How to Insure Your Summer or Seasonal Vehicles

When the weather is starting to shape up, it’s time to pull the ol’ trusty dirtbike out of storage and hit up the trails. Or, perhaps, your family are more of ATV lovers, and would rather bring out the four-wheelers and check out the recently groomed forest paths. Whatever the case, summer’s coming, and it’s time to experience the great outdoors like they’ve never been experienced before.

Summer or seasonal vehicles are great, but they pose a lot of risks. ATVs have an especially poor track record for causing injury and fatality among Canadians.

ATV accidents averaged 100 deaths in Canada from 2013 to 2019. Additionally, 9% of these fatalities involved the usage of a UTV. This post isn’t being made to scare you out of using recreational vehicles – no, far from. We want to do our part in mitigating overall accidents and fatalities involving recreational vehicles, like ATVs. In this article, we’ll offer some tips on how to insure your summer or seasonal vehicles sufficiently, in addition to some safe riding advice and how to keep yourself and your fellow riders safe on the trails this year.

Is it required to purchase insurance for a seasonal or summer vehicle?

While it depends on the vehicle being insured, seasonal or summer vehicles like ATVs, dirtbikes, and UVs that are not taken off public property and used primarily on private property do not require insurance. The same applies to travel trailers or tow-behind trailers that aren’t self propelled. Motorcycles, motorhomes, public-use ATVs, UVs, quads, etc., will need to be insured per Ontario’s Automobile Insurance Act. This means that they will require a certain level of liability coverage.

Recreational vehicle insurance in Ontario is still greatly recommended, even for vehicles that it is not required for. Summer and seasonal vehicles have the potential to cause injury and are significant items of value for any family, so it only makes sense that you would invest in their protection.

How do I insure a(n)…?

ATV

An ATV does not necessarily have to be insured if kept on private land, but we still recommend acquiring some level of liability and property damage coverage to protect your asset. An ATV may be insured with liability coverage, including bodily injury and property damage liability, accident benefits, collision and comprehensive, etc. – not unlike a personal vehicle.

Not all ATVs may need a standalone policy. Some can be insured under an existing auto or home policy. You may wish to inquire with your broker about specialized coverage for winter storage for your ATVs, to ensure your policy is satisfactory for protecting your ATVs, even when not in use during the colder months of the year.

Motorcycle

Motorcycle insurance in Ontario is required, much in the way that car insurance is required to operate a vehicle in the province of Ontario. Purchasing a motorcycle means you’ll need to acquire insurance even before you drive your motorcycle out of the dealership! As with a personal vehicle, you’ll need to acquire liability insurance, including the provincial requirement for bodily injury and property damage liability, accident benefits, and so on. Collision and comprehensive are optional, unless you are leasing your motorcycle, in which case you may need to purchase it regardless.

Motorcycles may also need special coverage for any modifications you have installed or if you store them in specific areas during the winter time. Your insurance rates may be more if you store your motorcycle in a public area, such as streetside, rather than in a garage or private, security monitored storage locker.

Boat/Watercraft

How to insure a boat is a question easiest answered when you first know whether your boat needs to be insured standalone or if it can be insured under you existing home insurance policy. If your boat is a kayak, a canoe, or other boat that isn’t self-propelled or has very minimal horsepower, you may be best off insuring it under your home policy.

But if you have a motorboat or a speedboat, or generally anything worth more than $5,000, you may want to insure it standalone. If you dock your boat at a marina or are leasing it, you may need to purchase insurance. We always recommend purchasing liability insurance for your boat to protect yourself against any potentially costly legal claims. Boats may need specific coverage to include any add-ons, like awnings, motors, and equipment. You may also need specific coverage during the winter time while you are storing your boat.

Insuring summer vehicles or seasonal vehicles in a nutshell

Insuring summer vehicles or seasonal vehicles is not unlike insuring your personal day-to-day vehicle, apart from winter storage. Ask your broker for advice on how to ensure your seasonal or summer vehicles are adequately protecting during the wintertime!

Even if summer/seasonal vehicle insurance is not a requirement, we highly recommend its purchase. It is a small price for huge protection.

Safe Riding with Excalibur Insurance: Our Summer Vehicle Driving Tips

Any vehicle has the potential to be dangerous. This goes for dirtbikes, ATVs, quads, motorhomes, motorcycles, motorboats, and so on. It even goes for your day-to-day car. Vehicles are big, they’re self-propelled, and they’ve caused scores of injuries and fatalities in Canada in history. While many of us enjoy the freedom they offer, we can never overlook the responsibility that comes with driving or riding a summer/seasonal vehicle.

Even worse, data suggests that children under the age of 16 account for nearly one quarter of ATV-related deaths in Canada. ATVs and UVs, as well as dirtbikes, mopeds, etc., are technically intended to be driven by anyone 16 years and older, but often younger individuals will ride summer vehicles while on private property, since the law may only apply to “public” riding. Information is key, and we highly advise keeping your children informed on the latest safety tips.

Here are some of ours:

• Never drive or ride under the influence under any circumstances.
• Avoid having underage drivers ride or use summer vehicles. At the very least, young drivers should always be accompanied by an adult.
• Avoid driving in the dusk or dawn when it is dark out and obstacles are hard to see.
• Always let someone know when you’re planning to take your vehicle out for a spin and give them an estimated time of when you will be back.
• Always use appropriate driving or riding gear, like pants, gloves, and a helmet.
• For boats, ensure that your boat is packed with lifejackets, paddles, whistles, flares, and throwable flotation devices.
• If possible, pack a first-aid kit and bring it with you when you go.
• Make sure trails are groomed and trimmed of debris and obstacles.
• Consider riding with a buddy.

Although many of these tips were particular to ATVs, dirtbikes, quads, boats, and motorcycles, you can check out our very own RV safety guide for tips specific to protecting you and your family while out on a summer vacation in your recreational vehicle.

As always, Excalibur is happy to answer any questions about your insurance for your summer or seasonal vehicles. Give us a call today.