Driving cars is fun but it can be equally dangerous too. Car insurance is a great way to ensure that you do not have to go bankrupt trying to make up for things if they go south. If you are someone who loves off-roading, you should know that you are safe for the most part.
For example, if you get into an accident while you are off-roading, the insurance company will cover you. However, if your car flips, turns, or gets into a more complicated accident; they might not cover you. So, it is not a black and white answer as it is more circumstantial.
We will get to further detail about what makes your off-road insurance. However, you should know that you will not get any insurance support if you take your vehicle for an off-road race. The insurance providers are very particular with their stance on racing.
You might also end up losing your insurance policy completely if they find you participating in these races. If you are wondering why this happens; it is because off-road races have risks that insurance companies do not cover.
You do not harm your vehicle only during these races but also throughout all the time you drive them afterward. These off-road races are intense and can make you damage your car parts leading to further complications.
Therefore, you should know that all insurance policies are applicable for “normal use” only. For instance, your insurance policy would probably cover you if you have a collision with another car whether or not you are off-roading.
In other cases, if you take your car up a steep hill and damage your car extensively, you might have a harder time claiming insurance.
Remember that these insurance companies are there to make money and they will try everything to avoid damage payments or insurance claims.
How Do You Deal With It?
The only way to ensure that you do not get ripped despite having an insurance policy is to read thoroughly through the terms and conditions. These terms can help you understand the situations your insurance provides/does not provide insurance for.
If you feel like understanding the policy is too much for you; you can always consult with a professional about it. These professionals will help you reach between the lines and understand things better.
Understanding the policy may help you decide if you should upgrade your insurance policy or not. If you do not know what kind of policy works best if you love off-roading; have a look at our picks.
Best Types of Insurance for Off-Roading
There are various insurance policy options for people who love off-roading. Each of these policies has its terms and conditions. Explaining all of these here might be a little difficult which is why we will cover the gist of these policies. Let us begin
Comprehensive Insurance
Not all accidents off-road are because of collisions. You could damage your car if you collide with an animal, because of vandalism or several other factors that aren’t because of collisions with another vehicle.
Another common kind of damage in this category is the one because of a car rolling over. The comprehensive insurance covers all these kinds of damages providing you additional financial support.
Bodily Injury
There is always a chance of hurting someone else when you get into an accident. The bodily injury insurance helps you pay for the victim’s medical bills during such an event.
This kind of insurance is a big deal if you are in a country like the United States, where healthcare is very expensive. You can save yourself thousands of dollars if you have insurance that covers bodily injury expenses.
Property Damage
Property damage includes the damage you cause to other people’s properties during an accident. Building, fences, windows, and even the land all count in this.
Property damage during off-roading accidents is common; which is why you should always get the insurance that covers this.
Collision Insurance
Your vehicle will probably go off balance and out of control when you end up in an off-roading accident. The collision insurance will cover you if you collide with another vehicle during your offroading accident.
Similarly, if someone else crashes into you, their insurance company will pay you for the damage.
What Isn’t Covered?
Insurance covers most of the potential expenses that you could have to deal with while you are in an off-roading accident. However, there are other things that you should know your insurance policy will not cover. Let’s have a look
Unapproved Modifications
If you are a car enthusiast and love modifying your car, it is great. You should still know that modifying your car without approving them from your insurer could land you in trouble if you have an accident later on.
An insurance company has the full right to cancel out your claim if you have any unapproved modifications made to your car.
Mechanical Failure
You may not get full coverage from insurance companies in some other cases too. These insurance companies cover mechanical damage from floods, accidents, and several factors similar to this.
However, you may have to pay for all the mechanical expenses if your car has mechanical failure for reasons otherwise.
Illegal Activity
Insurance companies do not promote illegal activities, thus, the company will not pay for it if your car suffers damage during an illegal activity.
They will not help you out if you have a “normal driving” accident during an illegal activity either. You do not have to worry about this unless you do things you shouldn’t be doing.
Wear and Tear
A car usually wears out over time. People who tend to go on off-roading trips regularly tend to have problems with their cars frequent.
It has a lot to do with the fact that off-road trips are rough and cars cause wear and tear. If you have interior decay, rust on your car, old parts, or other things like this; your insurance policy will not pay for it.
What If The Insurance Company Denies a Claim?
Insurance companies are a business after all and they will try their level best not to pay any claims you make. You may also see these insurance companies becoming stingy and skeptical when passing your claims. There is not much that you can do in this case, even if you go to someone higher in the hierarchy.
Thus, proceeding with caution is the best way out of this situation. You should try and get an insurance expert before signing the terms of the insurance policy. It will help you determine whether signing a particular agreement will help you in the future fully or not.
Things You Should Consider Before Buying These Insurance Policies
As you can see, the kind of insurance policy you buy for your off-roading vehicle will make a lot of difference.
Thus, it is essential to ensure that you invest your money in the right one. Following are the factors you should consider before buying an insurance policy for your off-road vehicle
The Cost of Your Car
The first thing to consider is the value of your car. You would want to get maximum coverage for your car in case you end up in an accident.
Thus, you should start by calculating the price of your car and then come up with an insurance amount accordingly. The best way to do this is to make a 70-30 split between the insurance amount and the amount you could pay. This way, you would only have to pay 30% of the amount in case the off-roading vehicle gets in an accident.
The Deductibles
You probably have a good idea that there are tons of technicalities involved in insurance claims. You should keep an eye on the deductibles that you would have to deal with in case of a claim. It will help you follow a realistic approach and adjust things accordingly.
Driving History
Your driving history matters a lot when dealing with an insurance policy and claim. If you are a good driver with a positive driving history; chances are you will hardly ever need the insurance claims. You can always claim your insurance amount in case you end up in a bad situation.
Good driving history also increases your chances of getting the maximum settlement amount from the insurance company. So, make sure that you present it if you think it will support your claim.
Conclusion
Off-roading vehicles are undoubtedly fun, but they can be equally dangerous. Therefore, we suggest that anyone who wishes to have a safe and sound off-roading experience should go for off-roading insurance.
We hope that this guide helps you comprehend things better; you can always reach out to us if you think you need more guidance on the topic.
