The General recently hit the airwaves for a nationwide Radio Media Tour to share summer driving tips to get you ready for your next summer road trip. With over 75% of U.S. adults planning a road trip this summer, highways are about to get crowded, and car trouble could be just one wrong turn or preventive check away. But here’s the twist: A surprising 96% of drivers don’t fully understand their insurance coverage. That’s a risky combo. During our recent radio tour, we shared real-world solutions to help drivers stay safe on the road.
To help drivers avoid road trip regrets, Michael Theo, Senior PR Specialist at The General, joined radio interviews across national media outlets and local stations — including cities like New York, Boston, Phoenix, Nashville, and Dallas — to spread the word about how drivers can keep themselves and their families safe and comfortable during the summer road trip season.
Below are some of Michael’s responses shared during one of those live radio interviews, where he offered practical tips and personal insights to help travelers hit the road with confidence.
Key Takeaways for Safe Summer Driving
- Check your oil, brakes, and tires before hitting the road.
- Review your insurance to ensure coverage for road trips or rentals.
- Pack an emergency car kit with essentials like jumper cables and snacks.
- Download The General’s app for quick access to policies and claims.
- Summer = more teens on the road, so be sure to teach teens safe driving habits for summer travel.
Q1: What Should You Do Before a Summer Road Trip?
Great question. You’ll want to make sure to give your car a quick once-over car maintenance for summer check. Also, if you have a local mechanic—or maybe a friend or family member who knows something about cars—have them take a look. They can spot anything that could prevent a potential breakdown. That could include checking oil levels, brakes, tires, and windshield wipers.
I’d suggest giving yourself about a week of wiggle room. That way, you can account for any maintenance that might be required.
Also, I’ll say—if you don’t already have a spare tire, I’d highly recommend getting one and taking some time to learn how to properly change it. I can say from personal experience, I ran into a situation in my mid-twenties when I was on a short road trip with my then-girlfriend (now wife), and I had a flat tire. I didn’t know how to change it, and it was a very humbling experience. Taking the time to understand what to do in situations like that can save you a lot of time and stress.
Q2: What are the most common auto insurance mistakes that ruin road trips?
You know, in my experience, people don’t spend enough time looking at their policies to fully understand their auto insurance. It’s important to know what is and isn’t included. So take that extra time to review it. Also, know how to file a claim quickly—especially if you’re planning a road trip.
I’m going to plug The General’s app real quick here. The app is fantastic because it allows you to review your policy, but also it lets you submit a claim in case you need that during the trip. I’d also check to see if your policy includes things like roadside assistance, towing, or rental coverage. We don’t really think about those until we need them.
The General, for example, partners with Nation Safe Drivers, and they offer roadside assistance in select states. So definitely take a look to see if that’s included.
At the end of the day, we just want to get you back on the road as quickly and safely as possible.
Q3: Are there basic things we should be packing before we take any trip?
I’ll say this—before any trip (and this is going to vary from person to person), it’s really important to pack an emergency kit. That can include things like jumper cables, a flashlight, a first aid kit, water, and—my personal favorite—snacks.
I’m not going on any road trip without a bunch of predetermined snacks.
Also, a lot of people nowadays have gotten out of the habit of bringing a paper map or even a compass—some form of backup navigation. We’re so reliant on our phones, but what happens if you lose signal or your phone dies mid-trip? Having that backup navigation can really help you out in unexpected situations.
Q4: How is The General’s app helping last-minute trip planners?
I might be a little bit biased here, but I think The General’s app is a fantastic tool—whether you’re an existing customer or a new customer.
Existing customers can check their policies and contact support if needed. New customers can get a quote in less than two minutes.
Before you head out on your trip, I’d highly recommend downloading the app and taking advantage of all those awesome resources.
Q5: What should people know about borrowing or renting a car—and how to make sure it’s covered?
I think it’s really important to understand your current insurance situation before you decide to either borrow or rent a car.
If you’re borrowing a car—maybe using a friend’s car—you’re typically going to be covered under their insurance, but there are exceptions to that. So it’s important to know for sure ahead of time.
If you’re planning to rent a car, don’t just assume your policy will cover it. Typically, it will, but you want to confirm that. Make sure to do your due diligence so you can avoid any situation where you’re not covered while you’re out on the road.
Q6: Is there anything else you want to share?
Yes—Summer means more teens will be hitting the road for jobs, sports, or just fun. It’s a great time to sit down with them and make sure they know what to do in case of an emergency.
At the end of the day, The General’s goal is to give people a break when they need it most. We’ve made our tools and support simple and fast—so you can spend less time stressing and more time enjoying your trip.
Ready to Hit the Road?
Whether you’re checking your tires or double-checking your policy, a little planning goes a long way. For more travel tips and tools explore our blog or download The General Insurance app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
