3rd February 2010

Car Travel — Stop Worrying! The Unknown ain’t Gonna Kill Ya!

Are you a worry wart? You know, one of those people who worry constantly about things generally beyond your control? Like the weather, road conditions, lost reservations, dangerous criminals lurking in doorways, ptomaine poisoning, etc. Then perhaps a road trip is not for you, because a lot of things can happen that you just can’t be prepared for. Or can you?

Knowing as much about your intended destination is vital, and current information can be found on numerous websites merely by searching the appropriate key words. Now, information can be skewed, naturally, if you’re looking at a commercial website – be wary of adjective overuse, then it’s just a commercial. For real advice, you need to seek out people just like you – visitors and tourists – who have given their “take” on a destination and helpful tips on what they did (or didn’t do) to make the most of their trip. Several online websites offer visitors the chance to share their stories, and these are the ones from which you will derive the most benefit.

Staying safe while on the road isn’t difficult, provided you accept a little advice here and now:

  1. Try not to look like a tourist.
  2. Act like a local; pretend you know where you are and where you’re going.
  3. At an unfamiliar lodging, ask to see the room first.
  4. Park your car where you can see it (or hear the alarm).

So you see, even a trip to an unknown destination can be planned and most variables contained (really, you just can’t control the weather). But you can control and maintain cheap car insurance.

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15th January 2010

The Insurance Card: Should You Leave Home Without It?

Laws governing car insurance vary from state to state, and the carrying of an insurance identification card is no different.  If you are pulled over by a law enforcement agent in N.J., for example, you’ll be requested to provide your driver’s license, car registration and insurance card; failure to produce an insurance card will result in a penalty.  On the other hand, if you’re pulled over by a state trooper in Maryland, he’ll ask only for your license and registration.  That might lead you to believe that it’s okay not to carry an insurance card, but you never know when you’re going to need to show proof.

It’s always a good idea to have evidence of your auto insurance coverage with you, either in your wallet or in your vehicle.  Certainly, if you’re stopped for some reason and are given a ticket for failure to produce your insurance card (and you’ve got insurance) you can fight it.  But is that worth the hassle, time and inconvenience?  Probably not.  And of course, if you’re in a car accident, you’re definitely going to want to have your insurance information handy.

When you drive out of state, you must conform to the driving laws of that state.  If the production of an insurance card is one of those requirements – and you don’t have an insurance card as proof that you have car insurance – for all intents and purposes, you are an uninsured driver in that state.

Bottom line:  Don’t leave home without your insurance card.

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