UTV Insurance

UTV insurance, in one form or another, is always a good idea. Whether or not it’s required is a different story. 

If you own one, this article applies to you; it doesn’t matter if you ride public trails or have a residential-only machine to use on the farm. 

First, we’ll look at who needs UTV insurance, then we’ll get into the intricacies. By the end, you’ll know all the tricks to getting a fair rate that will also keep you protected if the worst were to happen.

Do You Need UTV Insurance?

Are you obligated to have insurance? This depends on where you live and plan to ride.

We’ll start with the typical use case: side-by-side owners who will be operating their vehicles on public trails. Whether or not you need insurance will depend on the type of trail. In most states, public land doesn't require insurance, however, many national and state parks will require proof of liability coverage. 

What about vehicles that will be used exclusively on private property? Most places don’t require UTVs, or any vehicle, to have insurance if they’re only for residential use. For example, if you have a UTV for use on a farm, liability-only wouldn’t make sense. Instead, the real question is whether you want full coverage or not. Even if you don’t see yourself having a wreck, freak accidents can happen. If a tree were to fall on your rig, normally, homeowners' insurance wouldn’t cover it. Some things are completely out of your control and can make sense to have comprehensive coverage, even if your UTV will never leave the homestead.  

A lot of states allow UTVs to be used on public streets, given they are made DOT-compliant (with a windshield, lights, horn, etc). It probably goes without saying, but to operate a vehicle on public roads, you’ll need insurance–at least liability. 

If you’re financing a UTV, forget everything else–you’ll probably need insurance regardless. Lenders want full coverage, and it doesn’t matter when, where, or how you plan to use your UTV. Once it’s paid off, however, it’s your prerogative what type of insurance you continue with.  

Types Of UTV Insurance Coverage

A lot of info can be found on an insurance declaration page. Today, we’re focusing on the coverage and cost details. The coverage types are the same as regular automotive insurance, although the values may be adjusted to better suit off-road applications. Here are the details:

Bodily injury liability (BI) – This coverage is for the other party’s medical expenses up to the limit. Expect this to be on par with that of auto insurance. Note that there are BI limits per person and per accident (more on this shortly).

Property Damage Liability (PD) – As the name implies, this covers you for damage to the other party’s property, but not your own. This can include vehicles and also things like fencing and other fixtures of a trail.

Insurance providers often assign a lower value here as ATVs and UTVs are generally less valuable than some of the vehicles on the road; additionally, there are no mailboxes, fire hydrants, or things of this nature to wipe out. It is possible to be held liable for trail damage, although this would normally be at the trailhead where there is fencing and other fixtures.

Collision Coverage – This covers your own vehicle if you were to have an accident. Normally, it is applicable regardless of who is at fault.

Comprehensive Coverage – This covers your UTV for those mishaps that can occur when it's parked: think fire, theft, a tree falling on it, etc. 

Uninsured motorist coverage – This is for the event that you are in an accident where you’re not at fault and the other is uninsured (or doesn't have sufficient coverage for the damages). 

Medical Payment Coverage – In the event of an accident, regardless of fault, this helps pay for you or your passenger’s medical costs. 

Factors That Affect UTV Insurance Rates

There are tons of factors that play a role in UTV insurance premiums. For simple liability coverage, your age, location, marital status, where you plan to ride, and the safety features of your UTV all play a role. 

Your driving record is going to be one of, if not the biggest, factors for your final rate. With a squeaky-clean record, expect to pay a lower premium–on-roading driving isn’t too much different than off-road, at least in the eyes of insurers. 

If you’re after comprehensive coverage, even more factors will be considered, such as where you plan to store your UTV. If you provide photo proof that your UTV is kept in a secure garage, you'll probably save a few bucks. 

Additionally, we found a couple more areas where savings can be had: 

Some providers offer bundling, giving a discount if you insure your home, auto, and recreational vehicles through the same company. Sometimes you can get a discount for attending off-road safety courses; if you’re a new rider, this is a good idea anyway.  

Average Cost Of UTV Insurance

Let’s get down to brass tacks. We took a look at what real people are paying for UTV insurance. Here’s what we found.

For a year of full coverage, the low end was $228, while the highest we saw was $600. The average was $386, or about $32 a month. 

If you’re just looking for liability coverage to meet trail regulations, expect to pay somewhere in the ballpark of $130 a year, or about $11 a month.

How To Choose The Right UTV Insurance

A lot of times, insurance policies will be expressed as a string of three numbers, for example, ‘100/300/50’. What exactly does this mean? The first number expresses that there is $100,000 coverage for bodily injury liability for any single person. This means that insurance will cover you up to $100,000.

The next number indicates $300,000 is the maximum if multiple people were injured. So, up to $300,000 total, but no more than $100,000 per person. 

Finally, 50 indicates there is $50,000 on the policy that goes towards property damage, be it another vehicle or other property. 

If you’re riding public trails, it’s always worth it to have liability insurance, whether required or not. Without it, you would be open to having assets seized in the event of an accident where you were at fault. 

With off-road vehicles, property damage is normally lower–$50,000 should be more than enough in most cases. 

Stepping up to comprehensive or full-coverage insurance can be wise, especially with expensive, late-model UTVs. Consider modifications and gear. If you’re going to be investing a significant amount into modding your UTV, make sure to declare it. Going hunting? Some plans will insure your gear in the event of an accident.

Tips & Conclusion

Just about every UTV owner can benefit from some type of insurance, even if it isn’t strictly required. Liability insurance is a must-have if you plan to ride public trails. But don’t just get a policy that mirrors your car insurance–take what you’ve learned here and get coverage tailored for your UTV.

Most of the time, competent insurers will have a package that suits side-by-sides, but don’t forget to read the fine print!

FAQs

Q1: I don’t ride my UTV year-round. Is there seasonal insurance?

A1: Maybe from smaller companies, but the big names normally don’t do seasonal insurance. It’s kind of annoying to pay full price when you only ride half the year or less. 

In this case, the best thing to do is to pay biannually or quarterly. This will allow you to talk with your agent and change the terms as needed–you don’t need liability if you won’t be riding.

However, don’t completely remove your coverage. You still want theft, fire, and coverage for freak accidents in case the worst happens. 

Q2: What about transport insurance? Is my UTV covered while I haul it?

A2: If you want full coverage insurance on your UTV and will be trailering it, make sure your policy includes coverage for when it’s in transport. 

Your auto insurance may cover liability for a trailer and its contents.  

Q3: Is there any way to lower my UTV insurance cost?

A3: Yes, to lower your UTV insurance cost, you can take an off-road safety class. Most insurers will give a discount when provided proof that you have completed an approved course.