Snowmobile Insurance

by Ryan Ruffcorn

So, I know you’re wondering if you have to insure your snowmobile. It’s not a car, right? You’re probably thinking; “It’s like having a bike, and I don’t have to insure my bike”. Many of us have those same thoughts; however, the truth is, your snowmobile needs insurance. In many states, it’s a requirement.

According to The American Council of Snowmobile Associations, all states have rules and laws regarding snowmobiling. There are 23 states that require insurance for operation of a snowmobile. Some states such as Vermont; require snowmobiles to be registered and carry liability insurance. For the rules and laws in your specific state, you can use the link above; however, I recommend contacting an insurance agent as an extra precaution.

So, what is snowmobile insurance?

It is very similar to automobile insurance. Snowmobile insurance provides collision, comprehensive, and liability protection. This includes property damage and bodily injury. Snowmobile policies also offer uninsured/underinsured, medical payments, and OEM endorsement (original equipment manufacturer).

Is it worth purchasing snowmobile insurance?

I would say yes, no matter what. In a state like Vermont, which require insurance, you don’t have an option. To justify my all around “yes”, please review the statistic below provided by National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health:

There are 1.2 million snowmobiles registered in the United States.
Snowmobiles weigh 600 pounds or more and can travel up to 90 miles per hour or more.
Each year, snowmobile related accidents produce an average of 200 deaths.
There are 14,000 snowmobile related injuries reported each year.
Speed, alcohol, driver inexperience, and poor judgement are the leading cause of these accidents.
Sounds like operating an automobile doesn’t it?

Why isn’t my snowmobile covered under my homeowner’s insurance policy?

In general, most homeowner’s policies exclude snowmobile coverage. Why? Because homeowner’s insurance only covers “vehicles” that do not need to be registered by the state. This is the difference between not needing a policy for your children to ride their bikes and needing a policy specifically for your snowmobile.

How much will a snowmobile policy cost me?

The good news here is that you may only need one policy for 1 or more of your snowmobiles. Some policies allow you to insure multiple snowmobiles on one policy. This includes insuring multiple operators. This can lead to discounts. On average, policy owners pay about $10 a month for coverage.

Do I have to keep y snowmobile insured during the off-season? It’s definitely a good idea to do so. Depending on the policy you purchased, your snowmobile insurance will cover things like; fire, vandalism, and theft. These things can happen all year long. It is a good idea to insure your snowmobile even during the off-season.

It is important to protect your investment. It is equally important to protect your financial well-being. Having peace of mind is priceless. Accidents do happen. You don’t want to suffer a financial loss in the event that you are deemed to be at fault for a snowmobile accident.