Rented a golf cart but can't find anywhere to insure it for 1 week.

[ComingfromCT]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever. But we can't find any place that does insurance for a renter. The Villages ins says there minimum policy is for 6 months.

What do people do???

[shut the front door]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever. But we can't find any place that does insurance for a renter. The Villages ins says there minimum policy is for 6 months.

What do people do???

Pay for the 6 months, then cancel when you don't need it. However, my insurance company requires a VIN and such.

[Babubhat]

Check with your insurance agent. May be covered like a car rental

[Golfer222]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever. But we can't find any place that does insurance for a renter. The Villages ins says there minimum policy is for 6 months.

What do people do???

Who did you rent it from?

[villagetinker]

See if you can get a rider on your car insurance, do NOT use homeowners insurance.

[rustyp]

See if you can get a rider on your car insurance, do NOT use homeowners insurance.

Why ?

[Laker14]

I ran into the same issue when I was renting a home for the winter months here. It actually came with a cart included, but the language specifically stated that the cart came with no liability insurance for me. I would have to find that on my own. I checked out places that rented carts out, like The Villages Golf Carts, but not just them, and nobody offered insurance with the cart. I called my homeowner's insurance agent, who also does my cars. Nope. He could insure me if I bought a cart, but not if I rented one.

I was very nervous about the idea of risking everything I'd worked my whole life for, just to ride around in a cart. We all know how it is. Someone on a bike does something stupid and I nail them, it's going to cost me. And, to be honest, I make mistakes. I'm not careless at all, but I goof up sometimes.
My solution, as crazy at it sounds, was to buy a cart. At the time I had to find winter storage for it, and now we have our own place, and it all worked out, but it seemed really crazy at the time.

This was 4 years ago, so maybe it's different now, but I doubt it.

[Altavia]

Previous discussion indicated the hang up is insuring something you don't knows. YMMV

Progressive and Foremost have been brought up in the past.

Florida Golf Cart Insurance Requirements | Progressive (https://www.progressive.com/answers/florida-golf-cart-insurance-requirements/)

Golf Cart Insurance: Get a Quote Online | Progressive (https://www.progressive.com/golf-cart/)

[villagetinker]

Why ?

In general the homeowners polices only cover the cart when it is in the garage or driveway (think theft), from what I have seen they offer no liability or medical, etc.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Consider adding an umbrella policy to your auto insurance. I added $1Million for about $100/year. Let me tell you why that is a good idea. Most auto policies have $50,000 medical coverage (injury). That will be used up by you or the other driver in about 2 days. It will be used up in hours if there are multiple occupants of either car. Hell, an ambulance ride eats about 10% of that and you're not even at the hospital yet.

So what, I pay 13 months of auto insurance every 12 months, I pay an extra $100 a year for a million dollars additional coverage. That's my recommendation.

[kkingston57]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever. But we can't find any place that does insurance for a renter. The Villages ins says there minimum policy is for 6 months.

What do people do???

Great ? Appears that you are renting from an individual. Cart insurance is around $200 a year. If this was pro rated for the year, cost would be $4.00 a week. Even if an entity charged 25X more the cost would be $100 for that week. Tough to make money off of that potential premium. Administrative costs would be out of sight.

[Garywt]

See if you can get a rider on your car insurance, do NOT use homeowners insurance.

Check with whoever you are renting from to see what is needed.

[mpefloral]

I have looked extensively for this type of insurance but without any luck. You have to own the cart to get insurance. Even now that we have moved here and own a cart (& car) that we insure, we couldn't get coverage for a cart rented from a company or extend the coverage to covers a friend's cart. Perhaps the umbrella policy ???

[terryf484]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever. But we can't find any place that does insurance for a renter. The Villages ins says there minimum policy is for 6 months.

What do people do???

Every insurance company I checked, when i was renting with golf cart included, would not write a policy unless you owned the cart.

[Laker14]

My insurance company, through Allstate, told me in very specific terms, that my umbrella policy would NOT cover any liability I incurred while driving a rented cart.

[zummy]

Agree excess policy not applicable. Try renting from a business renting carts and confirm they have coverage. Don’t risk being uninsured

[VApeople]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever.

