Sky Protection Services Long-Distance Road Trip Checklist

More Travel Means More Demands on Your Car

The National Football League (NFL) season has has kicked off across America, and for a lot of fans that means road trips to games, watch parties, airports, and everywhere in between. It's the kind of travel that's easy to get excited about and easy to underprepare for.

More time on the road means more miles, more heat, and more wear on a vehicle that may already have some age on it. A breakdown is frustrating on a normal Tuesday. It's a lot worse when you're two hours from a game that's been on your calendar for months.

Run Through the Basics Before You Leave

Before any long drive, go through the fundamentals:

• Tire pressure and tread

• Brakes and brake lights

• Battery condition

• Fluid levels — coolant especially if you're driving in summer heat

• Any warning lights that you have been ignoring

• When the last service was done and whether anything is overdue

These checks take an hour at most and can catch small issues before they become roadside emergencies.

Check Your Coverage Before a Long Trip

If you haven't looked at your warranty status recently, upcoming travel is a good reason to check. Is the manufacturer's coverage still active? If it's expired or close to it, that's better to know now than on the way to a host city. If your warranty has lapsed, a vehicle service contract through Sky Protection can help cover certain mechanical and electrical repairs depending on the plan you choose. These aren't insurance policies and they're not manufacturer warranties — they're a separate layer of coverage with different types of benefits.

What's covered depends on your specific contract and any exclusions that apply, so it's worth reviewing those details before a trip rather than after. To go through plan options with a representative, call (800) 475-0935, or visit the Sky Protection website to submit your information and receive a quote.

Check the Waiting Period Before You Assume You're Covered

If you're enrolling in a vehicle service plan before your travels, check the waiting period before assuming coverage is active for your trip. Some plans require a set amount of time or mileage before coverage kicks in.

Roadside Assistance: Confirm Before You Go

Make sure to check your plan to see if it includes roadside assistance and towing benefits. Sky Protection offers both, but these benefits are not included in every plan. If you do have these benefits, know how to access them before you leave home — not after you're already on the side of the highway trying to find the right number.

Keep your plan details, contact information, and any relevant documentation somewhere easy to reach in the car. When something goes wrong, it will help you access the information quickly.

A Note for Homeowners Traveling Extended Periods

If you're planning extended travel for football games, it might be worth reviewing any home protection plans you have in place. Sky Protection offers certain coverage options for home systems including HVAC — worth a quick check before you're away for an extended stretch.

The Bottom Line

NFL season should be about the games, the atmosphere, and the people you're watching with — not scrambling to find a repair shop in an unfamiliar city. Review your coverage before your next trip, run through the basics of the car beforehand, and make sure you know exactly what to do if something goes wrong on the road.

A little preparation now is worth a lot more than an unexpected breakdown later.

Ready to look at coverage options? Call (800) 475-0935 to talk with Sky Protection Services in Schaumburg, Illinois, or visit the Sky Protection website to get started.