ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) are defined as self-propelled, recreational vehicles with four or more wheels designed to be driven off-road on land, snow and ice. Ontario is a hotspot for ATV adventures because we have so many breath-takingly beautiful trails for recreational vehicle use. Many people enjoy their ATVs at the cottage or for exploring the bountiful nature Ontario has to offer, but not everyone is aware that ATV insurance is mandatory on many of our Ontario trails. The experienced brokers at Morison Insurance can provide you with the protection you need and tailor an ATV insurance policy that suits your specific needs.
Whether you use your ATV for practical purposes or just the pure joy and exhilaration of exploring in the wild, it's important to be protected by the right ATV insurance, which is a type of personal insurance. Coverage for all-terrain vehicles protects you from paying staggering legal fees, medical bills, settlement costs and replacement expenses in the event of an accident, damage, injury or theft of your all-terrain vehicle. ATV insurance can provide liability, collision and uninsured motorist coverages, among other possible coverage you may wish to include on your policy.
If you plan to use your ATV to cross public roads or to use it on public property such as the many beautiful trails around Ontario, you legally need ATV Insurance. If your ATV use strictly stays on private property, then insurance is not legally mandatory—but it is highly recommended. One accident can bring economic hardship if you aren't properly covered.
Ontario ATV insurance applies to a range of similar recreational vehicles, including:
There are four types of ATV insurance coverages that are mandatory for anyone who is using their ATV outside their own private property: third-party liability, personal injury benefits, direct compensation property damage and uninsured motorists coverage. However, there are additional options such as collision and upset coverage and comprehensive coverage that are well worth considering. If you're not sure what should be included on your Ontario ATV insurance policy, speak to a broker at Morison Insurance. Our experienced team can offer personalized ATV insurance quotes with recommendations on the best coverage to ensure you are fully protected against all likely risks.
Regardless of how careful and cautious you are, accidents can happen. If you are involved in an at-fault accident that causes someone else to become injured or their property to be damaged, the mandatory third-party liability insurance coverage on your ATV insurance policy will protect you from serious financial losses. Your insurance provider will cover third-party expenses such as medical bills, funeral costs and repair or replacement for damaged property in situations where you are liable for injury, death or property damage. Should legal action be brought against you, your coverage may also provide funds to cover legal defense fees and settlement costs. There are two key varieties of third-party liability coverage for Ontario ATV insurance:
Personal injury benefits, which are also referred to as accident benefits, are another mandatory component of your Ontario ATV insurance coverage. If you are injured in an ATV accident, your personal finances could be easily overwhelmed by recovery and rehabilitation costs without support from your insurance provider. Personal injury benefits give you or your estate financial protection in the event of injury or death to cover expenses associated with injury rehabilitation, funeral costs and more. Depending on your specific policy, you may also be able to recover some lost income if you're unable to work due to injury, or your next of kin may receive payments in the event of your death.
If you get into a collision that is not your fault, in a perfect world you would be able to get full compensation from the other driver's insurance provider. But in reality, that process can be a lot more difficult and take a lot longer than it should. Direct compensation property damage is a type of mandatory coverage designed to get your ATV back in excellent shape as fast as possible—or replace it entirely in cases of severe damage—so you can get back to enjoying your outdoor recreation time.
When you have direct compensation property damage coverage, you deal directly with your own insurance company to get compensation for the damage. That means the claims process is a lot easier to deal with and typically a much shorter length of time between filing a claim and receiving compensation. It may also be possible to recover part of your repair costs in a situation where you are partially at fault for the accident. There's nothing more frustrating than doing everything right and still seeing your property get damaged because of someone else's carelessness or bad judgement, and direct compensation property damage means you don't have to suffer financial frustration as well.
You may be the most cautious and responsible ATV driver out there, but you can still suffer the consequences of other people's poor decisions if you or your passenger are injured in a collision with an at-fault driver who doesn't have insurance coverage. Fortunately, since you've done the responsible thing and taken care of your mandatory Ontario ATV insurance coverages, your own insurance provider will support you with funds for medical expenses or funeral costs. In some cases, you can also get compensation for certain types of damage to your ATV.
If your all-terrain vehicle is damaged in a collision with another ATV or off-road vehicle, or a collision with a stationary object such as a tree or fence, that damage could take your ATV off the trails for a long time—or forever if it's totaled beyond repair. But you can get back out there as soon as possible as long as you have collision coverage on your Ontario ATV insurance policy. It's an optional addition that protects you against financial loss by covering the cost of repair or replacement for your damaged property so you can get back to enjoying ATV adventures on the open trail.
