Golf Carts and Liability Insurance

[JourneyOfLife]

If you drive a Golf Cart for general transportation purposes, are you covered by any sort of liability insurance?

[mulligan]

I suppose you would be if you purchase it, but it's not required.

[sjdjmd]

We have golf cart insurance through AAA. Very reasonable.

[buggyone]

If you do not have golf cart insurance and get in an accident that is your fault, you may very well be wiped out financially.

[JourneyOfLife]

If you do not have golf cart insurance and get in an accident that is your fault, you may very well be wiped out financially.

That would be at the top of my list of concerns.

[ilovetv]

Thinking people buy a separate golf cart policy that covers liability, property damage, medical payments, somewhat similar to an auto policy. It's quite affordable (ours is $140/year) thru independent agency The Villages Ins. It's worth every penny and Allstate, State Farm and AAA offer these policies too.

What NON-thinking people refuse to look at is that these policies are not available on golf carts provided in a rental home here. Nor are rental home carts covered on the homeowner policy the landlord has on the property!

People who think they're getting a better deal on a rental home because it includes a golf cart are asleep at the wheel, with life-altering exposure in case of an accident having personal injury or death.

And then there are the visiting grandchildren and their parents, not only driving but speeding in the cart their parents' or grandparents' rental home landlord has included....total insanity!

THINK!

[BettyCrocked]

What NON-thinking people refuse to look at is that these policies are not available on golf carts provided in a rental home here. Nor are rental home carts covered on the homeowner policy the landlord has on the property!

People who think they're getting a better deal on a rental home because it includes a golf cart are asleep at the wheel, with life-altering exposure in case of an accident having personal injury or death.

And then there are the visiting grandchildren and their parents, not only driving but speeding in the cart their parents' or grandparents' rental home landlord has included....total insanity!

THINK!

Not true at all. Allstate will insure a golf cart that is used in a rental home.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

We have golf cart insurance through AAA. Very reasonable.

Us too

[ilovetv]

Not true at all. Allstate will insure a golf cart that is used in a rental home.

Some people with older policies have them continued on ("grandfathered in") as existing policies before the companies stopped writing them here.....as is happening with sinkhole coverage!

[BettyCrocked]

Some people with older policies have them continued on ("grandfathered in") as existing policies before the companies stopped writing them here.....as is happening with sinkhole coverage!

I just purchased it last week. I was not grandfathered in as I have never had insurance with Allstate.

[graciegirl]

If you do not have golf cart insurance and get in an accident that is your fault, you may very well be wiped out financially.

I agree with you again, buggyone!!:ho:

[rubicon]

I carry full coverage on my golf cart. I suspect that the bill sponsored by Marlene O'tolle to get LSV de-certified so that the LSV owners can drop their spped and thus drop higher insirance rates is going to catch the eye of insurers. Because if they reduce premiums because the speed on these vehciles is reduced then the opposite could also be true. so if you have a golf cart that you juiced up the you could be getting a insurance rate boost

[Bay Kid]

I bought full coverage that will repair or replace my cart. At the cost of carts it is a good investment.

[JourneyOfLife]

It looks like there is already a link on this topic in the "All About Golf Carts and Things" forum on TOTV

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/all-about-golf-carts-things-156/weve-asked-attorney-address-golf-cart-insurance-must-read-24097/

[ijusluvit]

Thinking people buy a separate golf cart policy that covers liability, property damage, medical payments, somewhat similar to an auto policy. It's quite affordable (ours is $140/year) thru independent agency The Villages Ins. It's worth every penny and Allstate, State Farm and AAA offer these policies too.

What NON-thinking people refuse to look at is that these policies are not available on golf carts provided in a rental home here. Nor are rental home carts covered on the homeowner policy the landlord has on the property!

People who think they're getting a better deal on a rental home because it includes a golf cart are asleep at the wheel, with life-altering exposure in case of an accident having personal injury or death.

And then there are the visiting grandchildren and their parents, not only driving but speeding in the cart their parents' or grandparents' rental home landlord has included....total insanity!

THINK!

