Ontario Canada Trailer Insurance

[Industrial Toys]

I have owned a bunch of trailers and this has never even crossed my mind.

How is insurance on small utility and double axle trailers handled in Ontario?

Is is possible to insure Cargo?

Say, someone rear ends you and damages the trailer. It's not your fault, but if you don't have the trailer insured, will your insurance company act on your behalf and get the other to pay for damages? Let's say in situations where your vehicle is and isn't damaged.

Thanks

 

[poncho62]

My understanding is a box trailer or cargo trailer is insured under your vehicle insurance, when it is attached to the vehicle. I don't know how it would work if you are going down the road, it comes loose and does damage.

I have had house trailers, you add them on as a rider to your house insurance. That covers it when you are parked somewhere. If someone falls at your campsite, you are covered. When being towed, your vehicle insurance covers it.

Just to be sure, I would call your agent.

 

[Avondale]

I was told the same as Ponch62 but that my house insurance covers the cargo. Now you have me wondering.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have been so focused on MTO rules and regulations, I never even thought of insurance. And I don't want to call my broker about it.

 

[George2615]

My tilt bed and dump trailers are covered under my auto insurance when hooked to the truck. If I'm rear ended my insurance co. would repair or replace my trailer and go after the party that hit me for reimbursement. It does not cover anything on or in my trailers such as a tractor or motor vehicle. Anything on or in those would have their own insurance.
For my travel trailer I have a separate policy for that which covers damage to the trailer and contents whether towing or while parked and not hooked up. Not sure if auto insurance would be involved if TT was hit while towing.

 

[Industrial Toys]

There must be limitations. What if the trailer costs more than the insured vehicle.

And another popular scenario. All those borrowed trailers.

 

[George2615]

Not sure of limitations but my trailers ARE worth more than a lot of what I call junkers I see driving around here in winter. Don't know about your area up north but here lots of people buy an old junker to drive in winter so if they get in an accident its with the junker, not their good vehicle.
I don't borrow nor loan my trailers to anyone. Did that once and lost a trailer and a friend.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Interesting. I just Googled it and it looks like the vehicle insurance ONLY covers Liability with regard to the trailer. That makes sense to me. So if you wreck your own uninsured trailer, it's your loss. But again, what if someone else wrecks it and you didn't have extra insurance?

 

[oosik]

I've had several travel trailers and utility trailers over the years and they would each have their own separate policy with my insurance carrier. Just as your pickup has its own policy and your car has another policy. The travel trailer policies cover the unit anywhere it was and all the time. And just like your vehicle policy - you can choose the extent of coverage you want.