What Does ATV Insurance Cover?

 

Greensboro ATV insurance, although generally not required by law in North Carolina, is available to ATV owners in similar fashion to motorcycle insurance.  Certain parks or other venues catering to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) may require riders using their facilities to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to protect others using those same facilities.  This liability coverage comes in the form of bodily injury protection and personal property protection.

Bodily Injury Liability and Personal Property Liability Coverage

Greensboro ATV insurance is similar to Greensboro motorcycle insurance as far as the various coverages that are available and, for the liability protection, basic minimum amounts are identical.  Liability insurance is protection "for the other guy" when you're involved in an accident where someone suffers a loss and the accident is determined to be your fault or responsibility.  

Minimum amounts of liability coverage include:

• $30K coverage per person per accident for injuries or death.
• $60K coverage for all persons per accident for injuries or death.
• $25K coverage per accident for damaged property, fixed or moveable.

How Much is Enough?

While North Carolina State law sets out minimum amounts of liability coverage required for cars, motorcycles and ATVs, these minimums may be woefully inadequate in the event that you're involved in a serious accident and found liable for someone's injuries, damaged property or death.  Bear in mind that any amount of money for damages not covered by your insurance will have to come out of your own pocket.

Someone seriously injured in an ATV accident could require huge amounts of medical treatments and hospitalization as well as expensive therapies afterwards.  Obviously, $30,000 of insurance coverage could represent a mere drop in the bucket, leaving you with a huge debt that could lead to the loss of your assets and even bankruptcy.  ATVs can be dangerous.  Consider carrying as much liability insurance as you can comfortably afford, or invest in an umbrella policy.

Optional ATV Coverage Available

Just as with other vehicles, there is a menu of optional coverages available for ATVs, including:

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
• Collision coverage - may be required if your ATV is being financed
• Comprehensive coverage - may be required if your ATV is being financed
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) - also called medical payments coverage

Though optional coverage isn't required, it's better to have it and not need it than the other way around.

 

Types of Off-Road Vehicle Insurance

 

If you own any type of off-road vehicle, whether it's an ATV, dune buggy, dirt bike, snow mobile or golf cart, be aware that your standard homeowner's insurance likely provides you with little or no protection against it being damaged or destroyed.  This is especially true since your off-road vehicle is taken off your property.

North Carolina State Law

In the State of North Carolina, insurance is required on all registered motor vehicles.

Laws governing ATVs are similar to the laws governing motorcycles.  This means that all registered ATVs are required to carry at least a minimum amount of liability coverage, both bodily injury protection and property damage liability.  The minimums are the same as they are for motorcycles and cars:

• $30K per person/accident bodily injury liability
• $60K for all persons per accident
• $25K per accident in property damage liability

Even if your vehicle is not registered because it's not used on public roads (which is illegal anyway) or public lands, having liability protection is important to have in case you're involved in an accident that's deemed your fault.  You'll be held financially responsible if you cause any property damage or injuries while using your vehicle.  Without insurance, the cost of these damages will have to come out of your own pocket.  If your off-road vehicle is registered, you'll also be required to carry insurance for uninsured/underinsured drivers.

Off-Road Vehicle Insurance

Even if your off-road vehicle isn't registered and you're not required to have insurance by law, obtaining coverage for your own protection and peace of mind is still a smart move.  There are four types of coverage that go into making of an off-road vehicle insurance policy.  These include:

1. Bodily Injury Liability - pays toward medical costs of parties injured in an accident you cause.
2. Property Damage Liability - pays toward the repair/replacement of property owned by a third party damaged or destroyed in an accident you cause.
3. Collision Coverage - helps pay toward the cost of repairing/replacing your ATV if damaged in a collision with another vehicle, a tree, a fence, etc.
4. Comprehensive Coverage - helps pay to repair/replace your off-road vehicle if it's damaged in ways other than in a collision.  This may include damage caused by weather (such as a hail storm), fire, vandalism or if your off-road vehicle is stolen.

Full protection is the safest option.  You should read and understand your policy completely.

