It’s once again the annual season for Qingming tomb-sweeping. Due to the frequent spring rains, extra precautions should be taken during this period of travel.
Long-distance buses, trains, and self-driving are common modes of transportation, making it essential to choose appropriate insurance products based on the type of transport used.
Long-distance travel requires multiple layers of protection
Those choosing long-distance bus travel can decide whether or not to purchase insurance when buying their ticket. According to staff at Shanghai South Long-Distance Bus Station, an insurance policy attached to the bus ticket now costs 3 yuan. When purchasing a ticket using a second-generation ID card, the insurance information can be directly registered. The coverage includes accidental death compensation of 80,000 yuan and accidental medical compensation of 20,000 yuan.
The coverage obtained through purchasing a train ticket is different. According to customer service representatives from Shanghai Railway 12306, the ticket price already includes an insurance premium of 2%. The related compensation amounts can be referred to in the "Railway Passenger Accident Mandatory Insurance Regulations." Upon reviewing the regulation, it was found that the insurance amount for passengers is uniformly set at 1,500 yuan per person, regardless of seat class, full fare, half fare, or free ticket. The insurance covers medical allowances for accidental injuries, as well as compensation for death, disability, or loss of bodily function, but the total of multiple claims cannot exceed 1,500 yuan per person.
It can be said that although the above two types of coverage offer some level of protection for the insured, their protective capacity is ultimately limited. To obtain higher coverage, travelers must purchase commercial insurance.
Currently, many insurance companies offer traffic accident insurance, and the insurance period can be flexibly adjusted according to the needs of the policyholder. For example, on the official website of one insurance company, insuring a 500,000-yuan train accident insurance policy for three days alone costs 1.82 yuan, while a 500,000-yuan long-distance bus accident insurance policy for three days alone costs 6.05 yuan. A 500,000-yuan city bus or trolley accident insurance policy for three days alone costs 4.84 yuan, and a 500,000-yuan taxi accident insurance policy for three days alone costs 3.03 yuan. If any two of the above four insurance policies are purchased together, a 25% discount applies, and if three are purchased, a 50% discount applies. Since the insurance period for Qingming travel is relatively short, the actual cost to the policyholder is not high.
Self-driving travelers: both drivers and vehicles need coverage
Self-driving requires even more attention to insurance protection, as many vehicle owners do not include coverage for passengers when insuring their cars. This is not conducive to risk transfer, whereas specialized self-driving tour insurance can fill this gap.
A reporter conducted a test calculation on the official website of an insurance company. For the same three-day period, the premium for a 500,000-yuan car accident insurance policy as a passenger is 7.87 yuan, while as a driver, the premium for the same coverage is 13.92 yuan. Purchasing both together qualifies for a 25% discount, totaling 16.34 yuan. Although the premium rate is significantly higher than for public transport insurance, the absolute premium amount is not particularly high.
In addition to purchasing personal injury insurance, it is also necessary for self-driving vehicle owners to conduct a thorough inspection of their vehicles. During the rainy Qingming season, road conditions are often poor. When traveling to remote mountainous areas, running out of fuel, having a dead battery, or experiencing a flat tire can be very troublesome. Insurance specialists recommend checking not only the fuel level and spare tire but also the condition of engine oil and antifreeze levels.
Fortunately, nowadays, some insurance companies have introduced free rescue services in addition to their basic car insurance coverage, bringing good news to many car owners. For example, Ping An Car Insurance provides services such as jump-starting, tire replacement, emergency fuel delivery, emergency tax payment, on-site repairs, towing, and hoisting rescue for customers with online or telephone-purchased car insurance. Even if you are in a remote area, rescue personnel will arrive as soon as possible, and these services can be used an unlimited number of times per year. It is recommended that you contact your car insurance company before traveling to understand what rescue services are available and to remember their customer service number.
Self-driving travel car insurance tips
The trouble with accidents occurring in other regions mainly focuses on liability determination and damage assessment. If not handled properly, it could lead to additional losses for the car owner. If car owners are unfamiliar with the relevant claims clauses, they should call the service hotline immediately no matter where the accident occurs to get professional guidance on handling the incident and avoid extra losses.