Do You Need Insurance When Taking a Vacation?

Can you use your home insurance while you’re away on vacation? Whether you’re heading North or South, East or West, and whether you prefer action-packed or easy-going, it’s easy to forget that unpleasant things can still happen on vacation. What coverages extend to where you’re going?

Renting a Car?

Start your vacation off right and don’t let surprise questions catch you off-guard at your destination. When it comes to rental car insurance, our answer is easy and straight-forward: buy the insurance if it is priced reasonably for you. Your auto insurance policy at home will cover you if you have collision and comprehensive on a vehicle and have purchased SEF 27 Liability for Damage to non-owned vehicles.

You have the option to purchase a “Loss Damage Waiver” (LDW) from the rental car company. If purchased, this waiver relieves you from financial liability for loss or damage and the parts and accessories that come with it.

Keep in mind that your personal auto insurance will only extend protection in the US and Canada. If you travel abroad to Europe, Asia or South America and plan to rent a car, it is best to purchase maximum liability limits through the rental company’s coverage.

Some credit cards will also provide coverage for a rental car. But contracts vary, and some cards may only provide secondary or excess coverage. Call your credit card company to confirm coverage before you rely on it.

Your Home Insurance While Away from Home

A homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy doesn’t only protect you and your “stuff” while you’re at home—it also protects your belongings away from home. If your camera slipped out of the bag and tumbled down 75 feet of rocky slope as you climb up that boulder? It’s covered.

A home insurance policy also provides liability protection. And this is where it really counts! Because, if you accidentally damaged somebody else’s property or, worse, hurt somebody, you could be held liable. A homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy can help you out!

Going Abroad? Check Your Health Insurance!

Your health insurance plan may not cover you while you are abroad. And even if it does provide basic coverage for hospital or emergency costs, it might not cover your medical evacuation back home. If you are planning a trip abroad, you should call your health care provider to confirm whether or not your coverage extends to your destination.

Wherever you go, be sure to contact your health insurance company before you take off, and set yourself and your family up with the right coverage.

There are a variety of very affordable medical travel insurance plans available that may return your investment in added peace of mind as you explore new corners. For a major trip, you also have the option to purchase a travel insurance package that includes medical coverage, trip cancellation or interruption coverage, lost or stolen baggage coverage, or even accidental death coverage, among others.

Trip Cancellation & Interruption

There are other types of coverage you can buy for your vacation separate from the policies you already have in place. Trip cancellation kicks in if certain medical or non-medical events occur before you leave home, so you’re reimbursed on all or some costs, depending on your coverage. Trip interruption reimburses you if a similar set of events occur after you leave home and during your trip and you’re forced to return home.

This is your well-deserved vacation. Time to enjoy, relax, and re-charge. Don’t let life’s curveballs interfere with it.