Snowmobile insurance isn’t required in all states where people can ride these vehicles, but it still makes good sense to have this coverage. If you’re in the market for a snowmobile or have just bought one, you may be wondering whether to save a little cash and skip the extra expense of insurance. That could wind up costing you a substantial amount of money in the future, however. Snowmobile insurance is a smart choice for several reasons.
The Importance of Liability Insurance
You probably figure the odds are very slim that you’ll ever cause a snowmobile accident. Nevertheless, if the unexpected event ever does occur, you have a legal responsibility to pay for property damage as well as for medical bills of the persons you injured. That means you’re subject to a lawsuit if you don’t have liability insurance.
Even if you don’t hear about many snowmobile accidents, they are not entirely uncommon. Almost 14,000 occur every year, with more than 200 fatalities.
Collision and Comprehensive Coverage for Snowmobiles
Collision coverage pays for damages to your sled if you ever collide with another vehicle, or hit a building or a utility pole. It also pays replacement value if the vehicle is totaled.
Comprehensive coverage pays for damage resulting from incidents such as vandalism or hitting a deer.
Many people don’t add these types of coverage so they can save money on the premium. However, you can expect to pay at least $6,000 for a new snowmobile as of 2014, and some go for twice that much. If you ever do lose control while driving or if a deer unexpectedly crosses your path, substantial damage can result. Can you afford to pay for the repairs out-of-pocket or replace your vehicle?
Varying Insurance Laws
You may have heard that your state doesn’t require snowmobile insurance, but make sure that’s actually the case.
You may not see snowmobiles mentioned specifically when you peruse your state’s insurance requirements online. However, some states mandate liability coverage for all motor vehicles, including a broad range of equipment, such as motorboats, personal watercraft, and all-terrain vehicles. Others require liability coverage for snowmobiles that the owner plans to ride on public roadways.
What Can You Do Next?
Independent insurance agents can provide you with quotes from several companies. You’ll decide whether to buy liability coverage only, or whether to add collision and comprehensive coverage. If you combine your snowmobile insurance with your car insurance, the umbrella policy will have a lower combined premium than if you buy the two policies from different companies.
Start calling agents for quotes today so you are ready to take your sled out as soon as snow conditions are right!
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