Golf Cart Insurance for Landlords Update?
 

I'm posting this for friends who own a CYV which they rent out for most of the year. Are there any updates about landlords insuring their golf carts for their renters? They have always included the golf cart in their rental, but now as they sign up renters for next year and beyond they are concerned about their coverage (I think they have Allstate presently). I've read last fall's thread, does anyone have any updates on coverage?
As always, thanks in advance!

Just make a phone call to The Villages Insurance. They are brokers for all major companies and would be able to give you the most recent information regarding golf cart insurance for your friend's renters.

Just imagine the terrible possibility of losing everything you have worked for if renters had a bad cart accident and you, as the landlord, were held responsible and it was not covered by insurance.

Update from our insurance not covered even if my parents are the renters

I have rented the past three years and always had a cart. I called my own insurance company to see if I was covered and they said yes. Each time I rented I had to sign a release and that I was responsible for any and all damages. I have never had a problem with the agreement.

After reading comments about insurance coverage I again called my agent last week and they again said that I would be covered either with my auto policy or homeowners policy depending where any accidents take place (cart path or roadway).

VG

Sounds like you are the renter...the issue here is would the person renting the property (with a golf cart) be covered.

I never rented my cart with house.To much risk.Just lower your rent a few hundred a month and have no worries

I would get that in writing Virtual Geezer.

Sounds like the Villages Cart rentals will need to triple inventory. I feel safer now. 3X the amount of white numbered elephants going 12mph. Who is insuring them? Won't they be the same people the insurance companies are rejecting?

Golf cart insurance for Landlords
 

I've been advised by my insurance provider that all existing golf cart insurance policies for renters are grandfathered in; however, no new golf cart policies will be issued. Wish I had better news for you! It is a problem.

I had this same coversation with our agent yesterday and came away with the same information. He emailed us a recap of what we discussed, said he'd keep a copy, and advised us to do the same. Our coverage would be under our homeowners liability and bodily injury provisons.

We are considering renting sometime this fall and thought we'd ask the question of golf cart coverage.

As I understand it, the owner's policy covers the owner(s) and anyone they give permission to (not written in a lease) but the issue for me really is what to do about someone that may be hit by a renter, who may sue the renter and us the owners. The renter may have insurance but we would not be protected from the third party. We have decided to try not to rent this year and see if we can get by. If not, then we will have to rent our CYV without the cart.


LW888

When I called The Villages Property Management to get some information on their rentals, they said something to the effect that they no longer rent properties with carts included. Obviously the other rental sites have home w/carts.

The Villages Property Management has not had any listings that included a golf since at least 2008 when I rented a place through them. In 2008 Property Management (at least their rental division) was still owned by the developer.

VG

The whole insurance issue brings up and interesting question and that is what are all the property owners doing with their carts if they are not including them with their property rental?

VG

Put up front in garage ,As said before if someone gets hurt bad you better have a lot of Ins. and if cart has been altered for speed look out your ins.may not cover.People get waivers signed for different things that's not full proof.Attorney told me don,t rent cart at all.

Golf Cart Liability
 

We have been renting in TV for many years and have come across this very issue with golf carts. When I called my insurance company I was informed that I would not be covered by my insurance nor could I purchase insurance to protect me when operating another's cart. When we tried to purchase insurance from one of the local Villages insurers we were informed that because we did not own said cart we could not insure it. That said, I refuse to drive a rental cart unless the owner of the cart can show me it is properly insured; and proper insurance is not a homeowner's insurance. For all you folks that have carts with your rental units be aware that you are liable for the actions of the person you allow to drive the cart.

In 1920, the Florida Supreme Court, in Southern Cotton Oil Co. v. Anderson, 80 Fla. 441, 86 So. 629 (1920), applied the dangerous-instrumentality doctrine to automobiles. The significance of the holding is that owners of automobiles are responsible for personal injuries caused through the negligence of those who drive their vehicles. The legal theory that holds the owner accountable is known as vicarious liability. In 1984, the Florida Supreme Court expanded the dangerous-instrumentality doctrine to include golf carts, even those being used on the golf course. Meister v. Fisher, 462 So. 2d 1071 Fla. 1984).

Don't take my word for it, GOOGLE Meister v. Fisher and read it for yourself.

As a landlord that includes a golf cart with your rental I doubt you can sign away your liability to the renter under these court decisions.

If it is possible to lease a car and obtain insurance as the lessee, why can one not obtain insurance on a golf cart as a lessee? Seems like this represents a profitable opportunity for an enterprising agency.

Except for the lack of operator licensure, therefore no control over the qualification of the driver.

Who covers the insurance on the carts that are used in a LSV?

VG

think twice before lending your cart...
 

Under Florida's motor vehicle law, a golf cart is a dangerous instrumentality.*See Meister v. Fisher, 462 So.2d 1071 (Fla. 1985) ("Golf cart is a dangerous instrumentality for purposes of imposition of liability on owner.") The owner of a golf cart, because it is a dangerous instrumentality, is responsible for the damages caused by anyone using it with the owner's permission. Accordingly, it is critical to purchase liability coverage in case property damage or bodily injury results from a golf cart incident, regardless of who is using it - if you are the owner, or if you will be using a golf cart on a regular basis. The unfortunate reality is that owners of automobiles and golf carts are almost always named as defendants in lawsuits to answer for damages -- even if they were not driving or present at the time of the crash.
So let me get this straight... i worked my whole life to have a great life in TV to possibly lose it all to save a neighbor a few bucks cart rental fee when his guest are in town... not me

Good question. There must be some liability coverage for the LSV visits.