11 ATV Safety Tips

 

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are extremely popular in North Carolina for the fun and excitement they provide.  They are, however, not toys and should be respected and treated as the powerful machines they are, with some of them weighing upwards of half a ton and able to reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour.

These vehicles are responsible for thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries each year in the United States.  Many of these deaths and injuries may have been preventable, had the riders observed appropriate safety rules and riding tips for operating ATVs.  We'll present some of those tips here.

ATV Safety Tips

1. Before riding your ATV, take the time to learn how.  Training can be obtained for little or no cost in most areas.  Hands-on training is available from the ATV Safety Institute, who also offer a free ATV E-Course.  You may also find training through a local ATV riding group.
2. Always wear proper ATV riding gear, including a certified DOT-approved helmet that fits properly, safety glasses or goggles, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, long pants and boots that cover up over your ankles.
3. Ride on designated trails at safe speeds and on pavement only to go across roads.  ATVs aren't designed to operate well on pavement.
4. Don't mix ATV riding with alcohol or controlled substances.
5. No child under the age of 16 years should be allowed to drive an adult ATV.  Smaller, less powerful ATV's are designed for youngsters, but kids riding these vehicles should be supervised to help ensure their safety.  Children under six years of age should not be on an ATV, either as a driver or a passenger.
6. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends ATVs with engine sizes of less than 70cc for kids from six to eleven years of age.  Engine sizes between 70cc and 90cc are recommended for kids between 12 and 15 years old.
7. Avoid riding your ATV at night or when visibility is poor.
8. Three-wheeled ATV's have been deemed unsafe and should not be ridden.
9. Most ATVs are designed for only an operator and not a passenger.  Room for the rider to redistribute his weight is necessary to handle the irregularities of some terrain.  
10. Maintain your ATV to keep it running smoothly.
11. Make sure you and your ATV are properly insured against liability and personal injuries.  For an expensive ATV, consider comprehensive coverage.

29 Essentials for Your ATV Ride

 

When you're trail riding your ATV, especially when exploring far out into the back country, you'll need ways to handle whatever pops up so that your jaunt can stay safe and uninterrupted by problems for which you're unprepared.  The trick to being prepared for unexpected problems while trail riding is to be armed with a number of essentials you shouldn't be out riding without.  This includes proper insurance protection.

Whether your off-road adventure is for the day or a week, a well put together kit of off-roading essentials will help in ensuring your trip is safe and enjoyable and that you're prepared for any situation.  This may include anything from a simple mechanical repair, a flat tire or an injury requiring first aid.  All of these situations should be mere bumps in the road if you've come prepared with a comprehensive off-roading ATV essentials kit.

Your Essential ATV Off-Road Kit of Safety Equipment and Supplies

Essential items for your ATV trail ride kit fall into three categories - tools, safety equipment and spare parts.  For longer rides you'll likely need more items, but some of these essentials should be carried at all times when possible.  Here's the list.

Tools

1. Carry your ATV's owner's manual and be familiar with key service items
2. Adjustable wrenches or assorted sizes specific to your model ATV
3. Allen wrenches
4. Flat head and Philips head screw drivers
5. Pliers
6. Spark plug wrench
7. Tire repair kit and air pump, either manual or 12-volt
8. Flashlight
9. Zip ties
10. Roll of baling wire
11. Duct tape

Safety Equipment and Supplies

1. Proper riding gear
2. DOT-certified helmet
3. Cellular phone
4. Maps or GPS
5. Matches or lighter
6. Pocket knife
7. Small fire extinguisher
8. Extra tire tube(s)
9. Tow rope
10. Power snacks such as power bars, trail mix or beef jerky
11. Thermal blankets
12. An experienced rider to help carry the essentials and accompany you on the ride.  You should avoid riding alone.

Spare Parts

1. Extra fuel (in a small container)
2. Spare tire
3. Lug wrench
4. Spare drive belt (depending on ATV model)
5. Jumper cables
6. Spark plugs

Be Prepared

These lists may appear to contain a lot of items but they cover just about everything you might need when something goes wrong on a trail ride.  An old saying tells us that the one thing you forget is probably the one thing you'll need.

Though not essential, you might also consider installing a power wench on your ATV.  They have many uses.