Liability Insurance

[chim]

Can anyone recommend an insurer for liability coverage? I do a little volunteer work (mow a lawn for a widow, snow removal for neighbors and church). Payments are not required and generally refused. Our State Farm agent said he couldn't help, and sent me to a friend / competitor of his. That guy thought he could do something, but the cost was obscene for volunteer work. If it were a business and I charged for the work it would be different. Any ideas? Thank you!

 

[big bubba]

have you checked into an "umbrella policy" with your current homeowners policy? mine is about $300/yr for 1m coverage with my current auto/homeowners policy. just ask your agent if you would would qualify given your application... insurance sure does cost in all areas, just can't afford not having :-( it's all in the details best regards

 

[jaotguy]

or have them each sign a waiver.... and that the work is done as a volunteer "for them" .... they then cover you under their insurance policy ...

but you can never accept payment for the work .....

 

[George2615]

I also am not in business and do the same as you for neighbors etc. I did buy Direct PDI (Direct Physical Damage) insurance through CNH. It covers my tractor for damage when off my property. It covers most everything about the tractor but its not a liability policy. That policy (PDI) costs about $210. a year. I do have a liability policy but the cost is more than double the PDI. I am not happy with my coverage for the price they charge and not going to recommend that company or policy. In a year or so when I retire I'll shop for a business liability policy. I try to be extra careful on other property because you have to be a lawyer to interpret the fine print. Several others are also looking for similar policies but haven't read whether any have a reasonably priced policy.

 

[almaryholm]

My SF agent said I did not need coverage as long as I did not have "contract" to do snow removal for neighbors but could receive "gifts" from them for the work....

 

[big bubba]

are you looking for liability insurance for your tractor or for yourself in all areas, or both? (wise to include both!)... btw, you may have to do 2 different policies...KTCA is great for your tractor, but maybe something else for your own personal liability... for that circumstance, think my own personal umbrella would apply at least in my own case best

 

[forgeblast]

State farm I have 1 million for ~$300 a year.

 

[chim]

I'm looking for coverage to protect me due to something happening with a tractor when on someone else's property. As a matter of fact, my agent said I should have coverage in the event someone slips and falls on a parking lot I cleared even if it's from a re-freeze days after I was there. He suggested a "hold harmless" agreement from anyone I'd plow for.

Last winter I had a bud trailer the Ford to the church, so it wasn't driven on the road except what was necessary in the street to clear parking spaces.

I drove the Kubota there when we had decent snows. It's about a mile from my house. According to what I could find, a tractor with 21 or greater HP may be driven on public roads here in PA if it has an SMV sign and blinkers. We live in a fairly rural area and it isn't uncommon to see farm tractors and equipment on the roads along with occasional tractors the size of mine.

The guy my agent referred me to first said $600 for liability coverage and today said it would be a commercial policy and START at $1,000. Now I'm looking again.

 

[Coyote machine]

I have an umbrella policy and a separate rider for my tractor up to $20K for fire/theft, etc. There is NO coverage for off premise use through my umbrella or tractor specific rider.
The ONLY way to get off premise tractor coverage is to own a business and buy a commercial policy for big $.
Working off premises for remuneration, OR for free still opens one to liability and possible suit, even if interested parties sign a disclaimer regarding work to be preformed, IMHO.
It's risky business to take a tractor to someone else's property, no matter how well intended the tractor owner may be.....

 

[George2615]

The ONLY way to get off premise tractor coverage is to own a business and buy a commercial policy for big $.

This is not true. I have tractor coverage through CNH. It is called (Direct PDI) direct physical damage insurance. I covers my tractor on or off my property, on the road, etc. Full coverage runs about $210 a year. This NOT a liability policy but coverage to protect my investment from damage on or off my property.

CNH Industrial Capital - Commercial Equipment Financing, Leasing and Insurance services

 

[Coyote machine]

This is not true. I have tractor coverage through CNH. It is called (Direct PDI) direct physical damage insurance. I covers my tractor on or off my property, on the road, etc. Full coverage runs about $210 a year. This NOT a liability policy but coverage to protect my investment from damage on or off my property.

