Is My Trailer Covered While I’m At Home Or Driving
If you purchase trailer insurance, it should be covered for both. However, there are cases when you might not be covered for driving or while at home if you buy a different type of insurance. For example:
- With car insurance, trailers will generally only be covered while they are attached to the insured car. If it’s parked at home and not attached to the car, it might not be fully insured against theft or other damage.
- Boat trailer insurance, when bought with boat insurance policies, might only cover the trailer while it’s parked or during loading and unloading. You are not necessarily covered while driving on the road.
- CTP car insurance only covers trailers while they’re being towed by an insured vehicle.
Some insurers distinguish on-site insurance from travelling insurance, so it might be worth asking about this when you buy a policy. Generally though, a trailer insurance policy will cover you while it’s at home or on the road.
Boat Insurance Basics: What’s Covered
Learn about boat owners insurance and what the coverage means to you.
Did you know that boat insurance is one of the earliest known forms of insurance? Ancient sailors knew firsthand about the risks of a life at sea and sought to insure their boats against hurricanes and other unpredictable weather and waters. And it still applies today.
Boat insurance policies can vary widely in what they do and do not cover based on a number of considerations, including the type of boat, the waters it will traffic, and how many months of the year the boat will be used. Still, there are a few basic kinds of coverage you can expect to receive, as well as some potential discounts for safe boaters.
Does My Car Insurance Cover My Boat’s Trailer
I own a small boat but dont live on a lake. When I want to use my boat, I drive it to the public access. What happens if I get into an accident while Im driving with my trailer? Will my car insurance cover it?
Your car insurance will usually provide liability coverage for your boat trailer or any other trailer you might use. That means that if you cause damage to another person, or vehicle, or to property, your car insurance will pay for that damage.
However, car insurance rarely covers any damage done to your trailer. That means that if it gets damaged or stolen, if you dont have special boat insurance or trailer insurance, youll need to pay to repair or replace it yourself.
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How Much Will Boat Insurance Cost Me
11 Minute Read | September 22, 2021
Boats are a highlight of summer! Theyre flashy, fun . . . and freaking expensive to repair or replace. Thats why its better to pay for boat insurance than to hope youll get by with zero accidents.
Boat insurance protects you financially if your boat is involved in an accident where property gets damaged or someone gets hurt. On average, boat insurance costs $200 to $500 a yearor around 15% of your boats value if you have a big, powerful or expensive boat.
Lets talk about what affects the average boat insurance cost, what it covers and where to get it.
How Much Does Liability Insurance Coverage Cost
Recall that liability coverage is the minimum amount of coverage you can purchase in order to be able to legally drive. Take a look at this table, which is populated with data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners , to see average liability coverage rates across the country.
Average Annual Liability Auto Insurance Rates by State
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As you can see, costs can vary widely by state. Keep in mind these are averages that may not reflect exactly what youll pay, particularly because there are a number of factors that determine your auto insurance rates including age, gender, ZIP code, driving record, credit score, and more.
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What Does Boat Insurance Cover
Boat insurance contains coverage types to help in different situations, much like car insurance:
Property coverage. This protects the boat against theft and damage due to an accident or sinking. This coverage usually applies to the boat whether its on land or water.
You may get a choice of actual cash value or replacement cost coverage in the event your boat is totaled or stolen:
- With actual cash value coverage, if your boat is totaled your insurance claim will reflect the value of the boat at the time of the incident.
- Replacement cost coverage doesnt factor in depreciation. It will reimburse you for the amount of money it would take to repair your boat back to the same condition before the accident or replace it with the same or similar boat model.
Liability coverage. If your boat damages someone elses property, such as another boat, or injures someone during an accident, liability coverage pays their damages. It may also cover problems caused by your watercraft, such as a large wake. Liability insurance also covers your legal fees if youre sued over a problem covered by the policy, such as a boating accident.
Medical payments coverage. If you or your passengers are injured in a boating accident, medical payments coverage pays for your medical bills.
Uninsured watercraft coverage. If an uninsured boater strikes your boat, uninsured watercraft coverage pays your medical bills.
Towing Is Risky Business
If you’re towing any kind of trailer, you also need to be sure to understand how to hook it up properly. “As long as the item became unhitched while your vehicle was in motion, your car insurance should extend to the accident in caused,” says Gusner, but she recommends talking to your insurance agent to make sure your general liability coverage extends to your trailer.
Each year, motorists are killed when trailers come lose and go hurtling down the road.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 400 people were killed in traffic accidents involving a passenger vehicle towing a trailer in 2012. The number includes both people killed when trailers came unattached, as well as other accidents involving trailers.
