Planning a Long Road Trip Check Your Auto Insurance Before You Hit the Road

WORCESTER, MA--June 29, 2011: Americans love to get away during the summer. According to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average long distance trip is 568 miles and 91 percent of summer travel is in personal vehicles.

With this in mind, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. , a leading provider of business, auto and home insurance products, today offered several tips to help summer travelers ensure they have the right insurance coverage and know what to do to get help quickly, in the event something happens during their trips.

"While many people remember to check their tires, belts, hoses, and fluids, insurance coverage is often overlooked," said Mark Desrochers, president of The Hanover's personal lines business. "However, drivers can face significant unexpected expenses that may ruin a long-awaited trip if they don't have the right insurance coverage."

With this in mind, The Hanover recommends that summer travelers consider "tuning-up" their insurance coverage to help minimize their risks on the road:

Enlist the Advice of a Local, Independent Agent

Local, independent agents have considerable experience and can advise as to which coverages best fit a motorist's needs. Additionally, they work with a variety of insurance carriers and can recommend valuable optional coverages that best address an individual's lifestyle.

For example, an independent agent may suggest a policyholder add "Roadside Assistance." This coverage provides 24/7 emergency assistance when your vehicle is disabled. Services may include: tire change, fluid delivery, battery jump, lockout assistance, and towing providing piece of mind that drivers will have protection when taking a long holiday road trip.

For individuals and families that travel frequently  an agent may offer The Hanover's "Travel Right" coverage which provides protection for trip interruption and  rental cars.

With trip interruption coverage, motorists who are over 100 miles from home and have a covered loss that makes your car unsafe to drive can be reimbursed up to a total of $1,000 for any combination of necessary and reasonable expenses for food and lodging, additional travel expenses to get home or to the intended destination, and the cost to transport the covered auto to the motorists' local repair shop.

If you are renting a car and have an accident, rental car coverage pays for the loss of use of the rental car while it is being repaired, any decrease in value to the rental car that you are required to pay as a result of the accident, and the rental car company's cost to process the claim. Consult your independent agent to best understand how you are covered when renting a car.

Check Your Limits

Often policyholders continue to renew their policies with the same limits that were originally written, despite a significant lifestyle has changed. Checking with an independent agent can help ensure all limits are adequate.

"It's important to remember that the dollar limits on your automobile insurance coverages be realistic for today's legal environment. It doesn't take a serious accident to exceed limits that may have been appropriate a few years ago," Desrochers said.

Cover Recreational Vehicles

Consider adding insurance for any recreational vehicle that might be used on a summer trip, such as a boat, trailer, all-terrain vehicle, golf cart or jet ski. In most cases, these vehicles are not covered through a standard auto or home insurance policy. Use of them without the right insurance can leave an individual without coverage to repair their damaged item or, worse, to also be personally liable for an accident caused while operating the boat, all-terrain vehicle or jet ski.

Consider an "Umbrella"

At-fault accidents can easily lead to bodily injury lawsuits that can seriously impact an individual or family's finances. These types of judgments have been known to lead to severe financial consequences. Many individuals opt for a $1 million or $2 million "umbrella" policy, which adds a layer of protection against significant legal judgments far exceeding those provided under a standard auto insurance policy.

"Summer-time travel and vacations should be worry-free. As you formulate your summer vacation plans, consider consulting with an independent agent to 'tune-up' your insurance," Desrochers said.