A practical guide on how to get good coverage for your vehicle
Over 180,000 snowmobiles are currently being used as a means of transportation or as a leisure vehicle in Quebec. Yet, even the most careful drivers can get into an accident. This guide has been prepared to help you choose your snowmobile coverage wisely, so that it meets your needs. Quebec has nearly 180 000 LICENSED VEHICLES Quebec has more than 33 000 km PATHS THAT ARE marked and well maintained Source : Transport Québec, 2013 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. What does snowmobile insurance include? 2. How is the cost of insurance calculated? 3. What do I have to do in the event of a loss? 4. Snowmobile trail checklist 3
WHAT DOES SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE INCLUDE?
Snowmobile insurance is: Mandatory coverage: Civil liability insurance Options: Coverages for property damage to your vehicle Add-ons: Airmedic coverage or Legal Access Insurance 5
MANDATORY COVERAGE In Quebec, snowmobile drivers must by law own civil liability insurance worth at least $500,000. Therefore, if you are responsible for an accident that occurs on a trail, it s your civil liability insurance that can pay for the injuries caused to others. For that reason, insurers strongly recommend getting up to $1 or $2 million of civil liability coverage, to cover all your bases. WHAT DOES THE SAAQ PAY? The SAAQ covers the bodily injuries sustained by a snowmobile driver or passenger only if the vehicle is struck by a car as it is crossing the road. 6
THE OPTIONS If you wish to lower your insurance costs, you should think about the Specified perils (B4) coverage. You will then be covered for fires and theft, but other perils, such as vandalism and glass breakage (windshield), will be excluded. The Coverage against perils of collision and upset (B2) covers damages to your snowmobile in the event of loss of control or collision with another snowmobile. Comprehensive excluding collision or upset (B3) covers you in the event of fire, theft, vandalism and other perils. 7
OTHER COVERAGE Accident Benefits Endorsement 34 or Q.E.F. No. 34 provides for the reimbursement of certain medical expenses and pays an amount to your family in the event of death. Replacement Value coverage Endorsement 43 or Q.E.F. No. 43 entitles you to a reimbursement based on the price you paid. When necessary, damaged parts will be replaced by new parts. If you decide to replace the damaged vehicle with another vehicle or if you choose to replace certain parts of greater value, you will have to pay the difference. 8
ADD-ONS Airmedic coverage Airmedic offers emergency medical transportation by helicopter or airplane. Airmedic is well positioned to serve you anywhere in Quebec. La Capitale is the only insurer to offer emergency medical service, as a result of its exclusive partnership with Airmedic. Clients get free Airmedic family coverage when they also insure their snowmobile and car or home with us. In a remote area? If something happens while you are in a remote area, having a way to ask for help could save your life. The options available to you include cell phone, satellite phone and SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger. Get the info you need before setting out. Real-life case 9
Legal Access Insurance Legal Access Insurance gives you the financial means to get help and advice from the lawyer of your choice. Snowmobile accident If you are involved in a snowmobile accident that s not covered by the SAAQ, you will have to take legal action against the person who caused the damage in order to obtain compensation. Legal Access insurance is therefore a valuable asset: It covers part of the professional fees charged by your lawyer. Manufacturing or latent defects If, in spite of all the precautions you have taken (inspection, maintenance), it turns out that your vehicle has a defect, the vendor must be made aware of the situation immediately. Legal Access insurance is therefore a valuable asset: It enables you to consult a lawyer to get advice about your rights and find out if you can take legal action against the vendor. 10
HOW IS THE COST OF INSURANCE CALCULATED? Each insurer has its own formula! Snowmobile insurance generally takes the following elements into account: Engine strength Type of snowmobile Purpose of use Driver s age Driver s experience The area in which you plan to ride
Deductibles The deductible is the amount you must pay in the event of a loss. The amount selected impacts the cost of insurance: The higher your deductible, the lower your premium, and vice versa. Maximum reimbursement amounts (limits) The amounts selected also impact your premium. For example, if you add accessories or equipment to your vehicle, calculate their value. Then, check to see if the maximum reimbursement amount under your insurance policy does indeed cover all your equipment. SNOWMOBILE 12
THE FACTS ABOUT STORAGE CREDIT No storage credit is granted for motorcycles. Why? Because the premium is calculated taking seasonal use into account. The cost is then spread out over the entire year. That means that you don t need to consider storing your vehicles. You can go out for a ride anytime without worrying about your insurance. It s important to keep your insurance active year-round. If the building in which your vehicle is stored catches fire, collapses or is damaged due to water seepage, your snowmobile insurance will cover the damage, and not your home insurance. 13
$AVINGS TIP Bundle your insurance with the same insurer Bundling your Home, Auto and Leisure Vehicle insurance with the same insurer could save you a considerable amount on most of these coverages. This is also valid if you bundle the insurance of family members living under the same roof. Did you know? Your Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ) trail permit includes $1 million of civil liability coverage. You can terminate this coverage in order to have all your snowmobile insurance (civil liability and property damage) with the same insurer. That way, if you have an accident involving another vehicle on the trails, you would only deal with one insurer! Processing of your claim would be simplified. 14
WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A LOSS
2 3 WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THEFT OR VANDALISM 1 911 4 1. A minor fender-bender with no injuries? Fill out a Joint Report of Automobile Accident 2. Damage to someone else s property or accident with injuries? Remain at the scene and call the police. 5 3. Notify your insurer and verify your coverages. 4. Have urgent repair work done. 5. Keep all your receipts. How to file a claim Contact your insurer to report the damage sustained and file a claim, if appropriate. You need to know that reporting a loss is not the same thing as claiming an indemnity! You are responsible for reporting any loss to your insurer as soon as you become aware of it. 16
SNOWMOBILE TRAIL CHECKLIST Are you planning to spend a few hours or a few days riding in the wide open spaces? Being well-prepared is a sure way to enjoy your rides in comfort but above all, in safety! 2 OUT OF 3 FATAL ACCIDENTS occur outside of marked trails 17
Be well informed when you set out 1. Have proof of at least $500,000 of civil liability coverage on you. 2. Check the forecast. 3. Plan your route based on the FCMQ s network of marked trails. If you must cross a frozen lake or river, check on the conditions before you set out. Don t forget that you must pay the required fee in order to use the trails maintained by FCMQ member snowmobile clubs. Have $ 500 000 of civil liability insurance 18
Be well prepared when you set out Get a mechanical inspection of your snowmobile before each trip. Put together a survival kit that includes a trail map, matches and candles, a flashlight, a first-aid kit and drinking water. Don t drink alcohol. Have the following documents on you: trail permit, registration and proof of insurance, driver s licence and certificate of competence, if any. 19
Make sure you have everything you might need! When riding a snowmobile, you must always wear a safety-approved protective helmet. Wear clothes suited for cold weather. A good way to ensure your comfort is to dress in layers. 20
By being a safe and responsible driver, being a member of a snowmobile club and having adequate coverage for your snowmobile, you can ride through the wide open spaces with full peace of mind! HAPPY TRAILS! HEAD OFFICE 625 Saint-Amable St PO Box 17100 Québec (Québec) G1K 9E2 1 877 522-5260 ABOUT LA CAPITALE GENERAL INSURANCE A subsidiary of La Capitale Civil Service Mutual, La Capitale General Insurance is experiencing impressive growth and now ranks among the three largest property and casualty insurers in Quebec.