What do people do???

The easiest solution is to leave the cart at home and drive your car.

We have lived here 7 years and do not own a cart. We can easily go anywhere we want in our car.

[Bay Kid]

I am going to include a cart with my 3 month rental. Am I protected? Should I require the renter to be responsible?

[Papa_lecki]

I am going to include a cart with my 3 month rental. Am I protected? Should I require the renter to be responsible?

Reduce the price of your home rental by $25 a day, write a separate rental agreement for golf cart for $25 a day.

[nn0wheremann]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever. But we can't find any place that does insurance for a renter. The Villages ins says there minimum policy is for 6 months.

What do people do???
When we rented the first year we came here we ‘bought’ the cart for the going price, paid $1 down, with the stipulation that we could return the cart within the rental period for a full refund of the ‘purchase price’ if we were ‘dissatisfied’ with it. The rent for the cart was in the rent for the house. Then we insured ‘our newly purchased’ cart. We of course returned the cart at the end of our house rental period. I don’t remember if we got our $1 back, but that has never been a concern.

[sowilts]

See if you can get a rider on your car insurance, do NOT use homeowners insurance.
Yes I have a policy through USAA.

[Whitley]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever. But we can't find any place that does insurance for a renter. The Villages ins says there minimum policy is for 6 months.

What do people do???

The place you rented from doesn't offer insurance (like when you rent from Hertz)?
If not ty your auto insurance provider. See if they will add it.

[Whitley]

I am not a golfer; how does it work when you go to a golf course and rent a cart?

[jarodrig]

I am not a golfer; how does it work when you go to a golf course and rent a cart?

You don’t “rent” the cart as it’s considered part of your greens fees.

You’re covered by them while operating the golf cart while on the golf course .

[Bill Dozer]

It will still need coverage and you or the renter must provide it. If an accident happens both of you are liable.

[Wondering]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever. But we can't find any place that does insurance for a renter. The Villages ins says there minimum policy is for 6 months.

What do people do???
You don't need it. Your car insurance should cover it.

[rjm1cc]

No reason to sell something if you can not cover your costs. My Allstate policy is about 70 a year. My guess is you will have to buy an annual policy.

[kkingston57]

I am going to include a cart with my 3 month rental. Am I protected? Should I require the renter to be responsible?

That is an insurance/legal question. In Florida owner of the car is responsible for damages that a driver causes. Not sure if same applies to the golf cart.

[kkingston57]

Consider adding an umbrella policy to your auto insurance. I added $1Million for about $100/year. Let me tell you why that is a good idea. Most auto policies have $50,000 medical coverage (injury). That will be used up by you or the other driver in about 2 days. It will be used up in hours if there are multiple occupants of either car. Hell, an ambulance ride eats about 10% of that and you're not even at the hospital yet.

So what, I pay 13 months of auto insurance every 12 months, I pay an extra $100 a year for a million dollars additional coverage. That's my recommendation.

Was in the insurance biz. Umbrella coverage pays for damages OVER an existing policy limit. Do not know of any umbrella policy which will pay for damages if there is not ANY coverage for the cart. OP needs to check with a professional on this question.

[Altavia]

OP - you are probably aware so many wrong guesses and incorrect responses here...

[TerryCamlin]

We just rented a golf cart for a week as my kids are coming for a visit. We want to get some insurance in case of an accident or whatever. But we can't find any place that does insurance for a renter. The Villages ins says there minimum policy is for 6 months.

What do people do???

Have your children rent the cart on their own then you do not have the liability.

[bimmertl]

That is an insurance/legal question. In Florida owner of the car is responsible for damages that a driver causes. Not sure if same applies to the golf cart.

Florida's Dangerous Instrumentality laws apply.


Vehicle Ownership and Florida's Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine — Florida Injury Attorney Blawg — June 8, 2012 (https://www.floridainjuryattorneyblawg.com/vehicle-ownership-and-floridas/)


Golf Cart Injury and Accident Claims in Florida (https://www.justinziegler.net/golf-cart-injury-accident-claims-florida/)

[Laker14]

You don't need it. Your car insurance should cover it.

I'd highly recommend a conversation with your agent before taking this advice. It is completely contrary to what my insurance agent told me.

