{"id":334,"date":"2021-06-25T17:34:12","date_gmt":"2021-06-25T17:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/?p=334"},"modified":"2023-11-14T00:58:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T00:58:10","slug":"road-trip-ready-how-to-save-and-be-safe-during-summer-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/2021\/06\/25\/road-trip-ready-how-to-save-and-be-safe-during-summer-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Road trip ready: how to save (and be safe!) during summer travel"},"content":{"rendered":"
In 2020, pandemic travel restrictions made it extremely difficult to travel by plane, so families opted to pile into their cars and hit the open road. In June 2020, AAA found that Americans were planning 700 million road trips<\/a> and that car travel accounted for 97% of the favored mode of transportation. There don\u2019t need to be travel restrictions for drivers to take road trips. Many travelers prefer driving hundreds (or thousands!) of miles and experiencing parts of the country they\u2019ve never seen before. Also, for families, a road trip may be more affordable than buying airline or train tickets for a big group. As summer travel season arrives, it’s important to know how to save and be safe. So, if you\u2019re trying to cut costs on your vacation and keep yourself (and your car!) safe, follow our tips for the best road trip ever.<\/p>\n The last thing you want is to have car problems when you\u2019re in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. Take your car to your preferred mechanic for a general inspection to ensure all of the basics<\/a>, like battery, lights, fluid levels, etc., are good to go. Also, get your tires filled to your car\u2019s maximum recommended level to improve fuel economy<\/a>. Tire pressure recommendations are typically listed on a sticker on the inside of the driver\u2019s door. If they aren\u2019t there, check your car owner\u2019s manual for the numbers instead.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important not to overpack on a road trip. Sure, you don\u2019t have to follow an airline\u2019s strict luggage rules when you\u2019re traveling by car, but you should still only take what you need. Overloading your vehicle can make your trip way less comfortable and negatively impact fuel economy. If your car is too heavy for your tires, they may not be able to grip the road safely, putting you and your passengers in danger. Pack the basics for summer travel like cellphones, chargers, a cooler, food, plates, utensils, towels, soap, and extra clothes. Since we\u2019re still in a pandemic, don\u2019t forget masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes too! Then, carefully consider what other items you absolutely need once the essentials are packed up.<\/p>\n If an emergency happens, you need to be prepared. Every car emergency kit should include baby wipes, water, non-perishable snacks, medications, road flares\/reflective triangles, blankets, jumper cables, a first aid kit, toilet paper, a flashlight, batteries, tire sealant, and a paper map (you never know when you\u2019ll lose cell service).<\/p>\n Depending on when you\u2019re traveling, you may need to add or take away items from your emergency kit. Summer travelers will need to add sunscreen, hats, aloe, and bug spray. If your road trip is in the winter, make sure you pack cat litter, a de-icer, a collapsible snow shovel, solar blankets, and a sleeping bag.<\/p>\n You\u2019re going to be on the road a lot, and while we hope you get to your destination and back safely, you want to be protected in case of an accident. It\u2019d be frustrating to be involved in an accident far from home without the right coverages (and remember, you can\u2019t add the right coverages after<\/em> an incident). Adding the following before your trip can potentially save you money if the worst happens:<\/p>\n We also recommend adding roadside assistance<\/a>. It’s usually offered for just a few dollars a month, and you\u2019ll be thankful you purchased it if your battery dies or a tire goes flat while you\u2019re traveling.<\/p>\n Stopping for food every time you\u2019re hungry can add up quickly and make your trip longer than it needs to be. Packing your own snacks saves time and money. Especially for summer travel, we recommend bringing non-perishable, non-melting snacks like crackers, trail mix, gummies, chips, and pretzels. Chocolate may seem like a nice pick-me-up, but it can melt and make a mess in a hot car. You may be tempted to pack fruits and veggies, but just be careful to clean all of them out of your car when your trip is over to avoid bad smells a few weeks later.<\/p>\n We also recommend packing a case of water (or reusable bottles) and any of your favorite sodas, teas, or juices. Just make sure everything has a resealable lid to avoid unnecessary spills.<\/p>\n Rest stops are there for a reason and offer cost savings over stopping at a store or gas station<\/a>. They typically have free Wi-Fi, maps, water, and clean bathrooms. Vending machines provide plenty of small, affordable snacks if you don\u2019t want to eat fast food.<\/p>\n Just stopping at the next gas station may be a bigger hit to your wallet than if you\u2019d done a little planning. First, make sure you\u2019re using the correct grade of fuel for your car. Only 18% of new cars sold in the U.S. actually need premium gas<\/a>, and recently AAA found that Americans waste about $2.1 billion on unnecessary premium gas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Download the GasBuddy<\/a> app before you hit the road. It can help you find nearby gas stations with the lowest price to make sure you\u2019re always getting the best deal.\u00a0We also recommend signing up for fuel rewards programs before heading out. Typically, all you need is an email address, and you can save on gas every time you fill up. For example, after signing up for BP\u2019s BPme Rewards, drivers save 5 cents per gallon on every fill-up at BP and Amoco stations through the first month and get to keep that discount if they spend $100 on fuel each month after that. Look up which gas stations are common on your route and see if they have a fuel program you can sign up for before you go.