ATVs are a fun outlet to get out into nature, but they do have some significant drawbacks. For one, it is almost comically easy to steal an ATV due to their size and the thief’s ability to aim the ATV off-road if he finds himself pursued by the police while on your four-wheeler, and for another, it is all too easy to come to trust riding companions you don’t know very well just because you happen to ride in the same places. Any idiot with a trailer can shift an ATV into neutral and then make off with it, and if you aren’t right there, there may be little or nothing you can do about it.
This is what makes insuring your ATV such an appealing prospect. Not only will insurance protect you from trail mishaps that could cause significant damage to your four-wheeler, but it also protects your ride for those times that you might leave the garage door open while you’re inside making dinner one night. Most insurance companies today who offer multiple lines, such as auto, life, home, and motorcycle insurance will also offer ATV insurance, and the kicker is that it’s just as cheap as your ATV is to steal.
If you aren’t already familiar with multiple-line insurance policies, what it basically means is that you carry several different insurance policies with one company. It might be insurance for your car, your house or apartment, and your motorcycle, for example. When you do this, you earn a discount on your insurance rates. The same applies with ATV insurance. You only have to have one other policy with a company that offers multiple-line discounts in order to not only qualify for a lower rate on your ATV insurance, but also to lower the rate on your other insurance products, as well.
This means that the best place to begin searching for ATV insurance for your four-wheeler is your current auto insurance provider. You may or may not have to speak with an agent, depending on what kind of policy you intend to purchase. The whole process could well be completely automated.
If your insurance company doesn’t offer multiple-line discounts or ATV insurance, you may want to think twice about insuring anything with them. As you grow older, you will find that you need a variety of insurance products, and paying for them at five or six different companies can be extremely troublesome. Consider switching to another insurance carrier who does offer multiple-line discounts, and you may find that over time, you’ll be paying less than you would have at a cut-rate insurance company, anyway.
You’ll begin the process of insuring your ATV by providing the insurance company with a few details that are pretty similar to the details you have to provide to them when you purchase a new car. You have to submit the serial number of the ATV, as well as the manufacturer name, engine size, and any add-on equipment that you may have installed on the four-wheeler. In general, insurance will cover the cost of damage to the ATV or its equipment such as a tow winch, driving lights, and cargo boxes, but it won’t cover the items that are carried in those cargo boxes, such as firearms and ammunition if you use your ATV for hunting, or camping equipment stored inside the cargo boxes. You do, however, have to note on your initial policy agreement what equipment is installed on the ATV. If you add something on later, it’s a good idea to contact the insurance agency to add the note to your policy so that they know that the equipment is there, and not added after the accident. This kind of insurance fraud is relatively common, and can result in severe penalties such as fines or even jail time.
Once you’ve got your ATV insurance quote, you’ll be able to select how you choose to pay the premium. Because this is usually pretty low, it’s usually best to pay the premium every six months or even yearly. You may have to pay extra if you want to choose to pay the premium monthly, and it really isn’t worth the extra fee to do so.
With your ATV insured, you’ll find that your time on the trails is far more relaxing and enjoyable, because you won’t have to worry about the machine you’re making payments on bursting into flame and being lost forever. Provided you didn’t park the thing on top of a campfire, your new insurance will be able to replace or repair your ATV without even breaking a sweat.
