• Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/

Snow Cat Insurance

mtntopper

mtntopper

Back On Track
I would like to know more about other snow cat owners insurance on their snow cat. Do you carry insurance? What kind of insurance? Liabililty? Ect? What companies will provide insurance? My experience has not been good on getting insurance to operate the snow cat beyond my own property. The costs that I have been quoted have been out of sight. I need to insure at least for liability as I use my snow cat on or near county roads, national forest lands and other areas away from my own property including on my transport trailer at times. Help!!!!:(
 
Boy this is not helping me any. Someone must have some information. I really need some ideas. Did I throw a curve ball to all of the snow cat owners on this forum? HELP!!!!!
 
mtntopper said:
Boy this is not helping me any. Someone must have some information. I really need some ideas. Did I throw a curve ball to all of the snow cat owners on this forum? HELP!!!!!
Click to expand...

Mtntopper,
I wish I could help and I always have something to say about stuff ,but this is something I know nothing about .
Al
 
Since it isn't legal for me to operate my cat on state trails, I hadn't even considered insurance.

I might be allowed to operate on the part of the state trail that is on my land and I would like to have some kind of insurance for that.
 
Mtntopper, I worry about this too. The thing I've been able to come up with is a million dollar umbrella policy on top of homeowner insurance. Also I believe that while you are towing your truck policy covers trailer and contents. Ask your agent and let us know what their opinion is.
 
I sat out and watched this because I have no clue, and even when I am clueless I'm usually willing to comment. This one stumped me. I operate on land I own or land I co-own. I had plans to trailer it up to Wisconsin this year but life got in the way and I didn't get up there, at that point I guess I should have something other than my umbrella policy?
 
Let me see what I can find out. I sent a pic of a Snow Trac to my agent to see what he thinks.

I have several off-road vehicles. For some, it was hard to get insurance.

The biggest stumbling block has normally been the classification the ins. co. has to put on the vehicle.

I'm guessing the closest thing for classification would be a snowmobile (aka. snow machine). But, the mfgrs/models... of these machines wouldn't be listed. They then need to find a general category. Herein lies the problem. Quite often, they don't have a classification for something of this size. They base it on weight and/or engine cc size. They may not even have a class for something the size of these and thus need to create one. This seems to be a slow process.

As for rates, here's what I got on my Kubota RTV (the last vehicle I had that I struggled through to get insurance as they didn't have a classification but finally created one).

For machine value of $10,000, the cost is $162 per year.
$25,000/$50,000 liability coverage
$25,000 property damage
$500 comp ded
$500 coll ded
 
Here is where I am at after two years trying to figure out snow cat insurance.:eek:

My auto and trailer insurance people will cover the trailer only, not the contents or what is being hauled. The machines are licensed as snowmobiles in Wyoming. I figured they should be insured as snowmobiles, but State Farm says no. Their underwriters do not want to touch them according to my agent. I have even threatened to take my home owners insurance and 8+ other vehicle policies to brand x. But try to find a brand x that will do any better or even consider the snow cats. Inland Marine and Casualty will insure the equipment, but the price is about $600.00 per year for liabilty only. OUCH :( :( My other snowmobiles and ATVs are not a problem to insure very reasonably and are more prone to accident and damage than the snow cats.

Mtncrawler, I would not assume the cat was insured in transport even if you have the proper insurance on the trailer. Before you take a chance, check with your insurance agency and read your policy details. Also make sure since it has its own motor and power system that it is covered by your umbrella policy.

Bob, That trip to Wisconsin could get expensive, check your insurance on your trailer and contents also. I have actually resorted to hiring a commercial carrier to haul my cats long distances over highways to avoid the potential problems and buying $600.00 per year insurance that is only liability. At least the cats are covered for all purposes with a commercial carrier. For once a year movement of snow cats the commercial carrier when you figure insurance costs, fuel, and trip time expenses into the equation maybe cheaper than doing it yourself. Commercial transport has worked that way for me in the past. It would just be easier if I could do my own transport and know I am insured as needed.

bczoom, slow is not the proper word to explain the inabiltiy to give answers to this question. It would be easier to tame a lion than get answers from insurance people.

So far the best seems to be to just put the snow cat under the business umbrella policy and justify it as business equipment essential to conducting business. This may work even though it is mostly used for personal transport. Take a client out and entertain them in the snow cat yearly.:beer:

I STILL NEED SOME IDEAS AND HELP ON THIS!!!! I appreciate everyones ideas and will keep you informed if I can come up with something better and more viable.
 
mtntopper said:
I figured they should be insured as snowmobiles, but State Farm says no.
Click to expand...
Yep, forget State Farm. I've dropped all my off-road vehicles (and 1/2 of my cars) because of their inability to handle these.

