Are You Ready for Winter Driving in North Idaho? An Auto Insurance Checklist
Snow-covered roads, black ice, freezing rain, limited visibility — winter driving in North Idaho can change quickly.
While preparing your vehicle for winter usually means checking tires, batteries, and windshield wipers, it is also a great time to look at your auto insurance.
Do You Have Collision Coverage?
If you slide on an icy road and hit another vehicle, guardrail, fence, or other object, damage to your own vehicle would generally fall under collision coverage, subject to your policy terms and deductible.
Liability coverage, on the other hand, is designed to help with injuries or property damage you cause to others. It does not pay to repair your own vehicle after an at-fault accident.
If you are unsure whether you carry collision coverage, check your policy before winter arrives.
What About Falling Trees or Storm Damage?
This is where comprehensive coverage may come into play.
Comprehensive coverage generally applies to certain types of damage that are not caused by a collision, such as weather, fire, theft, vandalism, or hitting an animal.
That can be particularly relevant during North Idaho winters when storms, falling branches, wildlife, and other unexpected events are possible.
Check Your Deductibles
Do you know your comprehensive and collision deductibles?
People often choose their deductible when they purchase a policy and then forget about it. Take another look and make sure you would be comfortable paying that amount out of pocket if you had a claim.
Do You Have Roadside Assistance?
A breakdown in July is inconvenient. A breakdown on a freezing January night can be much more serious.
If roadside assistance or towing coverage is available through your policy, review what it provides and understand any limits before you need it.
Build a Winter Emergency Kit
Insurance can help after certain losses, but preparation can help keep a bad situation from becoming worse.
Consider keeping items such as these in your vehicle:
- Warm blankets and extra clothing
- Gloves and a hat
- Flashlight
- Ice scraper
- Jumper cables
- Small shovel
- Water and nonperishable snacks
- Phone charger or portable battery
- Basic first-aid supplies
And before heading out during a storm, check road conditions and give yourself extra time.
Winter Is a Good Time for an Auto Insurance Review
Have you added a vehicle? Changed drivers? Added a teen driver? Paid off a loan? Changed how much you drive?
Those are all reasons to take another look at your auto policy.
Bottom line: winter driving in North Idaho can be unpredictable. Preparing your vehicle is important, but reviewing your collision, comprehensive, liability, deductibles, and roadside coverage can help make sure your insurance is ready for winter too.