CNH Industrial Capital - Commercial Equipment Financing, Leasing and Insurance services

Your CNH is NOT a liability policy, as you stated, and thus is useless in protecting you against damage you might do/cause when off premises. (I suspect CNH offers this to financed tractors, or is it available to no loan buyers too?).
That's what almost everyone is looking for today, is to not have something/someone able to come back on them for liability issues. The risk of not having liability coverage when off premises is not worth the downside, IMHO.:confused3:

 

[2458n]

Your at risk doing anything with your tractor. What if you run into someones house,dog or new car. You would be held at fault. Your insurance company knows this and will price your insurance to reflect this. No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[George2615]

Your CNH is NOT a liability policy, as you stated, and thus is useless in protecting you against damage you might do/cause when off premises. (I suspect CNH offers this to financed tractors, or is it available to no loan buyers too?).
That's what almost everyone is looking for today, is to not have something/someone able to come back on them for liability issues. The risk of not having liability coverage when off premises is not worth the downside, IMHO.:confused3:

As I said, my CNH policy is to cover my tractor for physical damage. It is available whether you financed your tractor or not. My tractor is not financed so after spending over 25K cash I wanted a policy to protect my investment. Fire, Theft, Glass breakage, Tires, and Accidents were my main concerns.
Liability is a separate policy and is expensive.

 

[Dave M7040]

My first question is about the amount of land you own and is it in one continuous piece. My experience is that most home owner policies describe the garden tractor their normal home owner policy will cover, Usually it is done by HP. If you fit this criteria the general liability feature of your policy will protect you when sued. If you have enough land to get into a farm policy the tractor coverage is much more useful, complete and provides peace of mind. Really, the cost of your tractor is tiny compared to the cost of just defending yourself against a law suit. Try some rural insurance co-operatives and you may find more flexible companies. Never accept $ for work or you totally change the risk you are taking. I will only help my neighbors for a serious emergency and before I start make the insurance situation very clear. My company included a rider to allow me to travel a short distance to clear snow at my two brothers' homes. Just driving on public roads has risks and insurance requirements.
Dave M7040

 

[Capricious]

Some discussion of liability issues here:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/321405-how-much-do-you-insure.html


If you are working on a non-profit's property, do they have coverage that will cover you & tractor while on their proeprty?

 

[mark02tj]

Many home owners insurance policies also include a "personal liability" clause that will cover you if you do something that someone sues you over while you're out and about. For example, if you're walking down the sidewalk, inadvertently bump into someone and that person falls and decides to sue you, your personal liability policy will kick in at that point. I don't know if that would cover you while you're on your tractor or not.

I have a renters insurance policy on my tractor as I don't own the land I live on. My policy specifically covers me on the property I live on as well as on other property if I'm doing something there (I rent some garden space up the road). It also covers me on the road. It also has personal liability coverage up to $250k in case I damage someone else's property - whether on (or with) the tractor or off of it. Cost is about $200 / yr.

Talk to an independent agent rather than a captive agent. You will have a lot more options.

 

[oldballs]

The best that I can tell, the Umbrella Policy added to my Homeowner's covers me for liability off the property doing non-commercial tractor work for my neighbors and family. It cost $128 per annum for $300,000 coverage. My cars are also included with the same company for the past approx. 40 years (American Family). As to the details in the policy, I can't comment cause I'd probably go blind...and my net worth ain't all that much.....just as a point of reference. Sometimes a neighbor offers me some cash, sometimes not, but I help them anyway. My sons usually pay cash for mowing their places. But I don't know how this would effect the liability.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[ultrarunner]

Having the only tractors in my city neighborhood... I'm always getting asked to do work for people.

As tempting as it is to pick up a few dollars I always politely decline.

Only exception is my immediate neighbor... he won't let me tow distance with my pickup and insists I take his Diesel Excursion...

 

[chim]

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. There is one agent who sounded promising and is to get back to me soon. I'm glad that we don't have snow in the forecast anytime soon. The only offsite activity I have till it snows is to keep after the Widow's lawn and she's right across the road. Thanks again.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Thanks to George, I was able to cover replacement cost on $61,000 of equipment for $378 a year. This has allowed me to who liability as a separate coverage, a true time saver.