[joshgun]

I question if umbrella policy will cover golf cart liability. For my umbrella it only kicks in after the primary coverage is exhausted. With a rented cart there is no primary policy, so does umbrella respond at $1, no. You may be able to get a rider on umbrella, but you’re going to have to come up with what uou will pay first.

[Troop]

My brother uses Progressive Insurance for short term golf cart rental!

[ComingfromCT]

Previous discussion indicated the hang up is insuring something you don't knows. YMMV

Progressive and Foremost have been brought up in the past.

Florida Golf Cart Insurance Requirements | Progressive (https://www.progressive.com/answers/florida-golf-cart-insurance-requirements/)

Golf Cart Insurance: Get a Quote Online | Progressive (https://www.progressive.com/golf-cart/)


I am currently with Progressive and they won't cover me.
I also called Foremost and they won't cover it because it is rented.

[ComingfromCT]

No reason to sell something if you can not cover your costs. My Allstate policy is about 70 a year. My guess is you will have to buy an annual policy.

You need to be the owner of the golf cart to get their insurance.

[curtmcgee]

I can't believe all the wrong answers to this simple question. According to The Villages Insurance "about one half of all Golf Carts being driven around the Villages DO NOT have liability insurance because it isn't available to renters." There are what, about 55,000 Carts here? That sure makes for a huge problem.

[Michael 61]

I’m a retired auto claims manager - Most auto have fairly similar and standard definitions of what constitutes a “vehicle” - it must be licensed for use on public roads and highways. That excludes most golf carts. So unlike when you rent a car, and your insurance transfers to the rental (as long as you are driving the rental at time of loss), the same does NOT hold true for a golf cart rental, that is not licensed to be driven legally on public roads. Your claim would be denied.

[Worldseries27]

the easiest solution is to leave the cart at home and drive your car.

We have lived here 7 years and do not own a cart. We can easily go anywhere we want in our car.
bingo

[Laker14]

I am currently with Progressive and they won't cover me.
I also called Foremost and they won't cover it because it is rented.

you are exactly where I was 4 years ago, except that I had pretty much made the decision that I would be spending at least 3 or 4 months per year in TV. DW and I had not decided yet to buy a place, because we had not decided if we'd be here the 6 or 7 months/year that tipped the scales decidedly towards the financial sense of buying vs. renting.

I figured that if I bought, and decided a few years later this wasn't for me, I'd sell the cart, and the difference in cost probably wouldn't be any worse than renting a cart multiple times. If you are only here for a couple of weeks, you are probably better off, (safer financially, anyway) by just foregoing the "cart experience" associated with being in TV. Which is a shame, because it is, IMO, a really fun part of being here.

I never did a TV sponsored "Lifestyle Visit". I wonder how they handle it. I've always assumed that the "Lifestylers" have a cart at their disposal so they would get the full feel of the lifestyle, and be ever thus more inclined to drink the Kool-Aid.

[ckcapaul]

I am going to include a cart with my 3 month rental. Am I protected? Should I require the renter to be responsible?

When we first bought we rented our place out. Bought progressive insurance online and I could list our renter on the insurance policy. That way we were all covered

[Nana2Teddy]

you are exactly where I was 4 years ago, except that I had pretty much made the decision that I would be spending at least 3 or 4 months per year in TV. DW and I had not decided yet to buy a place, because we had not decided if we'd be here the 6 or 7 months/year that tipped the scales decidedly towards the financial sense of buying vs. renting.

I figured that if I bought, and decided a few years later this wasn't for me, I'd sell the cart, and the difference in cost probably wouldn't be any worse than renting a cart multiple times. If you are only here for a couple of weeks, you are probably better off, (safer financially, anyway) by just foregoing the "cart experience" associated with being in TV. Which is a shame, because it is, IMO, a really fun part of being here.

I never did a TV sponsored "Lifestyle Visit". I wonder how they handle it. I've always assumed that the "Lifestylers" have a cart at their disposal so they would get the full feel of the lifestyle, and be ever thus more inclined to drink the Kool-Aid.
On a lifestyle visit TV makes you sign a liability waiver. You assume all responsibility for driving the cart.

