{"s" : "met","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Press Release Source: MetLife Auto & Home On Wednesday December 8, 2010, 9:06 am WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- With the holiday season upon us, families from coast to coast will be heading out on winter vacations in the coming weeks. In the rush to reunite with loved ones or take a much-needed seasonal getaway, it’s easy to overlook a few details. Two potentially costly issues that many travelers don’t fully address: securing their home during their family’s absence and, if they rented a car for their trip, determining the right amount of additional insurance coverage they need, if any. Fortunately, following a few simple tips in the home and on the road can help ensure a safe and smooth journey for travelers this holiday season.
“When families prepare to go away during the holidays, their focus is usually concentrated on packing suitcases, wrapping up the holiday shopping, and catching flights,” said Mike Convery, chief claim officer with MetLife Auto & Home. “A few minutes of additional preparation can help families avoid headaches that could be easily prevented, from overpaying for rental car insurance to coming home to a house that’s been burglarized.”
Families can set these worries aside by simply checking the following items off their holiday “to-do” list before leaving:
Know What’s Covered When Renting a Car
First off, it’s important to decide whether you actually need to purchase insurance coverage from a rental car company, because it can create a coverage “overlap” if you already have auto insurance (by the way, most drivers do). A rental vehicle used on vacation qualifies as a ‘non-owned automobile’ under most personal auto policies. The savings for a vacationing family? Anywhere from $9-19 per day on average. If your auto policy doesn't provide coverage, most credit card companies provide insurance protection for rental cars, if you charge the rental to the card. Check with your credit card company and/or insurance provider before you get to the rental counter – a five-minute phone call is usually all it takes. Be aware that while standard auto policies usually cover the damage to the rental vehicle, most insurers do not cover other items, such as loss of income, extra fees, or claim-handling expenses that rental companies often incur after a loss. According to MetLife Auto & Home’s recent Insurance Literacy survey, 26 percent of those surveyed believed their insurance company would pay for the rental company’s loss of income while the rented car was out of service. Some insurance companies, however, do provide coverage for these fees.Secure Your Home before Leaving Town
Before you leave on vacation, make certain your house looks “lived- in.” Arrange to have your driveway shoveled or lawn mowed while you are away, stop delivery with your newspaper service, and have a neighbor collect your mail. Don't hide keys in secret places outside your home. Burglars know where to look. Instead, if you are worried about losing the keys during vacation, leave a duplicate key with a neighbor, at your office, or with a relative. Move your computers and stereo systems out of view from windows and doors. Expensive equipment in full view makes your property an open invitation for criminals. Most burglaries occur during daytime hours, so it’s important to make it difficult for burglars to approach the house without being seen. Keep your hedges clipped down around waist level to ensure maximum visibility.For additional tips to help keep your family and your possessions safe during a holiday journey or any extended trip, MetLife Auto & Home offers a free brochure from MetLife’s award-winning Life Advice series called “Travel Safety.” It’s available by calling 1-800-608-0190 or visiting www.metlife.com and selecting “Safety and Security” under the “Life Advice” tab.
MetLife Auto & Home is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - News), a leading provider of insurance and financial services with operations throughout the U.S. and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.
MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates, Warwick, RI.
No comments:
Post a Comment