What is snowmobile insurance? 

Snowmobiling is a thrilling way to enjoy Massachusetts’s outdoors during the winter months, but the sport comes with some inherent risks. Snowmobile insurance can help financially protect riders from many of these risks.

Snowmobile insurance policies provide tailored coverage for snowmobile riders. Policies can protect snowmobiles on and off the trail, and they often protect riders too.

Does Massachusetts require insurance for snowmobiles?

Registering a snowmobile in Massachusetts generally requires that basic insurance coverages are in place. Riders normally need coverage if hitting trails within the state.

Riders who have financed their snowmobiles are likely subject to additional insurance requirements that their lender stipulates.

In many cases, it’s often wise to get more than what the state and a lender require. A single accident could have costly consequences, and it’s usually better to be well-insured if something happens.

What insurance coverages should snowmobilers look for?

Snowmobile policies can come with a variety of important protections. Some common and often important ones are:

• Bodily Injury Liability: Typically covers injuries sustained by individuals not on the snowmobile at the time of an accident, such as injuries to bystanders, other snowmobile operators, or drivers.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Typically covers injuries sustained by riders on the snowmobile at the time of an accident, usually covering injuries to the operator and any passengers.
• Property Damage Liability: Typically covers damage inflicted on third-party property during an accident, such as damage to another snowmobile, vehicles, fences, buildings or most other kinds of property.
• Collision Coverage: Typically covers the damage sustained by the snowmobile during collisions with another snowmobile or vehicle.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Typically covers the damage sustained by the snowmobile during non-collision events, such as falling tree branches, fires or hitting animals. Also usually covers theft and vandalism.
• Accessories Coverage: Typically covers other items associated with the snowmobile, such as aftermarket modifications, helmets and other safety gear, and trailers.
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Typically covers collisions involving snowmobiles or vehicles operated by drivers who don’t have enough insurance. Also usually covers hit-and-runs.

Can snowmobilers get roadside assistance?

Some snowmobile policies offer roadside, or sometimes trailside, assistance. This isn’t a standard protection in all policies, however, and what exactly the assistance includes can vary.

Most notable is where a snowmobile must be in order to receive assistance. Policies can have trailside assistance that includes towing from most trails and roads. Policies can alternatively only offer towing from the shoulder of a public road.

To determine what type of roadside assistance a policy provides, riders can have a knowledgeable insurance agent check the policy’s terms. An agent who’s familiar with snowmobile policies will be able to quickly determine which type of assistance is included (assuming some is).

Do snowmobiles need to be insured during non-winter months?

Snowmobile policies normally should be carried through the warmer months. Canceling a policy altogether can leave a snowmobile unprotected against damage, and it also might lead to higher premiums when re-purchasing insurance.

Instead of canceling a policy, riders can work with a knowledgeable agent to adjust coverages during the warmer months. An agent should be able to adjust coverages, so important protections aren’t skipped but premiums might be reduced for the summer.

How can Massachusetts riders get snowmobile insurance?

If you need help insuring a snowmobile in Massachusetts, reach out to the independent insurance agents at Flavin and Flavin Insurance. We can recommend the best snowmobile insurance policies since we’re an independent agency, and we’ll make sure you find one that meets your particular coverage needs well. Together, we can make sure your snowmobile is protected both on and off the trail.