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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
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Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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You should double-check everything when planning an awesome adventure, including your car insurance policy. Knowing you have the right coverage for whatever comes your way helps you sit back and enjoy the trip, even if things don’t go as planned.
Road trip insurance typically combines various types of insurance from multiple sources. Before you hit the road, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about getting the best insurance coverage for your trip.
Road trip insurance isn’t a single product — it’s usually a combination of auto, travel, and other coverages that protect you and your plans.
Review your car insurance coverage for potential gaps before you travel, especially for policy exclusions and roadside assistance.
Travel insurance policies can reimburse you when you need to cancel plans due to weather, illness, or emergencies.
Road trip insurance isn’t a single insurance policy or product. It’s a combination of your car insurance policy and additional coverages, like travel insurance. Together, these policies provide a larger safety net than your auto insurance alone.
Your auto policy covers you with liability insurance, collision, and comprehensive coverage for accidents and non-accident-related damages. You may also want roadside assistance in case of a breakdown or lockout, or if you run out of fuel. Rental car coverage is also helpful if your car ends up in the shop.
Travel insurance fills the gaps left by your car insurance policy. This protects your prepaid expenses, like hotel bookings and tours, if you need to cancel or change your travel plans. Some policies also include emergency medical coverage.
For drivers who want extra financial security, an umbrella insurance policy provides an additional layer of protection. Umbrella insurance boosts your liability coverage when hauling expensive gear or traveling across states with different liability laws.
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When you buy car insurance in one state, you can depend on coverage no matter where you go in the U.S. Many policies also extend into Canada, but the exact rules depend on the insurer and your policy. Most policies include permissive use so friends and family members can drive your car.
If you’ve added comprehensive and collision coverage to your policy, those also travel with you. Comprehensive and collision insurance protect your car in the event of an at-fault accident or severe weather.
Other policy types that cover you no matter where you are include rental reimbursement and uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Rental car coverage is helpful when your car is in the shop due to a covered incident.
UM/UIM coverage applies if someone without enough insurance damages your car. That’s especially helpful since 15% of drivers don’t have insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.[1]
If you’re unsure about your coverage, check your policy’s declarations page or talk to your insurance agent.
Every car insurance policy has limits and exclusions, so you should check what yours doesn’t cover. Here are a few common exclusions — and what you can do to cover the gap:
Mechanical breakdowns: Standard auto insurance doesn’t cover repairs for engine failure, worn-out brakes, or a broken transmission. Consider adding mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) or an extended warranty to protect against these issues.
Personal belongings: Car insurance typically doesn’t cover items stolen from your car, like luggage, electronics, and camping gear. Homeowners, condo, and renters insurance often covers personal belongings.
Medical costs: Bodily injury liability covers other people injured in an accident you cause. You need personal health insurance for your own medical bills. But personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage (MedPay) offer additional coverage for you and your passengers.
Location limitations: Policies usually cover you in the U.S. and Canada, but not in Mexico, Europe, or elsewhere. Always check the geographic limits of your policy and consider adding additional or temporary coverage if you plan to travel outside those boundaries.
When people think of travel insurance, they usually think of getting it for a flight, cruise, or resort stay. But it can be a smart add-on to a road trip, especially if you booked lodging, excursions, or other prepaid, non-refundable plans.
You should consider a few important factors when deciding if it’s a good idea to add to your policy, including:
Prepaid and non-refundable costs: If you bought tickets or booked lodging with limited refund options, travel insurance can reimburse you if you have to cancel due to illness, injury, or severe weather.
Long or multi-state trips: The more complicated the journey, the greater the chances that something will go wrong. Travel insurance can help you get back on track when plans have to change.
Out-of-network medical costs: Some health insurance policies include limits or additional fees when you need care outside of your home state. Many travel policies include emergency medical and evacuation coverage.
High-value gear: Travel insurance can cover lost, stolen, and damaged personal belongings that your other policies may exclude, like cameras, laptops, or sports equipment.
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Before you head out on the highway, it’s worth reviewing your current coverage for potential gaps. Here are a few simple steps to help you prepare:
Review your auto policy. Confirm your car insurance policy’s coverage options and limits. Make note of any territorial boundaries to ensure your policy will cover you at every point of the trip.
Evaluate limits. If you have low coverage limits, you could pay out of pocket if you cause an accident. Consider raising your coverage limits to keep yourself fully protected.
Add roadside assistance. Roadside assistance covers things like towing, lockouts, and flat tires that can derail your trip.
Consider additional coverage. Consider adding rental car reimbursement, MBI, and other coverages to your policy for extra protection.
Confirm coverage for additional drivers. If you plan to have other people drive your car during the trip, make sure your policy covers them.
Decide if you need a travel policy. Travel insurance makes the most sense if you’ve prepaid for experiences and stays or if you travel with high-value equipment.
Protection for your road trip usually doesn’t cost much, making it worthwhile even for lower-cost trips. Because road trip insurance is a combination of several policies, let’s break down the different parts and how much they typically cost:
Travel insurance: A travel insurance policy typically costs between 4% and 10% of a trip’s total price, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.[2] So a policy for a $2,000 trip would cost between $80 and $200.
