When I woke up Sunday morning and looked outside at the gross whiteness that had creeped up on me, it made me think of snowmobiles. Although I may fight it, winter is here and we have to gear up to make sure our insureds are covered correctly. So for those of you that don't mind the face numbing cold or the 27 layers of clothing, this blog is for you.
I did a blog previously on insuring your ice castles. You may want to revisit that one so you aren't back sitting on that bucket on the frozen tundra if your ice castle falls through the ice. Along with that, we should also discuss the sleds you may use to get out to that bucket. First and foremost, there is a misconception that your sled is automatically covered under your homeowners policy. This is not the case. You need to insure your snowmobile either by scheduling it on your homeowners or getting it's own stand alone policy. Let's discuss the differences and what they mean to you.
With a stand alone policy you receive:
* Choice of liability limits
* Med-Pay coverage for drivers and riders. This provides medical costs for you
and/or your riders.
* Uninsured/Underinsured coverage
* Possible disappearing deductible option
* Trailer coverage is included with most policies up to a stated amount.
When adding it to your homeowners you are limited to:
* Home policy liability limits
* Home policy perils only
* You have no coverage for yourself or riders for med-pay
* Claims will show on your homeowners causing possible increase in rates, could
lose claim free discounts, etc.
* No coverage for trailers unless scheduled
So for those of you that like freezing your appendages off, you do have options on insuring your snowmobile. It really comes down to what is the best fit for you. Regardless, if you do not do one of the above, your sled is NOT covered. So if it falls through that ice you're sitting on the bucket on because your ice castle fell in, you're going to want to make sure you have it covered properly. Or you could find yourself hauling your bucket and pole while walking across the ice to your spot.
We want you to enjoy (for whatever crazy reason) our winter season. Have a chat with your agent. Discuss your options before you take a risk. Invite them out to your bucket! Just like last winter, I'll keep the office warm and the coffee hot! Be safe out there!