Spring Break 2021: The Rise of the Road Trip
Written by The Clearcover Team | 4 minute read
With ongoing lockdowns and continuous inclement weather in different parts of the country, families are itching to travel to get relief from cabin fever. Spring travel may provide that well-deserved break—56% of respondents in a recent Clearcover survey indicated that they modified their spring break travel plans but didn’t cancel. Of those planning to travel for spring break, 62% plan to drive, while only 25% plan to fly.
Parents are hitting the road with the kids in tow for Spring Break… and they’re happy about it.
We found that 81% say they enjoy family road trips, and over 70% of respondents said it was more convenient. With the ability to have better control of your surroundings, remain in your family bubble, and having a guaranteed armrest, road trips will become a popular method of transportation for this year.
If you decide to travel by car, how do you prepare for a successful road trip? In addition to planning out a great snack bag and downloading new true crime podcasts, don’t leave home without asking yourself the following questions:
1. Is my car ready for a long road trip? Be sure to have a professional perform a routine checkup to ensure your car is ready to go the distance. In addition to checking your tires and fluid levels, have them look over the electrical equipment, key fob batteries, and brakes.
2. How up-to-date is my emergency travel kit? Emergency travel kits can save lives if there’s an unforeseen difficulty. Make sure you are at least traveling with blankets, phone chargers, bottled water, non-perishable food, jumper cables, flashlight, batteries, and a first aid kit. We recommend placing these items in a box and always keeping it in your car. If you already have an emergency travel kit, replace the batteries and check to see if food is not past the expiration date.
3. Do I have the right insurance coverage? Review your car insurance policy and make sure you feel confident in your insurer and understand the coverage you have in place. If you’ve had any household changes recently, or don’t understand certain coverages, reach out to your insurance agent or company. Many insurance agents offer complimentary consultation reviews to make sure you have the right coverage amount and aren’t over—or worse—underinsured.
4. Do I know how to access my ID card and call for roadside assistance? Have your insurer's roadside assistance number handy—or know where to easily locate it. For Clearcover, who have added on Roadside Assistance Coverage, all it takes is opening the mobile app—in a few taps, you'll be connected with 24/7 roadside help. You can also access your up-to-date insurance card in our mobile app, even without cell phone service.
5. Are we prepared to travel during the pandemic? Chances are, you’ll be stopping at numerous locations for food and restroom breaks. Consider limiting as many stops as possible by packing food and water. If stops are unavoidable, consider:
a. Researching what’s open and what’s not—especially if you are crossing state lines. Are restaurants in the area allowing travelers to come inside, or is it drive-through only? Try to plan your stops out as much as possible
b. Packing disinfectant supplies, such as wipes, or hand sanitizers that are at least 60% alcohol
c. Double masking to improve filtration. Make sure not to combine a second mask with a KN95 mask. If you’re staying overnight in a hotel, be prepared to adhere to the hotel’s guidelines such as social distancing in lobbies.
d. Bringing toilet paper, paper towels, gloves
e. Hiding phones and tablets when stopping. Mike Muir, an Independent Agency Owner of Muir Insurance Group says, “When clients tell me they are about to hit the road, their safety is my top priority. This includes preventing vehicle theft when they stop for food or gas. I recommend to clients that if they are not taking the devices inside, they should hide them out of sight in the vehicle, in addition to any purses, bags, or backpacks.”
f. Having a backup plan. Plans have a way of changing but having an alternative course of action and remaining flexible can help you and your family stay safe when road tripping.
Put on your OOO message and don’t stress- you’ve earned this!
Taking steps to make sure you are able to safely and successfully arrive at your destination is a sure way to enjoy your break from start to finish. And if you’re insured with Clearcover, you’ll have reliable car insurance in place, no matter what’s ahead.
*We polled +633 U.S. residents on their spring break travel plans. The survey was conducted at 95% confidence, +/- 4% margin of error.
