Golf Cart Ins. For Rental
 

I am including the use of my golf cart with my house rental but I am concerned with any liability risks. Does anyone have any experience with including a golf cart with your house rental?
Kevin dimondangels@yahoo.com

The only *possible* company that I know of might be Foremost Insurance.

I can tell you that when we took out our golf cart policy with Foremost, we were specifically asked if we made the cart available to renters. We do not rent so the answer was an easy no. That being said, if I answered yes I do not know if they would have denied us coverage or just charged a larger premium? I would call an insurance agent and ask.

Golf Cart Insurance for Renters
 

I would have the renters secure their own cart insurance for the entire rental period and provide proof.

I don't think there is a good solution to your problem. You will be putting yourself at risk unless you buy your own liability coverage for a substantial amount of coverage. And, the insurance cost would be too high to make it worth the rental income. I would tell the tenant to rent their own golf cart.

Certainly, the premium would be higher for a rental than for personal use. I agree with retiredguy that the renters should rent their own cart. It shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

You cannot insure something that belongs to someone else. You must have an insurable interest in something to insure it. No insurance company will insure someone else’s golf car for a person who does not own it.

Primarily for liability reasons, I did not include a golf cart with my rental. Instead, I contacted a cart rental service and arranged a cart for my tenants, who were responsible for leasing and insuring the card.

We insured through The Villages who got us hooked up with Foremost. The first year or two they didn’t cover renters. They then changed their coverage. We put in our lease terms that the guests are only covered as far as our policy allows.

Our attorney advised us to place our rental in an LLP to limit our personal liability for anything a renter may do. I.e. tripping on a rug, slipping and falling in the garage after a rain etc. I would check with an attorney to see what is the best approach for your rental property and cart.

This is my understanding as well. Coverage was updated to include renters for a nominal increase (less than $50) in premium. For many renters lack of a golf cart could be a deal breaker.

There is one answer if a renter hurts or kills someone in a golf cart accident "you" the owner will be on the hook. It doesn't matter what your renters sign to accept liability it will fall on the owner of the golf cart if the injured decide to sue. It's a huge liability to let renters use a golf cart or for that matter to lend one out. Proceed with that knowledge as owners give golf carts all the time with rentals.

You can insist your renter takes out insurance ( not expensive at all) or you can add insurance to your car insurance ( also not expensive ?
Either way you NEED to be covered

Yes that is who I have

I rented my house for a couple of years before I moved down permanently. My attorney drew up a one page document that for the renters that held me harmless and excepting full responsibility should the get in an accident. They were told to contact their own insurance company to see if their homeowners or other policies would cover them.

Interesting. Have you had any claims from renters?

I don't see how that one page document would prevent someone else, who is injured, from suing you as the owner of the golf cart.

That is incorrect. Last year I went to Arizona for a few weeks and rented a home with a golf cart. I contacted my insurance company and they said as long as the cart was no registered as a street vehicle any liability would be covered under my homeowners and umbrella policies.

Interesting. Have any of your renters made claims? Did your insurance carrier approve the Hold Harmless?

I’m always amazed with number of investment income properties (rentals) in our retirement community. It’s like living in a Vacation Club Community.

How much liability coverage do you get for $50?

Was it just a phone call to an agent? Did they put it in writing? I don't see how a homeowners or umbrella policy would cover a liability that is in no way related to your house, especially if you are driving the cart on public roads.

I got insurance for thru Villages

I would just point out the The Villages property management company does not include a golf cart with the houses that they rent. The reason is that they don't want to incur the liability.

I purchased a policy from Progressive, it’s $110. Per year. Call them for a quote

Nice thought but they cannot get Insurance on the Cart they do not own. You can get insurance and then charge a Tenant a Fee to cover your cost as an option. I manage 40+ rentals in The Villages and in the Past my Owners have gotten Liability Insurance thru Allstate & State Farm. As long as you do not advertise the cart as part of the Rental they will cover anyone of age driving the Cart

I don’t think it would be competitive to rent out your house vs other houses for rent if the renter had to purchase insurance for a golf cart when your house is already covered
under a insurance policy . I wouldn’t use the golf cart or rent the house .
Consider short term leases , what do they do ?

I had my golf cart insured through Progressive. I could add renters for the specific period of rental with the same coverage.

I think the Renter can add golf cart insurance to his automobile policy

Does that mean if I borrow a set of golf clubs from my neighbor and I hit someone in the head with a golf ball that my neighbor is responsible? I think this goes under the category that you can sue anyone for anything.

Contact The Villages Insurance and they will tell you Foremost now covers golf carts for tenants in rental properties. I have this special plan now on our rental property.
Always wise to also have an large umbrella policy when you have rental property.
We in the past had it under a LLC but in talking to lawyers they say LLC's can be easily pierced in a court of law.
One can never have enough protection.

An Umbrella policy only comes into effect once all other insurances you have are exhausted. Umbrella policies cover everything you own, Home, Autos, Golf Carts, Boats etc. Your loss on a claim would have to be very catastrophic to use the Umbrella.

Foremost covers all of our golf carts, even those we have in our rentals. You do need to assign each cart to an address where it will usually will be housed, and which of those are rentals.

They have been great, even when renters have gotten into an accident. I highly recommend Foremost.

Not one comment was based on the fact of an actual legal preceding, brought on by an event.
Just a bunch of opinions.

Yes. We rent our villa with our cart. Last year we were with Foremost & this year we went with Progressive as they also began offering insurance for ‘permissive use of golf cart’ as advised by the agent we use at Villages Insurance. No problem.

Rental insurance for Golf Carts for the year is less than 100.00 a year. Mine is insured thru Esurance. there are a few companies that insure golf carts for rentals. Make sure your home is insured for renters also, its only about a 50.00 a year increase in premium to let your Home policy cover renters.

I used to include a golf cart with my rental, but getting insurance for it was such a problem that I stopped providing the cart. There are several cart rental places available in the area. It is then the renter's choice whether or not to rent an electric cart or a gas cart. it works for me.

Golf Cart with rental unit
 

I had a rental unit until this past fall, I included a golf cart with the rental. The Villages Insurance connected me with Foremost Insurance. They do cover renters. I think there are several good Ideas with a liability waiver too.

Foremost is insurance with the villages. If you contact anyone who has that coverage it is cheaper. All services thru the villages is crazy high and you can get better coverage

You should read your policy. The homeowners might cover you on a golf course, but not off the course. If you read the liability section of your policy it is very clearly stated.