Month: June 2021
Personal Watercraft Insurance
Being Midwesterners in Oswego, Montgomery and Morris (IL), when the sun and warmth of summer arrive, we want to make the most of it.
One way to celebrate summer is with recreation on a personal watercraft such as a Jet Ski or a WaveRunner. While fun and exciting, a watercraft can sometimes involve an injury or an accident. A watercraft is also an investment you may wish to protect.
Some homeowners policies might provide limited coverage for small boats. Most do not cover personal watercraft such as WaveRunners and Jet Skis. By covering you for damage, theft and liability, personal watercraft insurance can help you enjoy your watercraft even more by providing the risk protection you need.
What Is Personal Watercraft Insurance?
Watercraft insurance policies provide coverage for smaller water vehicles such as WaveRunners and Jet Skis; coverage for larger boats is also available. The size, type, value and age of your watercraft will determine the cost of coverage. Where you plan to operate the watercraft will factor in as well.
Depending on the coverage selected, a personal watercraft policy can insure you or someone you’ve allowed to operate your watercraft for incidents that result in:
- bodily injury to another person by your watercraft
- bodily injury to you caused by an uninsured watercraft operator
- negligence of another operator using your watercraft
- property damage such as that to another watercraft or a dock
- damage to your watercraft that requires you to repair or replace it
- liability for legal costs if you are sued because of an accident; personal watercraft insurance can also include liability for water sports such as waterskiing
- theft or vandalism of the watercraft
- towing of a watercraft if it breaks down or is involved in an accident on the water
Some policies may include certain exclusions. For example, the insurance might not cover operation of the watercraft when it is dark out. It might also not insure a watercraft that has been modified for greater performance and speed.
Personal Watercraft Insurance: Recovery Value
Personal watercraft insurance typically offers two primary types of financial recovery in the event of a total loss from an accident: replacement cost and agreed value.
Replacement cost coverage will pay for a new version of the same watercraft if it is damaged beyond repair within the first 36 months of its purchase. The new watercraft can include the same options and features that the original one did.
With agreed value coverage, you establish a value for the watercraft when you begin the policy. If the watercraft is a total loss after an accident, the insurer pays that set value.
Personal Watercraft Insurance: Other Features
Depending on the carrier, some personal watercraft insurance may include extra benefits such as special policy discounts or a disappearing deductible for incidents involving a total loss of the watercraft. Some carriers might also offer extended coverage for boats that are older than the usual age limits.
The key to finding these sometimes-hidden features is working with a local independent insurance agent with access to many different types of insurance carriers and coverages. A local independent agent will work for you – not for the carrier – in putting together the ideal insurance scenario for the personal watercraft you wish to protect.
Find the Right Cost and Coverage for You
Hometowne Insurance serves Oswego, Montgomery and Morris (IL) with the knowledge and resources that result in personalized insurance coverage and plans. Kawasaki, Yamaha, Sea-Doo – whatever your brand and model might be, we can provide you with the coverage comparisons that lead to greater peace of mind while you’re having a blast on the water.
Contact us today to discuss your personal watercraft insurance in Oswego, Montgomery or Morris.
Oswego/Montgomery: (630) 554-4040
Morris: (815) 942-1312
Email us
We also offer personal watercraft insurance options for nearby communities such as Aurora, Batavia, Yorkville, Plano, Plainfield and Naperville.