Is My Insurance Policy Covering the Trailer I’m Pulling?

Mike Goodman here — agency principal at Goodman Insurance Solutions. Today, let’s talk about trailers and how insurance applies when you’re towing one.

There are two main questions to answer:

1. If my trailer comes unhooked and causes damage, am I covered?

2. If my trailer is damaged or stolen, will insurance pay for it?

If Your Trailer Damages Someone Else’s Property

Picture this: you’re driving down Highway 83 in Kansas and your trailer — loaded or unloaded — comes unhooked. It hits another vehicle, injures someone, or damages property.

In most cases, if your auto policy is active, liability coverage will extend from the towing vehicle (the “power unit”) to cover damage caused by the trailer. That means injuries or property damage to others would be paid for under your auto liability coverage.

If You Want to Cover the Trailer Itself

Liability coverage protects others, but what about your trailer?If you want protection for the trailer itself — for things like:

• Theft

• Collision damage

• Comprehensive losses like hail, animal strikes, or vandalism

…you’ll need to schedule the trailer on your policy. “Scheduling” simply means adding the trailer as its own listed item with a stated value.

The premium for this coverage is often small, especially compared to the cost of replacing a trailer out of pocket.

Self-Insure or Schedule?

Some people choose to self-insure their trailers, meaning they take the risk and pay out of pocket if something happens. Others schedule the trailer for peace of mind, knowing it’s protected no matter what.

Bottom Line

If your trailer injures someone or damages property while you’re towing it, your auto policy’s liability coverage usually has you covered. But if you want protection for the trailer itself, you’ll need to add it to your policy.

Not sure what’s best for you? Call or text 620-531-0261. At Goodman Insurance Solutions, we’ll walk you through your options so you’re not guessing about your coverage.