The unpredictable nature of snowmobiling not only makes it fun but also dangerous. No two snowmobiling adventures are ever quite the same, and there is no way to predict the types of challenges you could face on the trails. At Billy Brown Insurance, we can help you find insurance that mitigates your risk and reduces your chance of financial loss if your snowmobile is damaged or you are involved in an accident while operating your sled.
Reasons to Purchase Snowmobile Insurance
The average cost of a new snowmobile is around $10,000-$15,000. When you sink that kind of cash into a physical asset, it makes sense that you might want to protect your investment with comprehensive insurance protection. Without it, you could lose the entire value of your sled in an accident, theft, or some other covered event. In fact, many lenders require insurance to protect your snowmobile if you decide to finance its purchase.
As if protecting your sled were not enough reason to get insurance, there is also the issue of liability. If you lose control of your snowmobile and hit another rider, pedestrian, or someone’s personal property, you could be liable for the damages and injuries, as well as the cost of defending yourself against a potential lawsuit. Without adequate insurance coverage, you might have to pay these costs out of pocket.
Coverage Options for Snowmobile Riders in Wisconsin
Snowmobile insurance policies usually come packaged with several different coverage types. Although you may be able to decline certain coverages, each is designed to protect you in a different way. We typically recommend insurance with a broad range of protection against various types of loss.
Your policy may include coverage for:
Your Liability
One of the risks of owning a snowmobile is the possibility that you could harm someone else or damage their property while riding. Property damage and bodily injury expenses can add up quickly, often to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars – particularly if you are sued for the damages. Snowmobile liability insurance can help cover the cost of victim medical bills, property repair bills, litigation expenses, and more, minimizing your out-of-pocket losses.
Your Snowmobile
If you hit a tree due to poor visibility or accidentally roll your snowmobile off an embankment, the damages could be extensive. If your sled is stolen or involved in a collision with another snowmobile or vehicle, it could be a total loss. Make sure your snowmobile insurance includes physical damages coverage that will compensate you for the cost of repairs or the loss of your sled altogether. It should also protect your snowmobile against non-collision damages, such as theft, vandalism, fire, and more.
Although physical damages claims are generally subject to a deductible, you could still save thousands in repair and replacement expenses by having this important coverage. In some cases, you may even be required to purchase physical damages insurance – particularly if you financed the purchase of your snowmobile and still owe a balance on the loan.
Your Injuries
There are two ways your snowmobile insurance policy may help cover the cost of your personal and passenger medical bills due to a sledding accident. The first is medical payments coverage, which may provide limited compensation for medical expenses, regardless of who is at-fault for the accident. For example, if you have a $2,000 medical payment limit, you might be able to use it to help cover a medical insurance deductible or a visit to the emergency room.
The other type of coverage is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This type of insurance helps compensate you and your passengers for injury-related expenses when you are hurt in an accident caused by someone with no insurance or too little insurance. It can kick in when your uninsured friend slams into the back of your snowmobile while you are stopped on the trail. It can also come in handy if you are the victim of a hit-and-run.
Your Upgraded Equipment
Have you made enhancements to your snowmobile? After-market equipment and upgrades may not be covered by your standard physical damages coverage. Talk to your agent to discuss coverage options that can extend protection to all of your snowmobile’s features – not just its original factory condition.
Snowmobile Insurance Quotes
At Billy Brown Insurance, we know the thrill of sledding through freshly fallen snow. We also understand the challenges of owning and operating a snowmobile. After all, we are locals here – not some national company out of touch with your needs. As an independent agency, we can shop and compare rates on the coverage you need to assure you are getting value for your policy.
We can help you better understand the types of factors that influence your coverage needs and premiums, from where and how often you ride to the type of snowmobile you have and how much you could be liable for in a lawsuit. We can also show you ways to save on the cost of your coverage, whether by raising your physical damages deductibles, completing a snowmobile safety course, or insuring multiple sleds on the same policy.
Don’t pay more for your snowmobile insurance than necessary. Talk to an independent agent at Billy Brown Insurance to find out how we can help you save on the coverage you need. Contact us for your free quote or to find out more about Wisconsin snowmobile insurance. We look forward to serving you soon.