Yes, this post is entirely incorrect about no company providing full insurance, including liability to owners who allow renters to use their cart. Allstate does provide such insurance, and by special arrangements with their head offices in Chicago, have done so in TV for about the last six months.

But what amazes me is the number of folks who think they are getting such a great deal on cart insurance at premiums of $100-140 from agencies like AAA, or The Villages. Despite being a new customer with them, The Allstate policy, for identical coverage and the extension of all insurance to a renter using my cart is a total of $62.

[patfla06]

Thanks for the great info! Will definitely insure our cart.:icon_wink:

[gomoho]

Yes, this post is entirely incorrect about no company providing full insurance, including liability to owners who allow renters to use their cart. Allstate does provide such insurance, and by special arrangements with their head offices in Chicago, have done so in TV for about the last six months.

But what amazes me is the number of folks who think they are getting such a great deal on cart insurance at premiums of $100-140 from agencies like AAA, or The Villages. Despite being a new customer with them, The Allstate policy, for identical coverage and the extension of all insurance to a renter using my cart is a total of $62.

Do you have full coverage for liability, physical damage/comprehensive and collision and what are the limits. What are the deductibles and limits of liability. Paying more than twice that amount and a refusal to cover renters so I am VERY interested in this information. I assume this is a new cart?

[ijusluvit]

Do you have full coverage for liability, physical damage/comprehensive and collision and what are the limits. What are the deductibles and limits of liability. Paying more than twice that amount and a refusal to cover renters so I am VERY interested in this information. I assume this is a new cart?

My Allstate coverage is similar to what I have had in the past: $250k bodily injury $500 liability, (including passenger liability coverage), and 100k property damage liability. There are $250 collision and comp deductibles. Again, all remains in force if I let a renter use my cart. My cart is several years old.

[gjbl8114]

It is not a good idea to take such important information from these posts as being correct. It would be wise to contact one of the local insurance companies personally to get the correct answer to your coverage or liability questions answered. Many will be shocked to know the truth about golf cart coverage for carts driven outside of the to and fro of a golf course as well as other situations involving carts. We have a very reasonable policy with Allstate that covers our concerns....

[teamC]

Can you please share cost of insurance? Are there different options available to choose from? Do you have to have your car or homeowners with them too?

[gingersnap]

, all remains in force if I let a renter use my cart.

We are confused. My husband just called Allstate this AM regarding the use of golf carts by renters. He was told that if he loans our cart to someone it is covered by the insurance. However, if the cart is used by a renter of our property, it becomes a "business" and they will not cover it. :confused: Very grey area....

Who is your agent? Phone number?

[BettyCrocked]

We are confused. My husband just called Allstate this AM regarding the use of golf carts by renters. He was told that if he loans our cart to someone it is covered by the insurance. However, if the cart is used by a renter of our property, it becomes a "business" and they will not cover it. :confused: Very grey area....

Who is your agent? Phone number?

Our Allstate agent stated that it must be clear in the rental contract that you are loaning your golf cart to the renters. You are renting the home, you are not renting the golf cart.

[downeaster]

Insurance companies depend on the applicant furnishing correct information. If you apply to insure a golf cart and that cart is capable of exceeding 20MPH you have actually applied to insure an unregistered motor vehicle as that cart is no longer a golf cart in the eyes of the law. If you are subsequently involved in an accident, regardless of fault, the insurance company has grounds to deny the claim. Insurance companies are not known for paying claims they can deny.

If you are driving a rental cart or a loaner, make certain it is legal and properly insured. If you own a cart that is capable of exceeding 20MPH you are taking unnecessary risks. Letting someone else drive it only increases the risks.

I agree with rubicon in a previous post. Maureen O'Toole's bill will not be ignored by the insurance companies.

[bimmertl]

Our Allstate agent stated that it must be clear in the rental contract that you are loaning your golf cart to the renters. You are renting the home, you are not renting the golf cart.

You can't use the cart unless you rent the house. So the use of the cart is contingent on the home rental so the cart is subject to a rental agreement. The policy excludes coverage for insured vehicles that are rented to others.

