need to be secured before we head out of town. Specifically, barns, fences and sheds should be locked up tight. If you have a caretaker visiting to look after animals or crops while you're away, leave a thorough checklist for them to be sure they don't miss anything that should be secured.
Disconnect electronics and turn off water
Reduce the risk of unexpected accidents-and save on your energy bill-by turning off or unplugging electronic devices. Lots of items continue to use electricity even when not in use, and items like computers and televisions can be prone to energy surges, especially during summer storms. In addition to turning off electronics, consider turning off water to prevent leaks and flooding.
After completing this packing checklist, you can truly disconnect and enjoy a well-deserved and relaxing vacation. To take the financial worry out of traveling, contact us to verify your coverage will protect you from loss.
