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Quad bikes and snowmobiles: are you properly insured?
Snowmobiles and quads must have permission to travel, issued by the federations responsible for this type of recreational vehicle. As a result, snowmobilers and quad riders are required to have a vignette entitling them to access marked trails. This sticker even includes liability insurance worth a million dollars, and has done so since 2016.
What protection does third-party liability insurance provide for hobbyists?
In accordance with current regulations governing off-highway vehicles, owners of this type of machine are required to carry CAD 500,000 in third-party liability insurance. This insurance protects you if you injure someone while driving or transporting your vehicle.
Since quad owners and snowmobile clubs do not all have personal insurance that includes this type of protection, notably in the price of trail access rights, the two federations concerned, in this case the Fédération québécoise des clubs quads and the Fédération québécoise des clubs de motoneigistes, have decided to impose that snowmobilers and quad riders using their trails respect the current law.
Any limits?
The federations' offer has a number of limitations that need to be taken into account. These include :
- Non-automatic insurance renewal - If you don't have third-party liability insurance, and you don't renew your right of access to the trails, you will no longer be covered. This could result in significant financial loss in the event of an unprotected incident. By taking out such insurance with an insurer, coverage is automatically renewed, thus preventing you from finding yourself without insurance.
- Possibility of insufficient coverage - In cases where the insured is covered only by the protection offered by the federation, it should be remembered that the limit of coverage is one million dollars, hence the need to underwrite for a higher limit. This is essential, given that SAAQ coverage does not cover injuries sustained on the trails. And in the event of an accident causing serious injury to others, the insured will be subject to serious legal proceedings.
- Vehicle damage not covered - If you only have third-party liability insurance, it won't cover damage to your vehicle. To protect your vehicle, you need to take out insurance. with an insurer. In this case, the owner can choose not to cover civil liability, or to keep it in order to have a higher limit.
- Double insurance - If the owner of the quad or snowmobile already has third-party liability insurance, he or she will be covered by a second policy. That said, it's worth noting that he or she can always cancel the insurance associated with the right of access by filling out a special form on the FCMQ website. It would also be possible to keep both, for a higher level of protection. This could prove very useful in the event of a claim, especially as the SAAQ offers no coverage on the trails.
- Need to communicate with two insurers
By taking out his own insurance while retaining the federation's, the policyholder will have to contact two insurers for any claim following a loss. Obviously, the process will be more complicated, given that he or she will have to carry out procedures for injuries caused and others for damages incurred. vehicle damage.
Recommendation to members of quads and snowmobiles federations
For members of federations, we recommend that you keep the insurance you have taken out with your insurer, in addition to the additional protection provided by the trail map. This will help prevent any insurance shortfall in the event of an accident.
And to be better protected, it's a good idea to talk to a certified insurance representative who can detail the risks to which you are exposed. snowmobile owners and quads.
