Other Forms of Auto 'Insurance'

If you don’t belong to an auto club, I can only wonder why. There are several now but the granddaddy of them all is Triple A—the American Automobile Association. Some manufacturers have their own version—Volvo comes to mind. You may think upwards of $50 a year a little steep for membership but it pays for itself the very first time you need roadside assistance. Some clubs offer up to a hundred-mile tow after a year or so of membership in good standing. With Triple A you get free guidebooks, maps, trip itineraries (they know the road conditions and closures, too—better than just driving instructions) and the larger offices have travel stores with good-quality items. Services vary from club to club, but membership can be of great benefit. Just the peace of mind alone is worth it. There are memberships for RVs, too. Some car clubs also sell car insurance but you need to investigate any insurance provider thoroughly to make sure it’s the right company/policy for you.

Driver training
Another really good form of auto ‘insurance’ is to make yourself the best driver you can be. If you never had a driver training class, you might want to think about it no matter how long you’ve been driving. Don’t be one of those bozos who drives with his lunch in his lap, or puts on her mascara while driving, or who talks on the phone while driving. Train your kids to ride in a car as if it was a large piece of machinery negotiating traffic at high speeds, and not a piece of playground equipment or a battleground.

Learn defensive driving
Make it a habit to check your mirrors frequently and never, never, make a lane change without checking your blind spot. Yes, you have to turn your head to do it. Get a good gut-feel for safe following distances. With practice, it should become automatic. And pay attention to what’s happening up ahead as well as all around you. If you stay aware, you’re far less likely to have to perform an evasive maneuver. It’s those panic reactions that are so dangerous.

Auto Maintenance
And the last type of ‘insurance’ is to keep your car well-maintained. Anyone can learn how to check oil and transmission fluid levels and to use a tire gauge. Keep your maintenance record in the glove compartment along with receipts. If you keep good records it will be easier to sell the car later on, and you’re likely to get a better price, especially if you keep it looking nice, too.

Motorhomes & ‘mobile homes’
Follow the same procedure when researching for your motorhome insurance as you did for auto insurance. But for mobile homes, check with your state’s DMV to see if you need to register and insure it as a vehicle. Remember to get riders (extra coverage for items not covered in a standard policy) for the events that could happen—flooding, earthquake, etc.

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