For the weird things, try http://www.foremost.com/
That's where I have my RTV. The seem to be a good place for specialty vehicles.
 
My snow cat is insured on a group policy with my other show vehicles. It is with a firm who deal with ex-military vehicle insurance for shows etc. I did not give it a thought that it might be difficult, I just phoned them and added it to the list. I had to insure it to tax it for the road, not that it has been on the road, but it makes it easier for shows, and covers eventualities. All that seems a bit garbled, but I hope you can make some sense of it - it's a woman thing!!
 
I had my tucker insured through Protective along with my snowmobiles. it wasn't cheap but it covered everything including damage to the Cat as well as liabilty. Hope this helps.
 
Tom,
Do you have an address, phone number and contact person that I can talk with about snowmobile and snow cat insurance? Thanks for your help. I was about to bring this thread back to life myself as I am still searching for decent insurance that is affordable.

Bill
 
well i have told that your snow cat falls into an ohv class. i don"t think you can buy any insurance other than libitity one reason is there is no way to put a value on it.
 
In Alaska where everyone has 3 machines, that cost 15,000$ each, and have heated seats and grips and a plug-in for a heated suit, many folks have their "Fleet" insured for full 'Fire, Theft, Collision', usually thru their automobile insureance co.
 
I called an insurance broker out of seattle. He quoted me $400 through Progressive Insurance, but ne needed to call them to confirm before it was an official quote. He also mentioned trying K & K insurance. They do some insurance for things like this. This is just what I found out over about an hour of research.
 
In Alaska... I use State Farm. Insurance is for liability only but it is only around $18/month.
They are either creative on how they list the item or there may be special considerations for this State.
 
Where did this thread end ? Anyone out there ever find out the answer to insueance for the Snow Cat ?
 
I have American Family on everything I own. All my snowmobiles are covered for an average range of $85-130/ea per year. My '53 Tucker is registered here in CO as a snowmobile, thus it is listed by AmFam as a snowmobile. Their snowmobile coverage has a max limit of $20K no matter what it is, thus that's what my Tucker is covered for. Cost is $130/year for FULL coverage with $500 deductable (comprehensive, collision, medical, $1mil. liability, etc. etc.).

Obviously the $20K would not replace my cat, but AmFam has a "whatever it takes to replace it" clause that would. In addition, the REAL reason I have it is for the LIABILITY in the off-chance a snowmobile comes flying around a corner and slams into me. Not that I'd be doing something reckless or illegal, but you all know how many hungry lawyers are out there these days....


.
 
several of us snow trac owners just get insurance for a snowmobile on them.
I don't know what definition of snowmobile the insurance people use. Look it up sometime.
jim
 
We are commercial..... hauling our employees and others to commercial, state and government own tower sites. Our new Tucker is covered for all loss and liability. The premium only was additional 1050. per year.
 
State Farm treats my cat as an expensive snow mobile. The cat is registered and titled so after explaining to my agent what a snow cat is and sending him a few pictures, I had no problem getting coverage. Policy runs about $240/year and covers the machine at its appraised value.
 
I cover my RTV, backhoe, skid steer and tractors under a farm policy with a declared value for each as it is added to the policy. The liability is a blanket $1mil as long as it is not being used commercially. The price is really reasonable.
 
Maybe I should change to your insurer. I've got a blanket type policy and the company will cover the snocat for loss, but not liability.
 
Short bus said:
Who are you insured with?
Click to expand...

Travelers.........I have been corrected on the annual prem, it was an increase of $850.00 instead of $1050.00.

Of course we have several other trucks, equipment etc insured with them.
We have had good service through the years with these guys.
 
huntnjim said:
Travelers.........I have been corrected on the annual prem, it was an increase of $850.00 instead of $1050.00.

Of course we have several other trucks, equipment etc insured with them.
We have had good service through the years with these guys.
Click to expand...


Hey shortbus I see you have climbing listed as activities,
We are like the Marines....always looking for good men.
 
huntnjim said:
Hey shortbus I see you have climbing listed as activities,
We are like the Marines....always looking for good men.
Click to expand...
I am getting to old to climb maybe once an a while when I find a rope gun that needs a second.might go to the cody ice fest.
 
I contacted Allstate today and I was quoted under 80.00 per year for full coverage for an IMP with a value of $12,000.00.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top