Back in 2009, the State of Ohio began mandating any type of off-road vehicle to be registered with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) before operating these vehicles on an Ohio roadway. These off-road type vehicles are now required to display a license plate and validation sticker like other vehicles. Examples of these off-road vehicles include:
- Golf Carts
- ATV’s
- Snowmobiles
- Off-highway motorcycles
This change also can have an impact on how these types of vehicles are covered from an insurance standpoint. Prior to this law, liability coverage to protect you while operating these off-road vehicles could be covered under a standard homeowners policy. Now, in many situations, coverage under your homeowners policy is no longer adequate. Instead, you may need to consider alternative coverage options such as listing the off-road vehicle on an auto policy or a separate ATV policy.
There are provisions under this new law which exempts certain types of vehicles from registration:
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- When the off-road vehicle is operated exclusively on the land you own, but this exception only applies to snowmobiles and off-highway motorcycles.
- When the off-road vehicle is used exclusively on a farm.
Of course, violation of this new law results in a fine of between $50 and $100 but this could pale in comparison to the damages you might suffer if you’re not properly insured. The legal language can be reviewed in its entirety by visiting this page.
Bottom line is, if you own any type of off-road vehicle, please call us to discuss whether your current insurance needs to be amended to properly protect you while you’re enjoying your ATV, snowmobile and other off-road vehicles.