TRACTOR Insurance

[daugen]

Maybe it’s because too many people are using their loaders as man-lifts. :stirthepot:

yes, like me?...

Insurance is simply contractual law. You have to know what's in the contract and that's the job of a competent insurance agent to guide you. If you deal direct with the company, no one there that has your back and no one to help you understand the contract. I was an independent agent for 20 years and never had an issue of a client feeling they were gypped in a claim. Can't imagine why Canada would be more difficult than US. You just have to be informed, which is why I feel an agent earns/his her keep if they are competent.

 

[Old Guy in Tenn]

We just purchased our tractor in late December. It is parked in the garage of our under-construction home, and is covered by our home-owners policy. Insurance will shuffle when we move there later this year, but I expect no issues with general coverage. I AM concerned with operating off our property.

One of the main reasons for getting the tractor is for driveway maintenance. Our drive is well over a mile of very hilly dirt/gravel. 1/3 of the drive is on our property. The remainder is an easement between the properties of 2 neighbors. One of the neighbors uses part of the easement a few times a year to access his property. The other neighbor uses part of the easement to come and visit us. Neither of them really care if the road is maintained.

The easement is called out in our deed ("the old public road"). Will the tractor be covered while I am working on the easement portion of this road (my driveway)?

 

[desertdog71]

State farm hooked me up for $295/yr on or off our property.

 

[daugen]

Old Guy, if your operation of the tractor is on a local public road necessary to "maintain your premises", even if you go off your premises, my understanding is yes you are covered. It's operation not related to your property that gets excluded.
I went directly to my insurance company on this for a ruling, having roadside on two different roads and to get to the other side, I have to drive my tractor around the block to get there, can't go through pond/swamp in middle.

I wanted to be sure so I got the insurance company, through their agent, to put themselves on record that I was covered. It costs nothing so I'd make the call. Also ask if your tractor is covered if it overturns on a hill or ditch. The assumption is 100 percent residential use. Any operation for profit negates your homeowners policy immediately. That's when you need a separate liability and equipment policy.

 

[Old Guy in Tenn]

Thank you for the State farm tip, DesertDog. I will keep them in mind. Good info, Daugen. Thanks. I will certainly get answers in writing from my insurance company.

The "old public road" is no longer public, having been abandoned by the county (I have that in writing). It is now simply my easement, which is on what once was the old public road. It is my access easement, my only way in and out, across the private lands of others. That may change things, but I will work with my agent to get it ironed out.

 

[desertdog71]

Thank you for the State farm tip, DesertDog. I will keep them in mind. Good info, Daugen. Thanks. I will certainly get answers in writing from my insurance company.

The "old public road" is no longer public, having been abandoned by the county (I have that in writing). It is now simply my easement, which is on what once was the old public road. It is my access easement, my only way in and out, across the private lands of others. That may change things, but I will work with my agent to get it ironed out.

It's called a personal articles policy. I already have home, business, auto, boat, liability and umbrella through them. They say once my build is complete then it is just covered under my homeowners as long as I only use it at my place. I didn't think the price was bad though, I'm sure it goes up or down depending on the value.