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Quick answer: If your boat trailer hits another car while attached to your insured vehicle, your auto liability coverage may help pay for the other driver’s property damage or injuries, subject to policy terms and limits. Damage to your own boat, trailer or tow vehicle may depend on whether you carry collision, comprehensive, boat, trailer or specialty vehicle coverage.
accidents happen
A boat trailer accident can raise unexpected questions about liability, vehicle damage and who or what is covered by insurance. Review your auto, boat and trailer protection with a AAA Insurance agent before you head out to go boating.
You’re heading back from the marina when your boat trailer clips another car. It can happen while hauling, turning, backing up or changing lanes, and depending on what is damaged, a few types of insurance may come into play.
Towing a boat trailer adds length, weight and extra blind spots to your drive, which can increase the chance of a crash or property damage. Knowing what to do if your trailer hits another car can help keep people safe, document the incident and protect you financially.
Here’s where to start and how to think through which insurance coverage may apply.
As soon as the accident happens, stop your vehicle and check for injuries in both vehicles. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, if vehicles are blocking traffic, if the trailer is creating a hazard or if local law requires a police report.
Once it’s safe, move your vehicle and trailer to the side of the road or out of the way, turn on your hazard lights if on a road or highway and avoid standing between vehicles or near traffic. If the trailer detached, do not try to move it until you can do so safely.
Good documentation helps speed up the claims process with your insurer, so gather as much as you can before leaving the scene.
Who's at fault usually depends on how the crash happened and who was controlling the tow vehicle.
While you’re towing, your liability coverage from your car typically extends to the trailer. If it swings into another car, the driver towing it is typically at fault, and your car liability policy usually applies.
Even if the trailer breaks loose and hits another car or structure, your vehicle’s property damage liability helps cover the other driver’s repairs. You may be held responsible if the trailer wasn’t properly secured, and your insurer may review if the loading met basic safety standards.
If a friend, family member, or employee was driving, your coverage depends on whether they were allowed under your policy. Insurance generally follows the vehicle, so if you lent your SUV and trailer to someone with permission and they caused the crash, your policy typically responds first. But their actions will factor into who’s at fault.
More than one insurance policy may end up involved in this type of accident.
| Situation | Coverage That May Apply | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer hits another car while attached to your insured vehicle | Auto property damage liability | May help pay for damage to the other driver’s vehicle, subject to limits and policy terms. |
| Someone is injured in the accident | Bodily injury liability, possibly medical payments or PIP, depending on state and policy | Coverage depends on fault, state rules and insurance policy details. |
| Your tow vehicle is damaged | Collision coverage, if included | You may owe a deductible, and coverage depends on how the damage occurred. |
| Your boat trailer is damaged | Trailer, boat or specialty vehicle coverage, if added | Standard auto liability may not pay to repair your own trailer. |
| The boat is damaged while on the trailer | Boat insurance or specialty policy | Coverage may depend on whether the boat and trailer are listed or endorsed. |
| Trailer detaches and hits another vehicle | Auto liability may apply; trailer coverage may also be reviewed | The insurer may look at hitching, safety chains, loading and maintenance. |
| Damage exceeds your policy limit | Umbrella insurance, if applicable | Umbrella coverage may provide additional liability protection above underlying limits. |
Note: Note: This is not an exhaustive list of how insurance coverage may be applied.
Car insurance covers your liability to others, meaning their car and their injuries, while towing. It doesn’t cover damage to your boat trailer. If your vehicle is damaged, collision and comprehensive coverage may help cover the costs.
A boat or specialty vehicle insurance policy may cover damage to the trailer itself if it’s added to the policy, even if the boat isn’t on it. It usually won’t pay for damage to another driver’s car, since your car’s liability coverage handles that.
Covering a trailer is optional. Some policies let you add it as property, or you can buy separate trailer coverage. Without it, your car insurance may cover damage the trailer causes to others, but not damage to the trailer.
Homeowners’ insurance generally won’t fill the gap. However, it may if a trailer is stolen or damaged by a covered event, such as a fire or storm, while stored at home, often with lower limits.
Report the accident to your auto insurer as soon as you can. Share photos, videos, contact information, the police report number if available, and details about the tow vehicle, trailer, boat and driver.
Your insurer can explain which policy may respond, whether a deductible applies and whether the boat or trailer needs to be handled under a separate policy.
Here’s a short list of documents and photos that you should retain.
A few good habits help lower the risk of an accident.
A boat trailer accident can create questions about liability, property damage, deductibles and whether your boat or trailer is covered. Before your next trip to the water, ask a AAA Insurance agent how your auto, boat, trailer and umbrella coverage work together.
accidents happen
A boat trailer accident can raise unexpected questions about liability, vehicle damage and who or what is covered by insurance. Review your auto, boat and trailer protection with a AAA Insurance agent before you head out to go boating.
It may. If the trailer is attached to your insured tow vehicle and damages another person’s car, your auto liability coverage may help pay for the other driver’s damage, subject to policy terms and limits.
Not always. Liability coverage generally protects others, not your own trailer. You may need separate trailer, boat or specialty vehicle coverage for damage to the trailer itself.
Your insurer may review whether the trailer was properly hitched, secured and maintained. Auto liability may still be involved, but coverage depends on policy terms and the facts of the accident.
Damage to the boat may need to be handled through a boat insurance or specialty policy, especially if the boat and trailer are listed or endorsed separately.
Call 911 if anyone is injured, traffic is blocked, the trailer is creating a hazard or local law requires a report. A police report can also help document the claim.
Contact a local AAA Insurance agent to review your auto, boat, trailer and umbrella coverage before you tow.
This information is being provided for general informational purposes only. The Auto Club Group does not assume any liability in connection with providing this information.
