Snow Plowing Insurance in Maine
Allen/Freeman/McDonnell Agency
Snow Plowing Insurance in Maine
- What Is It?
- Who Needs It?
- Coverages Offered
Snow plowing insurance is specialized commercial insurance for snow removal businesses. Policies typically cover vehicles, equipment and liability risks.
Businesses normally should consider insurance regardless of legal structure. While some incorporated businesses may enjoy certain legal protections, these are different than the protections afforded by a robust insurance policy.
- Commercial Auto Coverage
- Commercial Property Coverage
- Inland Marine Coverage:
What is snow plowing insurance?
Snow removal businesses are working in some of Maine’s worst weather conditions. They thus should have robust insurance. With the right snow plowing insurance policy, businesses can be well protected even during whiteout conditions.
Snow plowing insurance is specialized commercial insurance for snow removal businesses. Policies typically cover vehicles, equipment and liability risks.
What businesses in Maine should carry snow plow insurance?
Most snow removal businesses in Maine should have snow plow insurance. Everyone in the industry, from large businesses to solo owner-operators, can likely benefit from the coverages provided. A few specific examples of businesses that might need a snow pole policy include:
- Large businesses that provide commercial snow removal services
- Local businesses that provide residential and some commercial snow removal
- Pickup truck owners who plow driveways during the winter
- Landscapers who provide snow removal services during the offseason
Businesses normally should consider insurance regardless of legal structure. While some incorporated businesses may enjoy certain legal protections, these are different than the protections afforded by a robust insurance policy.
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Should pickup owners purchase snow plow insurance for plowing friends’ driveways?
Pickup truck owners might need snow plow insurance when plowing the driveways of neighbors, friends and family members. Whether insurance is required generally depends on whether compensation exchanges hands. Compensation is most often monetary, but can be payment in kind.
Pickup owners who plow driveways without receiving any compensation are generally providing the snow removal as a friendly gesture. They and their truck are likely covered by personal truck insurance in this situation, and additional snow plow coverage is probably unneeded.
Pickup owners who receive compensation for plowing driveways should check whether they need a snow plow policy, even if the driveways belong to people they know. Personal truck insurance policies often have exclusions that void coverage if driving is related to work. Even nominal compensation might constitute work.
Sometimes it’s better to forgo compensation when plowing friends’ driveways, as payment from a few people likely won’t be enough to justify purchasing insurance. An insurance agent who specializes in snow plow policies can help sort out the specific coverage needs for a given plowing arrangement.
What coverages do snow plow policies come with?
The coverages contained within snow plow policies are multifold. While a particular policy’s coverages can vary, most policies offer protections including the following:
- Commercial Auto Coverage: May cover injuries and damage arising from accidents, as well as truck damage from other incidents
- Commercial Property Coverage: May cover salters, snowblowers, other equipment, and garages that a plowing business owns
- Inland Marine Coverage: May protect salters, snowblowers and other equipment as it’s transported to/from customers’ locations
- General Liability Coverage: May cover common (non-driving) accidents that result in injuries to others or damage to their property
- Commercial Umbrella Coverage: May cover expensive lawsuits with an additional, secondary level of liability protection
- Business Interruption Coverage: May cover seasonal revenue losses should a natural disaster prevent plowing for an extended period
Can landscaping insurance policies include coverage for snow plowing?
Many landscapers in Maine provide snow removal services during the winter months, and insurance companies understand this. Coverage for snow plowing can often be combined with landscaping coverage, so landscapers that plow can often get the protections they need by purchasing just one insurance policy.
How can businesses and truck owners get snow plowing insurance?
For help purchasing snow plowing insurance, contact the independent insurance agents at Allen Freeman McDonnell Agency. Our Maine agents will work closely with you to determine coverage needs, and then we can show you several policies that meet those needs. We can recommend the best available policies regardless of what insurance company offers them, because we’re an independent agency.
