ATV Insurance Ontario

ATV Insurance Ontario

Do I Need ATV Insurance In Ontario?

Whether it be for sport, adventure or a means of travel on your property, an ATV is certainly a fun investment for many residents of Ontario. While this vehicle is not generally driven on roads, it still requires insurance if you plan to use it on public property, such as crossing public roads, permitted road shoulders, park trails and parking lots.

If you just purchased your first ATV, you may be wondering what kind of insurance you need to ride it legally. As your new all-terrain vehicle is designed for off-roading, there is potential for accidents and injuries and having ATV insurance becomes essential. As insurance requirements vary among provinces, let’s dive into which coverages you need for ATV insurance in Ontario.

What is Ontario ATV Insurance?

ATV insurance is very similar to car insurance and protects all types of all-terrain vehicles. It works like your other insurance policies except that it is catered to the unique risks of owning and driving an ATV. It protects you from liability and financial impact in the event that you are involved in a collision that causes third-party injury or property damage.

What Insurance Do I Need for my ATV in Ontario?

There are a multitude of coverages you can purchase to protect yourself and your ATV. While many of them are optional, the following coverages are mandatory in Ontario if you plan to use your ATV on public property:

  • General Liability Insurance
  • Bodily Insurance Liability Insurance
  • Property Damage Liability Coverage
  • Accident Benefits Coverage
  • Direct Compensation Property Damage
  • Uninsured Automobile Coverage

While coverage is not required if you intend to use your ATV strictly on private property, it is still strongly recommended. Below, we further explore the mandatory insurance coverage as well as additional coverage you can purchase for your ATV. 

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance protects you if you cause injuries or death to someone else or damage their property in the event of an at-fault ATV accident. It consists of two primary coverages to protect you when you are liable and will also pay for legal defence costs if the third party presents a lawsuit. This policy also helps cover the costs of repairs or replacements and medical bills, plus any associated fees.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

This coverage applies to an at-fault ATV collision that causes injuries to another person. Bodily injury liability coverage also helps to pay the expenses for third-party medical expenses such as x-rays and treatment. 

Property Damage Liability Coverage

Property damage liability coverage helps prevent the rider from paying out-of-pocket expenses to cover repairs to someone else’s vehicle in the event of an at-fault collision causing property damage.

Accident Benefits Coverage

In Ontario, accident benefits coverage is a mandatory part of your ATV insurance policy. This coverage will provide payments for expenses you incur when you or a pedestrian are injured in an ATV accident. If you have been injured in an accident, regardless of who caused it, accident benefits cover expenses not covered by OHIP, like medical rehabilitation, caregiving, loss of income, funeral expenses and death benefits.

Direct Compensation — Property Damage

In Ontario, direct compensation — property damage is a mandatory part of your insurance policy. This will provide coverage for damage to your ATV due to an accident if you are not at fault. If your ATV is damaged in a collision, your own insurance company will provide payments for the expense of repairing or replacing it.

Uninsured Automobile Coverage

This coverage will pay for damages when you or one of your passengers are injured in an ATV accident caused by another person who does not have liability insurance. This coverage applies when you are involved in an accident with an uninsured rider. It also includes coverage in the event that you are involved in a hit-and-run and are unable to get the other driver’s insurance information.

Additional Coverages to Protect Your ATV

Collision Coverage

This pays to repair your sled or ATV when it’s damaged from hitting another ATV, pole, tree, guardrail, fence or other objects. It covers your ATV for physical damages sustained, no matter who is at fault in a collision or accident.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage provides added protection for ATV drivers. It helps pay to repair your sled or ATV from other types of accidental damage unrelated to collisions, including the following:

  • Hitting a deer or other animals on the trails
  • Falling objects – like a tree
  • Fire
  • Lightning
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Windshield damage from stone chips or cracks

All Perils Coverage

This option combines collision and comprehensive coverage with one premium charge and one deductible. Combining these coverages helps to protect your sled from the many types of situations or accidents causing physical damage to your ATV.

What Type of ATVs Need Insurance?

Any type of ATV that you plan to drive on public property needs insurance, including the following all-terrain vehicles:

  • Quads
  • ATVs
  • 4 wheelers
  • Side by sides
  • UTVs

When is ATV Insurance Appropriate?

It truly depends on how you plan to use your vehicle. While you do not need insurance to drive on private property, there are many instances where you should still have it.

ATV insurance would be beneficial:

  • When riding on public property, trails or parking lots

All-terrain vehicles can be dangerous to riders and those around them, and expensive to replace if damaged. ATVs are known for accidents. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that ATV drivers have some type of insurance to protect themselves financially in the event of an accident or rollover.

Can I Drive my ATV on Public Roads if I Have Insurance?

Having insurance does not mean you can take your ATV onto public roads. In fact, you cannot drive off-road vehicles on most public roads in Ontario. However, there are some exceptions, such as driving your ATV directly across certain public roads.

There are certain sections of roads and highways in Ontario that permit ATVs specifically to drive on the shoulder as long as it meets the designated requirements.

The Right Type of ATV Insurance for You

The right type of ATV insurance for you is a comprehensive and flexible policy that is unique to your wants and needs as an all-terrain vehicle owner, such as Allen Insurance Group’s Trail Blazer Snowmobile and ATV Insurance. This customizable insurance policy offers Ontario riders precisely what they need, with coverage options for various types of ATVs.

Our Trail Blazer Snowmobile and ATV Insurance policy was made by riders for riders to ensure it offers the best type of protection when you are out on the trails. With the help of riders like you, we built an affordable policy with unbeatable coverage. So when you partner with Allen Insurance Group, you can rest easy knowing your protection is our first priority. We’ll take care of you.

We Are Your #1 Source for ATV Insurance in Ontario

Are you interested in receiving a free quote on Ontario ATV insurance? No problem! Allen Insurance Group offers all Ontario riders a free, no-obligation insurance quote.
You have two ways to receive your free quote. The first is to give us a call at 1 877 924 2632, where you can speak with an Allen Insurance Group broker. The second is to use our “Get A Quote” tool to request a quote online. If you choose the online option, you will need to answer a few basic questions about yourself and the type of ATV insurance you require.