A recreational vehicle is defined as a means of transportation for purposes of pleasure. If you indeed buy such a vehicle, you need to be insured—no matter how small the transportation is. Now remember, this insurance should cover you for theft, accident/collision, flood, fire, or any other “act of God.”
The following vehicles can be classified as recreational transportation:
- ATVs (All Terrain Vehicle)
- Dune buggies
- Snowmobiles
- Mopeds
- Campers/Trailers
- Motorized Bikes
- Boats
If you own any of these forms of transportation, then you are eligible for recreational vehicle insurance. Obtaining recreational vehicle insurance is really not that hard. You can insure your vehicle at a bank, insurance company, or a specialized insurance company just for RVs.
Your insurance will depend upon which type of “pleasure vehicle” you own. For example, if you want to insure an ATV, you need to be aware of some restrictions that may be applied. One bank said on its website that ATVs will be subject to many exclusionary coverage benefits because the vehicle is sometimes custom made. The website also stated that campers or trailers will be easier to cover, but a camper that’s mounted on a truck may raise your rates because there’s a chance that the vehicle will overturn.
In terms of appearance, they’re very big differences between your family car and a recreational vehicle. While your family car may have seat belts, your ATV may not. Your scooter may operate on two wheels, while the car has four. But perhaps the biggest difference between a commercial and recreational vehicle is the insurance that’s needed. A commercial vehicle has to have some form of acceptable coverage that’s regulated by the federal government; recreational vehicles don’t have such standards.
Finding a proper carrier for your vehicle is not as tough as you think. In addition to brick and mortar businesses, you can take to the Web. There are a wealth of online companies and carriers that offer recreational vehicle insurance. Simply go to any search engine and type “recreational vehicle insurance” and a number of prospective insurers should pop up.
On these various websites, you will find specific insurance for each type of vehicle. For example, there is an RV insurance carrier especially for speedboats. This is great because you can avoid all the hassle if you simply want to insure only one recreational vehicle—a speedboat.
When you apply for insurance on any given website, you will be prompted to type in various criteria, like asking for the age of the primary user of the vehicle, whether or not you have regular auto insurance, and your specific credit rating. The criteria are processed in order to give you an accurate quote. Now here’s the best part: the quote’s free. If a website asks you to pay for a quote, run!
A recreational vehicle should indeed be a source for fun and adventure, but always be sure to have insurance. Insurance gives you piece of mind and comfort as you ride the open wind, feel the snowflakes tickle your nose, or feel the water splash in your face.
By Michelle Presbury