Between 2002 and 2012, more than 4,500 people were killed in wrecks involving trailers, with more than 500 killed in 2005 alone.
Before you hit the road, NHTSA recommends checking the tow rating of your vehicle to see the size, maximum load weight and maximum tongue weight , of the trailer you plan to tow.
You also need to be sure to have the proper hitching and braking systems, along with wiring for lights and turn signals.
You should check the laws in your state and city to see if you need any special permits, licenses or equipment for the trailer you’re towing before you head out on the road. And if you’re traveling to another state, check that state’s requirements as well.
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What Happens If My Trailer Is Robbed
How your contents are covered and valued depends on the type of claim youre filing.
If you dont have a trailer insurance policy and your valuables are stolen out of your trailer, you can make a claim against your home insurance policy.
The belongings will typically be valued based on replacement cost valuation. What does this mean? According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners replacement cost is defined as:
the cost of replacing property without a reduction for depreciation due to normal wear and tear.
This means youll be reimbursed for the total cost of the items that were stolen. However, if you have specialty coverage, youll need to review your policy for limits and valuation methods.
Boat Insurance Policy Basics
What Is Boat Insurance? Why Do I Need It?
Boat and yacht insurance sometimes referred to as marine insurance is designed to help protect you and your boating guests from the potentially high cost of accident-related damages or injuries. It is a contract between you and your insurance company in which you pay a premium to the insurance company in exchange for a set of available coverages you select. If you finance or lease your vessel, your lender may require specific insurance coverages and limits.
Is a Boat Covered Under Homeowners Insurance?
Carrying boat or yacht insurance is a smart decision. Contrary to popular belief, your vessel is not automatically covered under your homeowners policy. If you cause an accident, or get into one with an uninsured vessel, you may be held responsible to cover related expenses, such as repairs, property damage, medical bills and more. Without the proper coverage, your financial well-being could be at risk.
Working with an insurance representative to create a marine insurance policy that helps fit your individual needs and budget can help protect you, your loved ones and your assets in the event there is a boating accident.
What Does Boat Insurance Cover?
Boat insurance coverage options depend on the state where your boat is used, your insurance company and the coverage you choose. Standard boat insurance coverage options typically include:
Who Does Boat Insurance Cover? Who Needs to Be on My Policy?How Do I Buy Boat Insurance?Insure
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Is A Boat Covered Under Homeowners Insurance
Your homeowners policy typically includes some coverage for your watercraft, including their trailers, motors, equipment, parts and accessories. But the coverage for watercraft included on your home insurance policy isn’t meant for all types of boats. And just like a home or vehicle, boats come in all shapes and sizes with different equipment, enhancements and anything else you do to make it uniquely yours. So creating a customized boat insurance policy is key to keeping it protected from unexpected events.
Dont Rely On Your Homeowners Insurance To Keep Your Boat Afloat
Your new 20-foot boat is parked right alongside your house and shes your pride and joy. Unfortunately, you dont have the space to park her in the garage, so behind the house, behind the gate will have to do.
You only bought her a couple of months ago, but youve already taken her out at least two dozen times. You make sure to take the gear out and the motor off every time you come back from fishing.
But last night, it was late and raining sideways, and you were glad that you and the boat had made it out of the water and home safe and sound. Youll clean her up tonight when you get home from work.
You come home and wander outside to wash the salt off the motor. Something feels funny though. You open the latched gate to your backyard, and theres your boat but no motor. No kicker. No rods. No crab pots.
No fish finder. Hmm. Maybe your wife took care of it and put it all in the garage?
But, no! Slowly it dawns on you. Somebody wandered into your backyard and stole your motor and your gear. You cant believe it! Surely its insured, right? But you never got boat insurance.
Now what?
Some boat owners may assume that their boat is covered under their homeowners insurance policy. But in fact, there is only limited coverage for damage to a boat on your homeowners policy. And, generally, the loss must occur at your home.
Damage to your boat that occurs while you are launching the boat or when you are out on the water would not be covered by your homeowners policy.
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Does My Truck Insurance Also Cover My Trailer
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
If you have a storage trailer, a boat trailer, or another kind of trailer you use that is towed behind your vehicle, youll need to make sure that this is insured in addition to purchasing insurance on your vehicle. Many people forget to check if their trailer is covered under their truck insurance, but this can be a pretty expensive mistake if you were to be involved in an accident with your trailer.
Typically, most automobile insurance policies will have a level of liability coverage for your trailer, but only if you own the trailer as well. If there is an accident involving your vehicle while you are towing a trailer, your auto insurance can cover the trailer. However, every auto insurance policy is different you will need to look at the details of your existing auto insurance policy to make sure that your trailer is covered in case of an accident or other damage.
