Off-road Recreational Vehicle Insurance Get A Quote Now

There are a variety of vehicles used for off-road recreation. The following list represents the major types of off-road vehicles:
All Terrain Vehicles (ATV)
Dune Buggies
Go-Karts
Golf Carts
Mini-bikes
Trail Bikes
Mopeds
Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Snowmobiles
Towable Sleds or Trailers

Because these vehicles are used off road, they do not have the same registration requirements as those vehicles driven on public roads.  However, they are still motor vehicles, and some are very powerful, high performance machines.  With that comes a certain risk for loss exposure arising out of possible liability to others, injury to the vehicle operator and physical damage… all similar to the exposures of vehicles driven on public roadways.  A person is exposed by reason of the ownership, maintenance, operation, or use of the recreational vehicle.  So, if you own such a vehicle, yours and your family’s physical and financial security should be a prime concern.

Liability
The negligent operation of a vehicle can give rise to liability by the operator, as well as by the owner, when the owner is responsible for the operator’s conduct, i.e., a parent is generally held accountable for the negligent acts of family members depending on the age of the person and the jurisdiction.

The owner may be held liable if maintenance is omitted on a vehicle or negligently performed and the vehicle causes injury to the operator or to others because of unsafe equipment.

Often, off-roads are left unattended and do not have the theft prevention devices of autos.  If someone steals the vehicle, the owner may be held accountable if injury results from the reckless operation of the stolen vehicle.

Negligent entrustment is especially important.  The owner of an off-road may be held liable when the owner entrusts the vehicle to an unskilled or incompetent operator.  Generally, if injury results, liability is imposed only if there is previous knowledge of the entrusted operator’s incompetence.

Physical Damage
Off-roads are exposed to a wide variety of physical damage loss exposures.  A direct loss is one where the vehicle and its equipment are destroyed, damaged or lost because of some peril.  Direct loss can come about as a result of wind, storms and other common elements of nature, theft, vandalism, an accident, or wear and tear, but the most common cause is collision.

Insurance
Trailers generally are covered for liability by the insurance on the auto that tows them.  And, comprehensive and collision coverage for owned trailers is provided if the trailer is specifically listed and described on the auto policy.

Golf carts are covered for liability exposures under most homeowner policies.

However, all other off-roads and personal watercraft have minimum mandatory coverage limits.

Minimum New York State Mandatory Coverage Limits for
Snowmobile and Personal Watercraft
Bodily Injury Liability Limits
$10,000 per person
$20,000 per accident

Property Damage Liability Limits 
$5,000

Uninsured Motorist
$10,000 per person
$20,000 per accident

Minimum New York State Mandatory Coverage Limits for All Other Off-Road Vehicles (excludes Snowmobile and Personal Watercraft)
Bodily Injury Liability Limits
$25,000 per person
$50,000 per accident

Property Damage Liability Limits
$10,000

Uninsured Motorist
$25,000 per person
$50,000 per accident

Basic Economic Loss   $50,000

Optional Coverage for Physical Damage
Comprehensive
Collision
Parts, decorations, custom painting or items not originally provided by the manufacturer as
standard equipment
Helmet safety apparel

For more information on DMV requirements go to: www.nydmv.state.ny.us/broch/c29.htm.