Living in Florida and owning a golf cart can be a delightful combination. Many communities promote golf cart usage as a way to lessen car dependency, improve safety, and foster a sense of community among residents. At the same time, you can’t forget about the original purpose of golf carts. Hundreds of thousands of Florida residents use them yearly when out on the course with friends. Like any other asset, protecting your golf cart is part of ownership. Today, we will look at golf cart insurance, why it matters, and what you can do to keep your cart in pristine condition.
Why Golf Cart Insurance is Needed in Florida
Despite their name, golf carts are also used off the course, as many Floridians use them for neighborhood commuting, especially in gated communities and retirement parks. Standard homeowners insurance often falls short in covering golf carts, particularly off your property. Specialized golf cart insurance helps cover potential damages, theft, and liability issues arising from on-road and off-road use.
Given Florida’s weather conditions and the popularity of golf carts, having comprehensive coverage ensures you’re protected against common risks unique to the state. Hurricanes, flooding, and accidents with other vehicles or obstacles are prevalent, and insurance is needed if you intend to get any help paying for repairs or replacements. Golf carts are very different from cars, but it isn’t a stretch to say that you should take just as much time weighing your options regarding golf cart insurance as car insurance.
Avoiding the Top 4 Common Golf Cart Insurance Claims in Florida
Even with insurance, the ideal situation is one where you never have to make a claim, deal with repairs, or suffer an injury.
Accidents with Other Vehicles: Collisions involving golf carts and other vehicles frequently occur in busy Florida neighborhoods and on public roads. In a golf cart, many people don’t fully understand that they are operating a potentially dangerous vehicle, leading them to make riskier decisions and potentially collide with others. Likewise, many drivers of traditional vehicles think they own the road at all times, even if local laws make it clear that they need to respect the right of way of golf cart drivers.
Always adhere to traffic laws and regulations of your community explicitly addressing golf cart usage to avoid accidents. Use designated golf cart paths where available and make use of all safety features such as mirrors, lights, and turn signals to improve visibility. If anyone around you appears not to be respecting the rules of the road, take precautions and avoid them as much as possible.
Theft of Golf Carts: Golf cart theft is a common issue in Florida, particularly in areas where they are frequently used and left unattended. Thieves often target golf carts parked in driveways, parking lots, or unsecured areas. Unfortunately, theft of a golf cart is easier to commit than theft of a large vehicle.
Preventing theft is as simple as investing in anti-theft devices like steering wheel locks and GPS trackers. Always park your golf cart in secure, well-lit areas, and if possible, store it in a locked garage when not in use. Consider adding a unique identifier or registration to your golf cart to make it easier to identify and recover if stolen. While these methods cannot guarantee complete safety, they will give you the best chance at avoiding the theft of your golf cart.
Damage from Natural Disasters: Florida’s unpredictable weather can cause significant damage to unprotected golf carts. During severe weather, store your golf cart indoors and elevate it to avoid flood damage. Regularly check weather forecasts and take preventative measures before storms, not just when a hurricane comes into town.
We recently wrote about protecting your home from hurricanes before it’s too late. In a similar vein, always stay on top of repairing your golf cart to prevent weather from furthering the damage. Electronics in a golf cart are at a greater risk of damage than in a completely enclosed vehicle.
Vandalism: Acts of vandalism, including graffiti, broken parts, and deliberate damage, are unfortunately not uncommon in Florida. The best way to prevent vandalism is by taking similar steps to prevent theft. Install surveillance cameras around your property to deter vandals and capture evidence if an incident occurs. Keep your golf cart in a secure location and use covers to fully protect it if you still fear vandals getting too close. Being vigilant and reporting suspicious activities in your neighborhood can also help prevent vandalism.
At the end of the day, you may never be able to stop every form of damage or theft. Luckily, that’s where insurance steps in to help. If you are looking for a new policy to protect your golf cart, contact Anderson & Associates Insurance Group today.