Roadside assistance: This optional coverage typically costs only a few dollars per month. For example, AAA’s basic plan costs around $5 per month.
Optional coverages: MBI, UM/UIM, and rental reimbursement also usually add just a few dollars to your monthly premium. Get a quote from your insurer to check the exact costs.
You can also look into overlapping coverages. Many credit cards, for example, offer travel insurance benefits. Review your credit card agreement to learn more — and be sure to use that card for everything on your trip.
If you want to buy additional car insurance for your trip, full-coverage policies include more protection for your vehicle. The table below shows average full-coverage costs for top insurers, according to Compare.com data.
Insurance Company  | Average Monthly Quote: Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| COUNTRY Financial | $76 |
| Auto-Owners | $79 |
| NJM | $94 |
| USAA | $98 |
| State Farm | $107 |
| Mile Auto | $112 |
| Erie | $122 |
| Safeco | $138 |
| Allstate | $139 |
| GEICO | $140 |
| American Family | $148 |
| Root | $149 |
| Direct Auto | $159 |
| Mercury | $160 |
| Metromile | $162 |
| Anchor | $165 |
| Elephant | $165 |
| Progressive | $170 |
| National General | $173 |
| The General | $173 |
| CSAA | $175 |
| Nationwide | $179 |
| Travelers | $185 |
| Clearcover | $190 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $198 |
| Bristol West | $203 |
| Liberty Mutual | $209 |
| Farmers | $210 |
| Chubb | $214 |
| GAINSCO | $215 |
| Shelter | $230 |
| Dairyland | $232 |
| 21st Century | $234 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $243 |
| The Hartford | $244 |
| State Auto | $258 |
| Amica | $435 |
No matter what kind of road trip you’re taking, you’ll want to bring a few important documents, including:
Proof of insurance: Nearly every state requires car insurance coverage, so bring proof of coverage with you — ideally, a hard copy.
Vehicle registration and license: Double-check that your registration and license are current and won’t expire while you’re on your trip. If so, renew them before you leave.
Travel insurance paperwork: If you buy a travel policy, bring the paperwork with you for reference and add the customer or claims service number to your phone.
Accident documentation equipment: Before you leave, review the claims processes for your auto and travel insurance. Make sure to bring a smartphone or digital camera to help document a claim if you need to file one.
Emergency contacts: It’s always a good idea to have emergency contacts stored in your phone and a backup hard copy in your glove box.
Every road trip is unique, and finding the right policy mix depends on where you’re headed and what you plan to do. Here are a few common types of road trips, along with example coverage tailored to each:
Visiting a national park: Driving on rugged terrain can test your car’s limits. Make sure you have roadside assistance in case you have car trouble far from town. You may want to increase your policy limits for personal belongings to cover your camping and other outdoor gear.
Road-tripping with friends: If you’re traveling with a group and plan to take turns driving, double-check if your auto coverage includes permissive use. If you’re not sure, talk to your insurance company about coverage.
Hotel and resort hopping: When you book one or multiple stays, they often come with restrictions on cancellations. Travel insurance can help cover those costs if you can’t make it due to things like illness or severe weather.
Driving across borders: Check your policy’s terms and limits if you plan to drive in Canada or Mexico. You may need to add temporary foreign auto insurance.
Traveling with a rental car: Your current car insurance policy should extend to your rental. If you book your rental with a credit card, check if your card includes rental car coverage.
Get coverage for as little as $42 per month.
If you still have questions about protection for your trip, we’re here to help. Below, check out the answers to some common questions about road trip insurance. Here’s what to know about travel insurance for your next adventure.
It depends. If you purchased non-refundable experiences and lodging, it’s usually a good idea to add travel insurance to your trip. It can help cover costs if you need to cancel because of an illness or severe weather.
Yes. Many credit cards offer travel insurance as long as you use the card to book the travel. Check your agreement or talk to a customer service representative to verify if you have coverage.
Travel insurance has a few disadvantages. It’s an additional cost to your trip and may not cover every situation — like pre-existing conditions or high-risk activities. You should carefully read your policy for any exclusions and avoid overlapping coverage with your other insurance.
It depends. Many U.S. car insurance policies will travel with you to Canada, but coverage for Mexico is less common. Review your insurance policy or speak with an agent to check for any coverage limitations.
Not typically. Your auto policy usually covers rental cars for short-term use. Your credit card may also offer rental coverage. But some drivers opt for the rental company’s collision damage waiver for added financial protection and easier claims.
Your car insurance travels with you when you cross state lines. Your policy’s minimum coverage limits depend on the state you’re in, not where you bought insurance. If you travel to a state that requires less coverage than your policy has, you’ll keep your higher coverage.
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J.J. Starr is an insurance and personal finance expert who has been writing for Compare.com since 2022. Her work has been published across the web, appearing on sites such as Insurify.
Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J. was a registered banker and life insurance consultant, holding a Series 6, FINRA, and life insurance license. She also earned a master’s degree in writing from New York University.
J.J. has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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