Trailer Insurance
State laws vary when it comes to their regulations on trailers. Each insurance company operates within state and federal guidelines, so policies between insurance companies can differ regarding trailer coverage. You may find that you need to purchase a policy specific to your trailer and whatever you have in or on that trailer. Sometimes, your insurance policy will cover your trailer, but not its contents.
Insurance Requirements for Different Trailers
What Trailers Arent Covered
Coverage For The People On Your Boat
Guys weekend! Youve agreed to take them out fishing in your new boat. Youre excited to show her off, if it wasnt for your buddy Joe. Joe isnt exactly known for his grace. In fact hes a bit of a klutz.
If there is something to spill, he spills it. If theres something to get hurt with, he hurts himself. If theres someone to go overboard, Joe will be it.
Unfortunately, Joe isnt only a klutz hes also a dare-devil. He already mentioned that he borrowed some water-skiing gear, and will bring it along. Hed always wanted to try it out.
You swallow and let it be, hoping that just this once, nobody will get hurt, and nothing will break.
Saturday comes around and the guys are heading out. Sure enough, Joe wants to water-ski, and you dont want to spoil the fun. So you tow him along. But youve never done this before, and need to find your groove as much as Joe needs to find his behind you.
Next thing you know, Joe hollers and goes under. You stop and turn around, and when you and your friends fish him out of the water, hes broken his ankle due to your close encounter with a buoy.
A boat insurance policy will provide liability and medical payment coverage for the people that are aboard your boat, or that you are towing on water-skis, as long as you arent participating in a competition.
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What If I Already Have Boat Insurance
Whether your trailer is covered under your boat policy depends on many factors. Insurance coverage varies by state and by individual policy, so its important to check the fine print on your boat insurance.
Some boat policies extend to the trailer as long as a boat is on the trailer sometimes not. If you want your trailer covered, but its not specifically covered in the policy, youll likely have to pay a little extra to extend your coverage.
What Is Core Coverage
Minimum liability coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and full coverage are all part of core coverage. Since we already discussed liability coverage, well take a moment to define the other forms of core coverage below.
Collision coverage provides protection in the event you are in a collision with another vehicle or object . This video explains the collision coverage basics.
Comprehensive coverage, by contrast, provides protection for other than collision incidents including theft, vandalism, and weather damage. Take a look at this video to learn more.
Full coverage is a combination of liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage.
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Insurance Tips For New Boat Owners
Youre in the market for a boat? Congratulations! There isnt much that beats spending time on the water, with the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, and maybe a good-sized fish on your hook.
A boat is likely one of the more expensive investments in your life, right after your home and/or car.
So, although boat insurance isnt mandatory, its important to get your ducks in a row before you launch.
- Dont rely on your homeowners insurance to keep your boat afloat
- Coverage for your boat while in transit
- Coverage for the people on your boat
- Storing your boat at home or at a marina
- Discounts for your boat insurance
Uninsured Or Underinsured Coverage
Uninsured coverage or Underinsured coverage pays for the damages caused to your boat by other boats that dont have any insurance. Uninsured or Underinsured coverage also pays for bodily injury damages if you or someone on your boat is injured in an accident with an uninsured or has little insurance or hit-and-run boater.
Boating insurance is not mandatory in many states, so many will be operating their boats without insurance . If an uninsured boater hits your boat and if you have uninsured boat insurance, it will cover some of your damage expenses. So, it is good to have uninsured or underinsured coverage for your boat.
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Your Toy Needs Its Own Coverage
Boat insurance doesn’t just apply when your boat is afloat. It also can provide coverage for the trailer you use for towing it, says Lynne McChristian, Florida representative for the Insurance Information Institute.
“This is important protection to have because either the trailer or what you tow it with could have a breakdown,” McChristian says.
She recommends talking to your insurance agent to find out exactly what your existing insurance covers – and what it doesn’t. For example, your homeowners insurance policy will typically provide some coverage for boats, trailers and equipment such as motors, but the payout is limited to $1,500.
A boat insurance policy from Progressive, for example, includes such options as roadside assistance so that both your trailer and your vehicle are covered if you have a breakdown, run out of fuel, get a flat, or get stuck in the sand. There is coverage for on-water tows. There is even uninsured boater coverage.
Audrey Sylvan, head of product management of the Eastern Zone for Farmers Insurance, says anyone towing a trailer should review their policy “to ensure they understand what types of coverages they have, before rolling out onto the highway.”
If you’re towing a travel trailer to your favorite local campground or take it on a long haul across the country, she recommends you get extra coverage, just as you would for a boat.
