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Questions and answers from Oxendine

Q: I have an all-terrain vehicle and a boat. Do I need separate insurance for a sport or recreational vehicle, and activities associated with them? I already have home and car insurance.

A: If you are active in sports or other outdoor activities, you may want to take a moment to think about whether you are carrying adequate insurance coverage.

Maybe you have just purchased an all-terrain vehicle, or perhaps you are thinking of buying a bass boat or taking up mountain climbing. Each activity carries certain risks and most of them can be covered by insurance.

In the case of a bass or ski boat, your homeowners’ policy may provide coverage. Check with your agent for details; there may be certain limitations on boat length or horsepower. You may require a separate recreational vehicle policy to cover your liability while the boat is in operation, and property damage insurance to cover the boat.

With an ATV, you have similar considerations. Your automobile insurance or your homeowners may cover your liability if someone is hurt while your ATV is in use, and may also cover damage to the vehicle. If not, a recreational vehicle policy is available for ATVs, too.

A sport like mountain climbing brings with it its own set of insurance considerations. Look into the possibility of buying insurance to cover that all-important equipment you will need. Also consider an accident insurance policy to cover you during the climb.

There are specialty insurers who offer a variety of coverages, including medical and liability, for most “extreme sports” activities such as parasailing, skiing, martial arts, amateur team sports, etc.

Planning now for your insurance needs will help you to relax and enjoy your new sporting venture, or to continue to enjoy the ones you are already involved in.

(Please send your insurance questions to: Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, 716 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334. Or call 404-656-2070 (outside the Atlanta area call 1-800-656-2298), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., for assistance with an insurance question. Also, visit www.gainsurance.org.)