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re traveling with your family, finding the right entertainment on your road trip will make everyone else\u2019s life easier. There are several affordable options across the country, like visiting local museums on free days; hitting up festivals, concerts, and fairs during summer travel; relaxing in parks or libraries, or just tossing around a frisbee or football. The National Park Service even offers an annual pass that covers entrance, standard amenity fees, and day-use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may want to stick to outdoor activities and avoid crowds for now and be sure to check any updated CDC guidelines<\/a> before your trip.<\/p>\n Sleep is essential on a road trip. You need rest to be ready to drive each day, but staying in hotels and Airbnb\u2019s can add up. Freecampsites.net<\/a> offers up several resources for those looking for free and low-cost campsites. Use their \u201cFind a Campsite\u201d<\/a> feature to find free sites along your road trip route.<\/p>\n It may seem like tolls are the cost of road-tripping, but they don\u2019t have to be. You can avoid all tolls with a bit of planning. Google Maps allows drivers to pick route options that avoid tolls. Don\u2019t worry about going hours out of your way. Most toll-free routes add only a little bit of time to your trip. Of course, if avoiding tolls is too much of a hassle, products like E-ZPass<\/a> allow you to glide through tolls smoothly and without delay.<\/p>\n Getting a ticket can be costly. Depending on the violation, you may have to pay a fine, but that\u2019s not the only cost. According to The Zebra<\/a>, some traffic tickets can raise your car insurance rates by $1,200 or more. Different violations<\/a> can stay on your record for months or years, meaning you\u2019ll be paying a higher rate for a while. A speeding ticket, for example, will usually stay on your insurance record anywhere from one to three years (depending on your state). A DUI violation, however, will likely remain on your record for five or more years. The best way to avoid these costs is to drive safely your entire trip. If you\u2019re getting tired or easily distracted, switch drivers or get some rest.<\/p>\n Make sure you, your family, and your car are protected before your next summer road trip. Get a quote with Elephant<\/a> today, or log in to check which coverages you currently have. Our process is free, simple, and super quick. Planning ahead is the best way to ensure your trip will be smooth and a great memory for you and your family!<\/p>\n The post Road trip ready: how to save (and be safe!) during summer travel<\/a> appeared first on Elephant Insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 2020, pandemic travel restrictions made it extremely difficult to travel by plane, so families opted to pile into their cars and hit the open road. In June 2020, AAA found that Americans were planning 700 million road trips and that car travel accounted for 97% of the favored mode of transportation. There don\u2019t need to be travel restrictions for drivers to take road trips. Many travelers prefer driving hundreds (or thousands!) of miles and experiencing parts of the country they\u2019ve never seen before. Also, for families, a road trip may be more affordable than buying airline or train tickets for a big group. As summer travel season arrives, it’s important to know how to save and be safe. So, if you\u2019re trying to cut costs on your vacation and keep yourself (and your car!) safe, follow our tips for the best road trip ever. Before you hit the road Check out your car The last thing you want is to have car problems when you\u2019re in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. Take your car to your preferred mechanic for a general inspection to ensure all of the basics, like battery, lights, fluid levels, etc., are good to go. Also, get your tires filled to your car\u2019s maximum recommended level to improve fuel economy. Tire pressure recommendations are typically listed on a sticker on the inside of the driver\u2019s door. If they aren\u2019t there, check your car owner\u2019s manual for the numbers instead. Pack accordingly for summer travel It\u2019s important not to overpack on a road trip. Sure, you don\u2019t have to follow an airline\u2019s strict luggage rules when you\u2019re traveling by car, but you should still only take what you need. Overloading your vehicle can make your trip way less comfortable and negatively impact fuel economy. If your car is too heavy for your tires, they may not be able to grip the road safely, putting you and your passengers in danger. Pack the basics for summer travel like cellphones, chargers, a cooler, food, plates, utensils, towels, soap, and extra clothes. Since we\u2019re still in a pandemic, don\u2019t forget masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes too! Then, carefully consider what other items you absolutely need once the essentials are packed up. Pack an emergency kit If an emergency happens, you need to be prepared. Every car emergency kit should include baby wipes, water, non-perishable snacks, medications, road flares\/reflective triangles, blankets, jumper cables, a first aid kit, toilet paper, a flashlight, batteries, tire sealant, and a paper map (you never know when you\u2019ll lose cell service). Depending on when you\u2019re traveling, you may need to add or take away items from your emergency kit. Summer travelers will need to add sunscreen, hats, aloe, and bug spray. If your road trip is in the winter, make sure you pack cat litter, a de-icer, a collapsible snow shovel, solar blankets, and a sleeping bag. Get the right insurance coverages You\u2019re going to be on the road a lot, and while we hope you get to your destination and back safely, you want to be protected in case of an accident. It\u2019d be frustrating to be involved in an accident far from home without the right coverages (and remember, you can\u2019t