While the open road beckons, you also feel a little apprehension. You know you would enjoy a road trip, but you cannot afford a mishap that leads to expensive automobile repairs or medical bills. Even a misadventure as simple as a flat tire could push your budget. So, for now, you have elected to stay at home and save your paychecks just in case something happens.
However, you do not have to stifle your wanderlust to keep yourself, your family, your vehicle, and your budget safe. With some advance preparation-and a little spending upfront-you can handle anything that chance sends your way on your next adventure. Use the instructions below to begin.
1. Purchase a Travel Protection Plan
A travel protection plan covers you in case your vehicle breaks down and you have to use a rental car for the remainder of your trip. Depending on the rental car companies in your vacation’s vicinity, the rental could prove expensive. When you add a travel protection plan to your insurance coverage, you do not have to worry about that potential expense.
2. Add Roadside Assistance to Your Car Insurance
Even if you have a travel protection plan and can get a rental car, what do you do if you cannot move your own car into a mechanic’s shop? Roadside assistance, another optional addition to your car insurance, gives you towing, repair, and lockout services for only a little extra money on your premium. So, should something go wrong while you travel, you can get help without stressing about the expense.
3. Schedule a Pre-Departure Car Inspection
Prevent car troubles before they occur by having a mechanic inspect your vehicle prior to your departure. Have your mechanic inspect and refill all your fluids, and have him or her check your automobile’s tires, shocks, transmission, and engine as well. Whenever you catch a potential problem before it grows, you save money in the long run.
4. Put a Car Jack and Toolkit in Your Vehicle
During your road trip, you may find yourself far from civilization. So, even if you have roadside assistance, you may have to wait an hour or more before your rescuers reach you. If you or anyone in your group has experience with vehicles, you may have the ability to change tires and fix engine problems on your own. Keep a jack and other tools in your trunk just in case.
5. Check Your Spare Tire-Or Purchase One
If you already have a spare tire for your vehicle, check its tire pressure and refill it, or have your mechanic refill it. However, if you do not own a spare, then purchase one. The mechanics at your local shop can give you a recommendation on the type of spare tire you should purchase. The spare in question should fit in your trunk and support your car’s axles well enough that they won’t go out of alignment when you use it.
6. Find Mechanics, Hospitals, Pharmacies, and Hotels Before Departure
You have likely plotted your route and told friends and family members about where you’ll be during each leg of your trip. Use that route to find hospitals, mechanics, hotels, and food in each place you plan to stop. If you know where to find these basic services, then you do not have to search for them frantically if a mishap occurs.
7. Pack All the Gear Necessary for the Weather
Have chains, a towing cable, ice melt, coats, blankets, and flares on hand if you plan to drive on snowy roads. Make sure you keep water, umbrellas, and sunscreen in your vehicle for hot weather. No matter what time of year your road trip takes place, you should keep jumper cables in your trunk as well.
8. Take out Cash for Emergencies
Perhaps your bank sees your road-trip expenditures as unusual and freezes your card. Or perhaps you find yourself in a rural area where nobody takes cards. You may also come across an unexpected toll road. Cash works better than a card if you have an emergency situation, so make sure you take out a few hundred dollars before you leave.
9. Have a Paper Map in Addition to an Electronic One
Should your phone or GPS run out of power in a remote area, you should have a paper map on hand with your route marked in a bright color. Paper maps do not run out of batteries, which will enable you to find your way to the next town if your phone and your car battery both run out of power.
10. Make Sure You Bring Identification Documents-Just in Case
If you plan to cross international borders, you must bring a passport and travel visa, where necessary. However, you might want to bring your passport with you even if you do not plan to cross into Canada or Mexico. Should a crisis occur, a passport gives you more solid documentation than a driver’s license.
Most people who go on road trips do not experience problems. However, if chance does throw you a hurdle or two, you can overcome them. Simply keep the information above in mind.
