March 13, 2019

Are electric scooters covered on your insurance?

Electric scooter rentals are all the rage in Texas’ big cities and college campuses. In a lot of larger cities like Dallas, you can find them on every corner. If trends continue, we may start seeing them in cities like Mansfield and Midlothian Texas. Riders must be 18 years or older, and have a valid driver’s license, and consent to their safety agreements to register through their smart phone apps.

The electric scooters can go up to 15 miles per hour. Although this doesn’t seem very fast, they can be accident prone. Most scooter rental agreements make it clear that you assume all liability. You probably don’t have coverage through your home or auto insurance if you run over something- or someone. Most home policies don’t usually cover damage caused by motorized vehicles, and your auto policy us unlikely to cover an electric scooter.

If there are any injuries, your health insurance will probably cover your injuries- but not injuries to anyone in your path. If you allow someone else to ride a scooter you rented, there could be complications. And again, most scooter agreements don’t allow minors to ride.

Insurance companies may start offering coverage for scooters if they stay popular and might eventually require scooter companies to provide coverage for users.

It is very important to make sure to check with your insurance agent to see what’s covered now and ask if coverage is available. Always make sure to read the scooter rental agreement carefully.

McKnight Insurance Services have locations in both Mansfield and Midlothian Texas. We would be happy to help you if you have any questions regarding your home or auto policies.