Boats, motorcycles and RVs all can provide carefree summertime fun, but it’s important that they’re properly protected with insurance coverage.
Virginia Farm Bureau can provide coverage for a variety of recreational vehicles and offer policyholders peace of mind.
Boat insurance
With a properly endorsed boat insurance policy, also known as a navigator policy, boats are covered in and out of the water.
Boat owners can purchase coverage for personal-use watercraft such as fishing boats, motor boats, pontoon boats, and Jet Skis, as well as coverage for trailers and other equipment needed to tow them.
A standard policy will cover property damage to a boat, its motor, and other valuable on-board accessories, such as communication devices and radar instruments. The policy also provides liability coverage to help pay for injuries sustained by passengers in the event of an accident as well as damage done to other boats.
Additional coverage that can be purchased includes towing and emergency services and personal property and uninsured boater protection.
For policyholders who intend to share ownership of a boat or any vehicle with family or friends, it’s important that each person on the title be listed as an insured and each operator listed as a driver on the policy. Otherwise, losses incurred by owners not listed on the policy may not be covered.
Motorcycle insurance
Motorcycle coverage is similar to what’s offered through standard auto insurance policies, and bikes can be protected under a pre-existing policy or on a separate one.
Motorcyclists can opt for the same coverages available to passenger vehicles—liability, collision and comprehensive coverage—which offers protection against damage caused by other vehicles, thieves, vandals, and weather. Additional protection against uninsured motorists, medical expenses and income loss due to an accident also may be purchased.
Lisa Whitus, personal and commercial lines underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., noted motorcyclists should be mindful of liability coverage due to the dangers associated with motorcycles.
“Motorcycles are much smaller vehicles, so they’re not going to do a lot of property damage like other larger vehicles would,” Whitus said. “But, because motorcycles offer their drivers and passengers little protection, accidents can cause severe injury or death. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind the potential costs of bodily injury.”
To compensate for above-average injury risks, Whitus recommends policyholders purchase liability limits of $100,000 per person per incident for bodily injury and $300,000 in coverage for an entire accident. She also recommends bikers endorse their policies with $50,000 for total property damage.
Motorhome and RV coverage
Camper vans, travel trailers and full-size RVs also can be covered under an auto policy.
Insurance needs often depend on the type of vehicle, but liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage are available on most recreational vehicles. Other optional endorsements include coverage for pets and electronic equipment and transportation and towing expenses.
ATV coverage
Most homeowners can endorse an all-terrain vehicle on their home insurance policies if the vehicle will be used only on the premises of the insured property. Coverage under a homeowner policy provides limited protection for damage, liability and theft claims.
However, if a policyholder plans to use the ATV elsewhere, it must be insured under an auto policy. Customers can then purchase coverage for bodily injury and property damage liability, collision and other than collision, medical payments, and protection against uninsured motorists.
