ATV vs Auto Insurance: What You Need To Know

An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) can be an exciting investment, as it helps you experience both speed and agility on the trails. GlobeNewswire states that the growing popularity of ATVs can be attributed to this versatility in experience. With an ATV, you can do everything from participating in off-road racing events and to exploring a broad range of landscapes.

However, like all vehicles, they come with their fair share of risks. Our post ‘How To Insure Your ATV’ notes that while their compact size makes ATVs exciting to use and venture out with, it also makes them vulnerable to theft and being hidden away easily. For this reason, you would want to invest in an insurance policy that will protect you against these incidents — as well as other undesirable occurrences that may arise from owning an ATV. However, it’s important to note that ATV insurance policies are vastly different from general auto insurance.

Here’s what you need to know.

What does auto insurance cover?

Auto insurance policies cover any incidents involving accidents or theft that may happen to your vehicle. When availing of auto insurance for your vehicle, most of the time, you will be able to choose what type of coverage you will want to be paying for.

Two types of auto insurance include liability, which pays for damage you might incur on another person’s body or property, and collision, which covers damages caused by a collision. The third type is comprehensive auto insurance which Sound Dollar explains may come with a higher premium but will also cover your car from non-collision-type damage like theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.

What does ATV insurance cover?

Most insurers categorize ATVs under motorcycle insurance policies. A typical ATV insurance policy, like auto insurance, is likely to include bodily injury liability and property damage liability. You can also choose to apply for collision, comprehensive, or uninsured motorist coverage. Medical payments are a good option as well. Atlantic News reports that ATV accidents can cause serious injuries and lifelong complications and can happen at any age.

However, although ATV insurance policies can cover a broad range of circumstances, your policy will only cover appropriate use of the vehicle, such as off-road use for recreational or commuting purposes on your own or private property. Your policy will not cover accidents occurring on roads where ATV use is not permitted.

Can my auto insurance cover my ATV?

Most auto insurances cover both you and other family members on the policy, regardless of whether you own the car or are simply renting it. These policies can also cover incidents that occur with your car if you lend it to someone else. However, they will not pay for an accident that occurs while you’re riding your ATV. This is because cars and ATVs are two separate risks. Moreover, we mentioned earlier that ATVs are often categorized under motorcycle insurance policies. This means you will have to invest in a separate policy for your ATV.

How much do ATV insurance policies cost?

Motorcycle premiums are often cheaper than auto premiums. Yet, although they’re categorized under motorcycle insurance policies, costs are generally even lower for off-road vehicles like ATVs. A possible reason for this may be because ATVs are not as vulnerable to damage from other vehicles in the way that cars or motorcycles are. While the price may vary from place to place and company to company, this comparison generally applies. Ultimately, getting an ATV insurance policy can be cost-effective.

Although owning an ATV can yield meaningful experiences, it’s important to protect yourself and your family. Knowing these key factors about ATV insurance policies can help you get started.