[Laker14]

On a lifestyle visit TV makes you sign a liability waiver. You assume all responsibility for driving the cart.

that's interesting. I hadn't really thought about it until I got into this thread. I was thinking that with all of the financial clout the developer has, and their interest in promoting TV, they'd have found a way to insure the lifestylers, just to avoid that one sliver of negativity.

[Sorrento19]

This is because you do not own the cart.
I would never rent from someone who does not insure their cart.

[FFlank]

Check with your insurer. We are covered by USAA and I had the same question. USAA's coverage extends to rented or borrowed vehicles, and they have a list of the types of vehicles coverage is extended to...among other types (RVs, small moving vans, etc), "golf carts" and other low speed vehicles. As long as you are borrowing or renting within the USA, you would be covered according to their phone representative. I'm sure every company is different, so definitely call yours...

[Laker14]

Check with your insurer. We are covered by USAA and I had the same question. USAA's coverage extends to rented or borrowed vehicles, and they have a list of the types of vehicles coverage is extended to...among other types (RVs, small moving vans, etc), "golf carts" and other low speed vehicles. As long as you are borrowing or renting within the USA, you would be covered according to their phone representative. I'm sure every company is different, so definitely call yours...

I'm not surprised to hear that USAA covers this. They are a great company. Unfortunately for many of us, they won't insure us because their focus is military personnel. I have a pile driven dock on a lake in NY State. There is some risk of ice damage in harsh winters. The only people I know who were able to get coverage against ice damage are retired military, through USAA.

[wamley]

Ask your Credit Card provider. They insure rented cars all the time.

[Rainger99]

We rented our first few months in the Villages and a cart was included in the rental. However, the landlord had us sign a rider that said we were responsible for any accident involving the cart. It sounded like if we were at a light and were rear-ended that we would be responsible for the damage to his cart!

I spent several days trying to get insurance on the rental and couldn’t get it because I didn’t own it. I asked the landlord to insure it and told him that I would pay for the three months of coverage. It was under $200 a year. After I moved out, I told him he could charge his other tenants for the insurance coverage so it wouldn’t cost him a penny. He refused to take out the policy so we didn’t use the cart the entire three months.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

We rented our first few months in the Villages and a cart was included in the rental. However, the landlord had us sign a rider that said we were responsible for any accident involving the cart. It sounded like if we were at a light and were rear-ended that we would be responsible for the damage to his cart!

I spent several days trying to get insurance on the rental and couldn’t get it because I didn’t own it. I asked the landlord to insure it and told him that I would pay for the three months of coverage. It was under $200 a year. After I moved out, I told him he could charge his other tenants for the insurance coverage so it wouldn’t cost him a penny. He refused to take out the policy so we didn’t use the cart the entire three months.
Some winters when I’m away I rent out my home , I don’t own a golf cart , but I didn’t even want a rental in my garage , liability always concerned me , so I always said no carts , but in a few of my homes they did get a nice golf course view .

[ElDiabloJoe]

I'm not surprised to hear that USAA covers this. They are a great company. Unfortunately for many of us, they won't insure us because their focus is military personnel. I have a pile driven dock on a lake in NY State. There is some risk of ice damage in harsh winters. The only people I know who were able to get coverage against ice damage are retired military, through USAA.
We have a pile driven dock as well. We have a replacement value clause on the homeowners insurance via Erie for this purpose.

[ElDiabloJoe]

When we rented the first year we came here we ‘bought’ the cart for the going price, paid $1 down, with the stipulation that we could return the cart within the rental period for a full refund of the ‘purchase price’ if we were ‘dissatisfied’ with it. The rent for the cart was in the rent for the house. Then we insured ‘our newly purchased’ cart. We of course returned the cart at the end of our house rental period. I don’t remember if we got our $1 back, but that has never been a concern.

^ This sounds like an outstanding solution. As long as there is a spoken, non-binding understanding (wink-wink-nudge-nudge) that the renters always intend to find the golf cart unsatisfactory by the end of the rental period and they don't ACTUALLY try to buy it.

[Rainger99]

Here's a discussion from five years ago. Seems like nothing has been resolved!

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/golf-cart-insurance-available-renters-253270/