The only thing you have in writing is the insurance policy. The claim department isn't going to buy the agents "don't worry it's covered" theory. So ask the agent to put his extension of coverage in writing under his name. 10 to 1 he refuses to do it.

He would most likely have to review the rental contract, agree the language in it meets his criteria and then provide a written extension of coverage based upon his interpretation of the policy and contract. This is way beyond the capabilities of and insurance agent.

[ijusluvit]

We are confused. My husband just called Allstate this AM regarding the use of golf carts by renters. He was told that if he loans our cart to someone it is covered by the insurance. However, if the cart is used by a renter of our property, it becomes a "business" and they will not cover it. :confused: Very grey area....

Who is your agent? Phone number?

What the agent told you is correct. Not sure why that is confusing. I dealt with Sharon Ward at the McDonald Allstate agency on Hwy 441.

[ijusluvit]

Our Allstate agent stated that it must be clear in the rental contract that you are loaning your golf cart to the renters. You are renting the home, you are not renting the golf cart.

Correct. This is how Allstate got permission from their home office to insure carts owned by folks who rent their homes and want to provide a cart. They LOAN their carts to their guests.

A few months ago my agent said no company in the TV area will insure rental carts. This means companies which rent carts no longer have insurance, nor can they provide any to cover those who rent their carts. Maybe The Villages doesn't worry about this much because they are self insured, but I would think all those smaller companies would be a little nervous about continuing to rent carts.

I haven't heard anything new on this subject recently.

[gomoho]

The question is do you have any of this information in writing from Allstate. Do they specifically mention if you rent your home, but loan your golf cart, it is covered. If not I wouldn't want to take on Allstate if they deny a claim and you only have the agent's word.

[ijusluvit]

The question is do you have any of this information in writing from Allstate. Do they specifically mention if you rent your home, but loan your golf cart, it is covered. If not I wouldn't want to take on Allstate if they deny a claim and you only have the agent's word.

I do not share the skepticism. What I have is a policy which has no clause which prohibits a person who rents a home from allowing a guest to use his golf cart. This type of clause is what all of the companies insuring carts added to their policies in 2012. Allstate do so as well. Then the local offices of that company got together and petitioned their home office to eliminate the clause because TV is a rather unique place and a significant number of their customers rented their homes and wanted to accommodate their guests with golf cart use. The clause was eliminated for policies that are now written here locally.

What this means is that without a specific prohibition of use, standard insurance rules apply. For example, I think it is somewhat universal that you may give any licensed driver permission to borrow your car, or any other type of insured vehicle, regardless of where you live, and both of you are covered in the event of an accident.

[sueandskip]

Thinking people buy a separate golf cart policy that covers liability, property damage, medical payments, somewhat similar to an auto policy. It's quite affordable (ours is $140/year) thru independent agency The Villages Ins. It's worth every penny and Allstate, State Farm and AAA offer these policies too.

What NON-thinking people refuse to look at is that these policies are not available on golf carts provided in a rental home here. Nor are rental home carts covered on the homeowner policy the landlord has on the property!

People who think they're getting a better deal on a rental home because it includes a golf cart are asleep at the wheel, with life-altering exposure in case of an accident having personal injury or death.

And then there are the visiting grandchildren and their parents, not only driving but speeding in the cart their parents' or grandparents' rental home landlord has included....total insanity!

THINK!

Not to start an argument but I have golf cart insurance for a rental and it was from Allstate, and yes It is in writing...but there is specific guidelines for it ,to have it...

[buggyone]

First, I have no rental property so I have no dog in this fight. However, IF I did rent a Villages house to someone, I would NOT include a golf cart. Let them rent that separate.

The insurance question has been around for awhile on golf carts. I would not take a chance on an insurance company reneging on what the agent said about coverage of a renter being LOANED the golf cart. That sounds mighty suspicious to me.

I would not take a chance on the renter having an accident and then I ended up being sued without insurance coverage and ANY possibility of me losing everything I worked for so many years.

That is my opinion. It is not to argue. To me, it is common sense.

[skip0358]

I just called Allstate for a quote. They were the same price as my existing Company ( Foremost) for the exact same coverages on both golf carts. So I'll stay put but thanks for the info on Allstate.