November kicks off the single busiest travel season of the year. According to AAA, 81.8 million people are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period alone. About 73 million of those travelers will be hitting the road by car, accounting for nearly 90% of all holiday travelers. And last Thanksgiving, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls from stranded drivers dealing with dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.
A little preparation before you leave can make all the difference between a smooth trip and a stressful one.
Get Your Car Road-Trip Ready
Before loading up the trunk, take a few minutes to make sure your vehicle is ready for the miles ahead. A quick pre-trip check can prevent the most common causes of breakdowns:
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Battery — Cold November temperatures can drain a weak battery fast. If your battery is more than three years old, have it tested before a long trip.
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Tires — Check tire pressure and tread depth. Properly inflated tires improve handling and fuel efficiency, and worn tread reduces traction on wet or cold roads.
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Fluids — Top off oil, coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid before you go.
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Lights — Test all headlights, brake lights, and turn signals. With shorter daylight hours in November, visibility matters more than ever.
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Wipers — Replace worn blades before the trip. Rain, sleet, and early snow are all possibilities, depending on where you're headed.
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Emergency kit — Keep a basic kit in your trunk: jumper cables, a flashlight, a blanket, water, and a first aid kit.
Time Your Trip Wisely
Holiday traffic is no joke. The Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons before Thanksgiving are consistently the most congested times for drivers in major metro areas. If you have any flexibility, leaving early in the morning or late at night can help you avoid the worst of it. Sundays and Mondays after Thanksgiving are typically the most congested return days, so consider leaving Saturday or waiting until Monday if your schedule allows.
Use navigation apps to monitor real-time traffic and have an alternate route ready in case your usual path is backed up.
Stay Safe Behind the Wheel
With millions of additional cars on the road, patience and alertness matter more than ever:
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Keep a safe following distance, especially on highways where traffic can stop suddenly.
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Avoid distracted driving. Even a few seconds of inattention at highway speeds covers the length of a football field.
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Never drive impaired. The Thanksgiving holiday period sees a significant spike in impaired driving incidents. If you're celebrating before hitting the road, designate a driver or arrange a rideshare.
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Take breaks every two hours or 100 miles on long drives to stay sharp.
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If you're traveling with young children or pets, plan extra stops and build that time into your schedule.
Is Your Coverage Ready for the Road?
Your safety checklist isn't complete without a quick look at your auto insurance. Most people assume their policy handles everything automatically on a road trip, and in many cases it does. But there are a few specifics worth knowing before you go.
Your auto insurance travels with you across all 50 states and Canada. Most policies include a broadening clause that automatically adjusts your coverage to meet the minimum requirements of whatever state you're driving through. That said, if you're only carrying your state's minimum coverage, that may not be enough to fully protect you in an out-of-state accident. It's worth reviewing your liability limits before a long trip.
If you're flying and renting a car at your destination, your personal auto policy often extends to rental vehicles but only if you already carry comprehensive and collision coverage. Check with your agent before declining the rental company's insurance, and ask whether your credit card offers rental coverage as a benefit.
And if you don't already have roadside assistance on your policy, this is a great time to add it. It's an affordable add-on covering towing, flat tire changes, fuel delivery, and lockout services. Some policies also include travel expenses coverage, which can reimburse lodging and meals if your car becomes undrivable far from home.
A quick call to your agent before you leave takes less than 10 minutes and can save you a lot of stress down the road, literally. Safe travels this holiday season, and as always, if you have any questions about your coverage, I'm happy to help.
