Summer in Colorado brings road trips, mountain drives, outdoor activities, and more time behind the wheel. It can also bring severe thunderstorms, hail, heavy traffic, vehicle breakdowns, and unexpected travel-related expenses.
Before your next trip, take a few minutes to review your auto insurance and confirm that your coverage still fits the way you plan to use your vehicle this summer.
1. Review Your Auto Insurance Before Summer Travel
Your driving habits may change during the summer. You may take longer trips, carry more passengers, visit another state, rent a vehicle, or allow a teenager to drive more frequently. Review the following parts of your policy: liability limits, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, Medical Payments Coverage, roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, and listed household drivers.
2. Make Sure You Understand Comprehensive Coverage
Colorado summers can bring hail, strong winds, flooding, falling branches, wildfire-related damage, theft, and vandalism. Comprehensive coverage commonly helps with certain non-collision losses, including hail damage, theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, flood-related vehicle damage, and animal collisions. Coverage is subject to the terms, exclusions, limits, and deductible shown in your policy.
3. Check Your Collision Coverage and Deductible
Collision coverage may help repair or replace your vehicle after a covered crash, regardless of who caused the accident, subject to your deductible and policy terms. Before summer travel, ask yourself: Could I comfortably pay my current deductible? Could I afford to repair or replace my vehicle without insurance? Does my vehicle still have enough value to justify collision coverage? Does my lender or leasing company require this coverage?
4. Prepare for Colorado Hailstorms
Hail is one of Colorado's best-known summer weather risks. Severe storms can develop quickly and cause significant damage to vehicles, windows, roofs, and outdoor property. To reduce your risk:
- Park in a garage or covered area when possible.
- Enable severe-weather alerts on your phone.
- Avoid stopping beneath trees during high winds.
- Photograph your vehicle before and after a damaging storm.
- Report damage promptly and follow your insurer's claim instructions.
- Avoid signing repair agreements with unfamiliar contractors before verifying them.
5. Verify Your Roadside-Assistance Benefits
A breakdown far from home can quickly disrupt a summer trip. Roadside assistance may include towing, battery jump-starts, flat-tire assistance, lockout service, and emergency fuel delivery. Benefits, distance limits, and service restrictions vary by insurer. Review your policy before relying on the coverage during a remote mountain or interstate trip.
6. Prepare Your Vehicle for Hot Weather and Long Trips
Before a long trip, inspect or service your tires and tire pressure, brakes, battery, cooling system, engine oil and other fluids, windshield wipers, exterior lights, and air conditioning. You should also check for open safety recalls before traveling.
7. Understand Coverage for Rental Cars
Do not assume your personal auto policy automatically provides every type of protection offered at the rental counter. Before renting a vehicle, ask whether your liability coverage extends to the rental, whether your collision and comprehensive coverage apply, whether you'll still owe your normal deductible, and whether your policy covers loss-of-use charges.
8. Review Coverage for Teen Drivers
Teenagers may drive more during summer because of work, activities, sports, or additional free time. Make sure all household drivers are properly disclosed to your insurance company. Ask your agent about possible discounts or programs such as good-student discounts, driver-training discounts, telematics or safe-driving programs, and multi-vehicle discounts.
9. Protect Belongings You Carry in the Car
Families often carry laptops, phones, camping equipment, sports gear, bicycles, and other valuables during summer trips. Personal belongings are often covered, if at all, under homeowners insurance or renters insurance rather than the auto policy. Avoid leaving valuables visible, keep receipts and serial numbers, and review special limits for electronics, jewelry, bicycles, or sporting equipment.
10. Carry a Summer Emergency Kit
Colorado weather and road conditions can change quickly, especially in rural or mountain areas. Keep an emergency kit containing water, nonperishable snacks, first-aid supplies, flashlight and spare batteries, portable phone charger, jumper cables, basic tools, reflective warning devices, blanket or extra clothing, paper copy of emergency contacts, and insurance identification.
11. Know What to Do After an Accident
Every driver in your household should understand the basic steps to take after a crash: stop and move to a safe location when possible, check for injuries, call 911 when necessary, exchange contact and insurance information, photograph the vehicles and damage, collect witness information, avoid admitting fault, notify your insurance company promptly, and keep receipts and records related to the loss.
12. Compare More Than the Price
A lower premium does not necessarily mean the policy provides better value. When reviewing insurance options, compare liability limits, deductibles, collision and comprehensive coverage, uninsured and underinsured motorist protection, MedPay, rental reimbursement, roadside assistance, exclusions and restrictions, available discounts, claims support, and total annual cost. Two quotes are only comparable when they provide similar coverage.
Final Thoughts
Summer driving in Colorado can mean memorable road trips, family activities, and more time exploring the state. It can also expose drivers to severe weather, breakdowns, congested roads, theft, and unexpected accidents. Before traveling, review your coverage, confirm that all household drivers are properly listed, prepare your vehicle, and understand what your policy will—and will not—cover.
At ABIM Insurance, we help Colorado drivers compare insurance options and understand their coverage before they need to file a claim. Contact us for a personalized coverage review and help comparing options from multiple insurance carriers.