ATVs

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Every state has its  requirements regarding insurance coverage.  And without an insurance  policy, your movement beyond your property is highly restricted by the  state. Although we strive to exercise carefulness while driving or  riding, that doesn’t make us immune to accidents.

The choice on whether you need ATV insurance policy or not depend on your response to the following questions;

• Where do you ride the quad bike, within or outside your property?

Most  homeowner’s policies will only cover for the quad bike when it is  physically present within the property. Beyond that boundary, you need  the specialized ATV cover. So if you plan to use the all-terrain vehicle  outside the home, then you should provide coverage for it.

Moreover  choosing to cover your ATV on the homeowner’s policy increases the  premium. Furthermore, there could be a limit to the number of claims you  can file.

So a separate insurance policy then becomes necessary to cover your quad bike and you at all times.

• Is there a possibility of you getting involved in an accident?

When  driving a motor vehicle, there is always the likelihood of an accident  occurring. Being careful only helps to limit the frequency of accidents.

And  when accidents occur it brings a heavy financial burden. That includes  offsetting hospital bills, repairing damaged or even loss of lives.

Without  ATV cover, you will have to bear the financial burden all alone. Having  a valid insurance policy takes off your shoulder a significant amount  of the responsibility.

• Is there a possibility of you riding on state trails?

When you plan to ride through state-owned terrains, then beware of the  

requirements. To ride an ATV on most sate trails, you must have at least a liability insurance policy.

Such a policy covers you from being sued in case you hit someone or his property.

• Will you at one time transport the ATV from your home to another site?

At  times you might require using the quad bike in a distant location. That  may involve loading the ATV to the truck using a rack, before  transporting it to the required site.

If you plan on doing so, you will need the off-road insurance policy.

Sometimes  your off-road vehicle can get involved in an accident that leads to  bodily harm or death of another person.The coverage, therefore,  shoulders the damages associated with such an accident. The bodily  injury liability also covers the litigation fees arising from such an  incident.

However, there are claim limits to the liability as  stipulated in the ATV insurance policy. To reduce injury and liability  claims associated with the off-road wheeler implement the following  ideas;

• When you aren’t using your quad bike keep it locked in a garage so that any unauthorized persons don’t get access to riding it.
• Every automotive has its operation guideline, and ATVs are no exception. Follow your four-wheeler manual including the maximum load limit

The coverage is comparable to the body damage except that it pays for the cost of ATV damaging someone else property.

For instance, it covers damages like veering off and ramming into a nearby yard.

Comprehensive insurance covers for all the damages on the quad bike excluding those due to a collision with other automotive.

Examples of such damages covered include vandalism, theft, fire earthquake or lightning.

The insurance pays for the significant losses on the ATV as a result of hitting;

• Another quad bike
• A tree trump
• Rock
• A packed vehicle

However  many ATVs are either handled roughly or ridden in a rough environment.  Consequently, the collision coverage doesn’t pay for minor damages like  scratches or non-structural damages.

All that the policyholder has to pay is the predetermined deductible and collision coverage offsets the remaining amount.

At times  someone else’s fault might get you into an accident. In such an instance  it’s expected that the person at fault should pay for the resulting  damages.

What if the guilty party isn’t insured or doesn’t have sufficient insurance cover to meet the cost of the damages?

That’s  where the uninsured/underinsured motorist cover becomes useful; it  shoulders the financial burdens, the at-fault party ought to have borne.

Generally speaking, the cost of the ATV insurance premium is manageable compared to the price of shouldering the risks alone.

However,  when calculating the premium that you have to pay for the ATV cover,  several factors come into the picture including the following;

• Your driving history 

Your  past driving record may help to predict your future behavior and rates  of accidents too. If your driving record shows that you have been  cautious for the last three years, then you are likely to behave so even  in the future.Thus the insurance company will take into account your  driving history when computing the premium you’ll have to pay.

Exercising  control and driving with safety consciousness will reward you with a  manageable insurance premium. On the other hand, if you had multiple  accidents, violations or filed several claims in the past, your  insurance premium is likely to shoot.

• Rider’s age 

Insurance  companies have different guidelines on the premium cost paid by riders  owing to their age. Whereas some insurance providers do not issue cover  for young riders, some provide an insurance policy to youngsters but at a  higher premium.

Similarly, your level of experience also accounts for the cost of the premium you pay.

• The make and model of the ATV you drive

Like  the case for automobiles insurance cost, quad bike’s premium rate also  depends on the model or the engine to be insured.The ATVs model and year  of manufacture directly dictates its value. Thus ATVs with large  engines and high market value attracts high premiums.

On the other hand, the premium you would pay for a used vehicle is much lower than the cost of insuring a brand new one.

• The mileage traveled by the quad bike 

The  frequency with which you ride your four-wheeler also influences the  price of its insurance. When you ride the all-terrain vehicle often,  your chances of encountering an accident is also very high.

For  instance, you might own a quad bike which can ride anywhere and serve  all purpose. The insurance premium for such an ATV is much different for  that occasionally used for example on weekends only

If you are  worried on ways on how you can make significant savings on your ATV  insurance cover, there are tricks on how to push the premium cost down.

Here are ways on how to make savings on the insurance for the quad bike;

• Double your safety efforts

The first step towards increasing your safety effort is taking a rider safety course. Besides, you can also watch a rider safety video to acquire more skills on how to remain safe while riding.

Following  such a move, most insurance companies will then offer you a discount on  the amount of premium you pay on the ATV. Furthermore, the skills  acquired from such training will mold you into a safe rider, thus  reducing the frequency of accidents. 

In the end, with accidents reduced your expenses towards the quad bike go down also.

• Shop around and compare policies 

Some  insurance providers invest heavily in advertisements and thus become  more vocal than others. However, it doesn’t automatically follow that  they are the best. So, before settling on a company to provide your ATV  insurance needs, shop around for different insurers.

Notice the  rates, deductibles, and coverage options. Go ahead and get quotes on the  same. In most cases asking for a quote from insurance companies is free  and doesn’t take long. Specifically, take note of what the policy  provides and what costs extra too. After sampling quotes, make up your  mind on the best ATV insurance provider.

• File claims for significant damages only 

You buy insurance policy so that you can make claims in case of losses. But do you know that filing too many complaints will see your premium goes up?

The best advice, therefore, is to forget minor damages and file claims on significant cases only.

• Strive to have a clean driving record 

To the insurance company, your driving record is a good way of gauging your safety consciousness.

Ride your four-wheeler on legal grounds only and reduce the violations on your driving record.

• Be a member of an association 

Most insurance providers will offer you a discount on the premium you pay when you can prove you belong to an association.

Therefore it’s wise to join any reputable motorcycle, automotive association or even a credit union in your locality.