Along with collisions, having this additional coverage on your Ontario ATV insurance means you can recover the cost of repair or replacement in the event of an upset, which is when your TV tips or rolls over and suffers damage. For example, if you accidentally backed into a fence post or got too close to a tree and your machine suffered damage, it would be considered a collision. But if you misjudge the steepness of a slope or take an unstable corner at full speed and your ATV tips onto its side or rolls and lands upside down, it's considered an upset. Both those scenarios require collision and upset coverage on your Ontario ATV insurance in order for you to get insurance compensation for the damage.
Collisions and upsets are not the only ways your all-terrain vehicle can be damaged. If you hit wildlife with your ATV or get a cracked windshield from flying pebbles, that type of damage isn't going to be covered by collision and upset. You need optional coverage for comprehensive on your Ontario ATV insurance to get compensation in those types of scenarios. Comprehensive will also help you recoup financial losses in the event of theft, vandalism, fire, lightning strikes and other harsh weather conditions that are specified on your policy. For newer ATVs, there's also the option of physical damage coverage, which is a specific type of ATV insurance that includes both comprehensive and collision or upset.
The cost of ATV insurance will vary based on numerous factors that are specific to the ATV including the year, make, and model, as well as factors that are specific to you, the operator.
To provide an example of ATV insurance quotes for different machines, we have included a chart below.
To receive an accurate ATV insurance quote that is tailored to your specific needs, contact our Morison Insurance brokers. We will compare quotes from leading insurance companies to get you the best coverage at the right rate.
ATV TYPE | AVERAGE. PRICE (per year) |
Yamaha Raptor 700R | $465 - $1,200 |
Polaris Sportsman 450 H.O | $400 - $1,150 |
Honda TRX250X | $450 - $1,190 |
Can-Am Outlander 450 | $430- $1,200 |
In order to get ATV insurance coverage in Ontario, you need to be at least 16 years of age and hold a valid driver's license. Your eligibility will be further determined by factors such as the year, make, model, size and value of your all-terrain vehicle, as well as your driving record and past claims history.
There is one possible exception to the eligibility rules outlined above. A standard Ontario ATV insurance policy will not extend coverage to underage (and therefore unlicensed) drivers, so if you want underage operators to be allowed to use your ATV, you will need to speak with your Morison Insurance broker about adding a recreational vehicle endorsement. This addition makes it so that the coverage on your policy will remain in place even if an underaged person is operating your ATV at the time of an accident. It's worth noting that coverage only applies if the underage operator stays off-road, and will not provide compensation for damage or injury that occurs on a roadway.
Yes and no. A regular Ontario ATV insurance policy will cover amphibious ATVs when they are being used on land. However, it will typically have an endorsement called Marine Use Excluded (OPCF 9), which, as the name suggests, excludes usage on the water from your Ontario ATV insurance. It is possible to get coverage for water use, but it's important that you inform your Morison Insurance broker that you have an ATV with amphibious capabilities so they can ensure you are fully covered by your ATV insurance policy whether you're on land or water and you can use your recreational vehicle all the ways it was built to be used.
Yes, bundling your ATV insurance with your existing auto insurance policy is possible and may potentially net you a discount because you can avoid paying a standalone surcharge. Ultimately, the decision to go with a standalone policy or bundle it together should depend on what offers the best coverage to suit your particular insurance needs. It can be confusing to navigate all the ins and outs of a complete insurance package, which is why the reliable brokers at Morison Insurance are ready to answer any questions you may have and clearly explain our recommendations. We want you to be empowered to make an informed decision about your insurance priorities.
Contact the expert ATV insurance advisors at Morison Insurance. We would be pleased to provide you with expert advice and a tailored insurance quote suited to your specific needs to make sure you have the right level of coverage for your Ontario ATV insurance. Get started by filling out the contact form on our website, or by calling 1-800-463-8074 to speak with our outdoor recreation insurance experts. You will be glad you did!
This content is written by our Morison Insurance team. It is provided for general information only. Insurance needs differ from person to person, and this article is therefore not a substitute for professional advice about your individual insurance needs which can be obtained by speaking to one of our brokers.
This content is written by our Morison Insurance team. All information posted is merely for educational and informational purposes. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Should you decide to act upon any information in this article, you do so at your own risk. While the information on this website has been verified to the best of our abilities, we cannot guarantee that there are no mistakes or errors.
