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Discussion on Insurance on horse trailers?
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Member:
Erinport
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 12:06 pm:
Hi All-
This may seem a somewhat strange question, but we're new to horses and trailering, and are doing our best to start off right.
We are trying to find out whether or not it's necessary to insure a horse trailer. I believe that a trailer, or any contents on/in it are excluded from your typical auto insurance policy. Is that correct? If so, what happens if you hit someone with your horse trailer while backing, or something similar? Does your auto insurance cover it, or are you up a creek?
I hesitate to ask our insurance agent, because I feel we would get a biased answer. "Of course you need insurance on it! That will be $---". I don't want someone to sell me insurance, I'm just trying to find out if it's necessary. Anything anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated! Any insurance agents out there with an objective opinion? Thanks!
Erin
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 12:18 pm:
Erin, I am interested to know the answer to your question. In Vermont, it seemed that insurance on trailers was required, but here in California, I've been told that it isn't, which leads me to believe that the requirements vary from state to state.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 12:44 pm:
I would first read your policy over and see what is covered. Some ranch policies will cover your horse trailer too. or will cover liability at least. Otherwise, it's my opinion that the trailer should at least be covered for liability which would include coverage for any horses you are hauling which aren't your own.
Our trailer and truck are covered under our ranch policy, both collision and liability, and we have an umbrella policy also. But, we haul not just our own horses, but other's broodmares, etc. too
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 1:31 pm:
Oh, do I envy you people sometimes.
In Greece, the authorities can not issue a licence for a horse trailer, simply because such a licence does not exist. Yet it is absolutely illegal to tow anything without a licence.
Insurance? In the next century, perhaps...
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Member:
Terrilyn
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 2:19 pm:
I believe it does vary from state to state. I carry insurance on my horse trailer (I'm in Virginia), but while my trailer is hooked to my truck it is covered under the truck's policy. I checked with USAA, my insurer (probably one of the best possible companies in the US to have coverage with), and they cover my trailer under the roadside assistance plan I have as well. My insurance on the trailer only costs an extra $60 a year. Worth it for a little more peace of mind. You may also check with USRider, a carrier of insurance specific to horse trailering. I believe their policies start at $100+ a year. Happy towing. 
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 2:53 pm:
Christos - one reason we have to have insurance is because we must carry liability incase someone is injured, or their horse is injured in or by our cars/trucks/trailers or on our property. People in this country are "sue happy" and will take you to court over a scratch, real or perceived, if they think they can get money out of it.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 2:57 pm:
Erin - another thing to consider - if you have AAA roadside assistance, your trailer is not covered unless you add it. I think it's another $50/yr or so. Well worth it if you trailer a lot as they will then change a tire on the trailer, or tow your trailer if need be. However, that said, anytime I've had a problem, I've been so far away from civilization that I've had to rely on my self to change the tires. So, tirechanging as well as knowing how to change any batteries, fuses, etc. are good things to practice.
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Member:
Nadia
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 4:02 pm:
There was a discussion about 6 months ago - search for Emergency Towing. I don't have a trailer, but hope to in the near future! My AAA is expiring at the end of this month and I am going to sign up with this:
https://www.usrider.org/index2.html
Under Benefits - there is some mention of Liability Insurance....maybe this can help you can call them.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 4:49 pm:
I believe insurance is necessary nowadays, Sara.
If you're into it anyway, in a forced (sue happy neighbours) way or not, you may not realise how insecure our modern world feels from horseback without one!
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 7:20 pm:
Christos- yes, insurance of all kinds in a necessary evil, I'm afraid. Here we must have health insurance, collission and liability for our vehicles, all kinds of insurance for our homes and property, etc.....it becomes very expensive.
Are people in Greece inclined to sue you if their yard is walked on by your horse? Some people here will, let alone if they are kicked or bitten. Some states here are worse than others. I think New York and California are probably the worst. In California I had a friend who was sued because someone walked into her bumper and scratched her leg. The woman said it was my friends fault because she pulled forward too far in the parking space!! I hope it is not that bad in Greece.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Friday, May 6, 2005 - 8:04 pm:
No, Sara, people don't sue you around here, but that's just because you get nowhere with Greek courts, whether you're right or wrong.
I remember an incident outside the racetrack, an impatient driver honked at a stallion and the b****y monster literally destroyed the front of the car without chipping a hoof. We're talking 10 kicks or so with both legs! That was 1994 and the case is still in court.
Last year, in a local event, one of the horses backed, frightened from the band and ended up sitting on the hood of a patrol car. Everybody found it very amusing, the Police included. Nobody was charged for the damage.
However, 2 years ago in Heraklion, Crete, 20 horses and a donkey got loose on a main road. Somehow the donkey's chain got wrapped around the mirror of the District Attorney's Jaguar and ripped it off. Within a month the owner of the barn was fined 150000 Euro, not because it was the DA's car (of course not ) but because of the potential tragedy all these horses on the road could have caused.
So you rarely end up in court around here, but if you do you better be insured.
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Member:
Trouble
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Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 2:18 pm:
Erin,
I am in Indiana where insurance is not required on the horse trailer which is covered while being towed. However, we do insure the trailer anyway in case something happens while we are not towing.
I only have a 2-horse stock type trailer, but we had an ice storm recently and I was glad we had insurance as we have lots of trees. Fortunately, we did not have much damage to the trailer. I believe our policy is less than $60.00/yr.
On another note, my insurance agent set us up with a rural farm policy on our homeowners insurance because of the horses. He says we would be liable if the horses got out and injured someone or got hit. Many people with horses do not carry any additional liability, but I have read about some nasty incidents involving loose horses and I don't think anyone should be without liability coverage if they own a horse.
I would have never thought to have anything like this since I don't board and my horses are just backyard pets, but the liability issue is there if you have a horse on your property.
Lisa
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 2:51 pm:
Lisa - a good reminder; liability is a must for your home, property, vehicles, and animals. A lot of home owner policies won't cover horses, you have to have a seperate libility coverage for them. It only takes one incedent and law suit to loose everything you have, and don't think it won't happen to you, because it can.
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 4:55 pm:
Here in Florida automobile insurance policies cover some things having to do with horse trailers being towed by the insured vehicle, but there is not adequate coverage for damages by storms, etc., when the trailer is parked at home, so I carry an extra policy with my home insurance firm --State Farm -- so absolutely any loss is covered, plus it gives liability coverage. It costs just over $50 per year. When being towed, coverage applies only if an immediate family member is the driver. It was good to know I had all the coverage I needed when all the hurricanes blew through here last year. A friend of mine who didn't have extra coverage parked her trailer out in the middle of a big, open pasture where there was less risk of anything collapsing on top of it, because that kind of damange would not have been covered.
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