Summer’s the perfect time to take a road trip! You’ve got plenty of options for destinations, all you need to do is prepare properly. Whether it’s your first road trip or your fiftieth, your friends at Freedom Insurance Agency put together a little checklist to help you get ready. Once you’ve crossed off each item, you’re ready for a safe summer vacation. Happy travels!
1. Basic Car Maintenance Before the Big Drive
When was the last time you checked your tire pressure? Or got your oil changed? These simple steps won’t take very long, but they may help you avoid any unwanted detours along your road trip. Even if you’re perfectly capable of handling car maintenance on your own, you may want to take advantage of a professional inspection this time. Not only will this alert you to any potential issues before you leave, but also, it’ll free up your time to prepare in other ways! Just be sure you give your car’s interior attention, too.
Road trips take a toll on your vehicle—inside and out. Treat your car to a thorough cleaning before you hit the road to avoid coming home with a crazy mess on your hands. We also recommend packing an emergency kit, just in case. Although this option is tailored more for the passengers, you should also have basic car care supplies on hand. Double check that you have your spare tire, tools, jumper cables, jack, etc. ready to go. You should also know where your proof of insurance card and registration are ahead of time.
2. Know Who’s Taking Care of Things at Home
No matter how long you’ll be gone or what you’re leaving behind, you’ll need to make arrangements for your absence. Do you have pets that need care? Or maybe just plants that need watering? Try to give people a couple of weeks’ notice and leave written instructions behind as a reminder. If you just need someone to keep an eye on your home and pick up the mail/packages while you’re away, then you could ask your neighbors for help. For larger tasks, though, you may want to enlist multiple helpers.
Don’t forget about your bills! Unfortunately, your due dates won’t change just because you’re on vacation. With online bill pay, you may be able to manage everything from the road. But do you really want to worry about that during your road trip? If you can schedule and/or pay bills in advance, go ahead and cross those to-do items off your list now.
3. Get Ready for the Road Trip with Technology
Back in the day, planning for this type of trip was a lengthy process. You needed maps, pens, and plenty of time to create the ideal route. Thanks to technology, you can now just hop in the car and go! Provided you have enough power to last during the road trip. Make sure you have all the cords you’ll need to keep your devices charged throughout the vacation. It never hurts to have a backup charger and/or portable battery on hand either.
To start your road trip as smoothly as possible, have all of the electronics you’re planning to take charged up and preloaded with games, movies, books, apps, etc. There are a number of apps out there today that can actually help you manage your travel. From finding places to stay, to the closest (and cheapest) gas stations, to locating interesting stops along your route. Just check out the latest list here and take advantage of what technology has to offer!
Hopefully, our checklist helps you have one of the best road trips to date. If you need extra help preparing for your vacation, please don’t hesitate to ask. Our insurance experts are always close by to review your coverage, prov ide additional copies of your insurance card(s), and answer questions—no matter far away from home you happen to be. Have a great vacation and stay safe this summer!