add the right coverages after an incident). Adding the following before your trip can potentially save you money if the worst happens: Comprehensive\/Collision Coverage Liability Rental Reimbursement\u00a0 Uninsured\/Underinsured motorist coverage MedPay\/PIP We also recommend adding roadside assistance. It’s usually offered for just a few dollars a month, and you\u2019ll be thankful you purchased it if your battery dies or a tire goes flat while you\u2019re traveling. On the road Save money by packing your own grocery store snacks Stopping for food every time you\u2019re hungry can add up quickly and make your trip longer than it needs to be. Packing your own snacks saves time and money. Especially for summer travel, we recommend bringing non-perishable, non-melting snacks like crackers, trail mix, gummies, chips, and pretzels. Chocolate may seem like a nice pick-me-up, but it can melt and make a mess in a hot car. You may be tempted to pack fruits and veggies, but just be careful to clean all of them out of your car when your trip is over to avoid bad smells a few weeks later. We also recommend packing a case of water (or reusable bottles) and any of your favorite sodas, teas, or juices. Just make sure everything has a resealable lid to avoid unnecessary spills. Take advantage of rest stops Rest stops are there for a reason and offer cost savings over stopping at a store or gas station. They typically have free Wi-Fi, maps, water, and clean bathrooms. Vending machines provide plenty of small, affordable snacks if you don\u2019t want to eat fast food. Save on gas Just stopping at the next gas station may be a bigger hit to your wallet than if you\u2019d done a little planning. First, make sure you\u2019re using the correct grade of fuel for your car. Only 18% of new cars sold in the U.S. actually need premium gas, and recently AAA found that Americans waste about $2.1 billion on unnecessary premium gas. Download the GasBuddy app before you hit the road. It can help you find nearby gas stations with the lowest price to make sure you\u2019re always getting the best deal.\u00a0We also recommend signing up for fuel rewards programs before heading out. Typically, all you need is an email address, and you can save on gas every time you fill up. For example, after signing up for BP\u2019s BPme Rewards, drivers save 5 cents per gallon on every fill-up at BP and Amoco stations through the first month and get to keep that discount if they spend $100 on fuel each month after that. Look up which gas stations are common on your route and see if they have a fuel program you can sign up for before you go. Plan affordable entertainment If you\u2019re traveling with your family, finding the right entertainment on your road trip will make everyone else\u2019s life easier. There are several affordable options across the country, like visiting local museums on free days; hitting up festivals, concerts, and fairs during summer travel; relaxing in parks or libraries, or just tossing around a frisbee or football. The National Park Service even offers an annual pass that covers entrance, standard amenity fees, and day-use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may want to stick to outdoor activities and avoid crowds for now and be sure to check any updated CDC guidelines before your trip. Consider free camping for summer travel Sleep is essential on a road trip. You need rest to be ready to drive each day, but staying in hotels and Airbnb\u2019s can add up. Freecampsites.net offers up several resources for those looking for free and low-cost campsites. Use their \u201cFind a Campsite\u201d feature to find free sites along your road trip route. Opt for toll-free routes It may seem like tolls are the cost of road-tripping, but they don\u2019t have to be. You can avoid all tolls with a bit of planning. Google Maps allows drivers to pick route options that avoid tolls. Don\u2019t worry about going hours out of your way. Most toll-free routes add only a little bit of time to your trip. Of course, if avoiding tolls is too much of a hassle, products like E-ZPass allow you to glide through tolls smoothly and without delay. Don\u2019t risk tickets Getting a ticket can be costly. Depending on the violation, you may have to pay a fine, but that\u2019s not the only cost. According to The Zebra, some traffic tickets can raise your car insurance rates by $1,200 or more. Different violations can stay on your record for months or years, meaning you\u2019ll be paying a higher rate for a while. A speeding ticket, for example, will usually stay on your insurance record anywhere from one to three years (depending on your state). A DUI violation, however, will likely remain on your record for five or more years. The best way to avoid these costs is to drive safely your entire trip. If you\u2019re getting tired or easily distracted, switch drivers or get some rest. Make sure you, your family, and your car are protected before your next summer road trip. Get a quote with Elephant today, or log in to check which coverages you currently have. Our process is free, simple, and super quick. Planning ahead is the best way to ensure your trip will be smooth and a great memory for you and your family! The post Road trip ready: how to save (and be safe!) during summer travel appeared first on Elephant Insurance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=334"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":335,"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions\/335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/huachen.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Before you hit the road<\/h2>\n
Check out your car<\/h3>\n
Pack accordingly for summer travel<\/h3>\n
Pack an emergency kit<\/h3>\n
Get the right insurance coverages<\/h3>\n
\n
On the road<\/h2>\n
Save money by packing your own grocery store snacks<\/h3>\n
Take advantage of rest stops<\/h3>\n
Save on gas<\/h3>\n
Plan affordable entertainment<\/h3>\n
Consider free camping for summer travel<\/h3>\n
Opt for toll-free routes<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t risk tickets<\/h3>\n