Customizing Your Snowmobile
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She covers topics ranging from car insurance to healthcare costs.
Reviewed by
Cara Carlone is a licensed P&C agent with 20 years of experience. She has her P&C license in RI and TX and holds CPCU, API, and AINS designations.
Each year, snowmobiles are made safer and smarter. And customization continues to be popular among sled enthusiasts. Snowmobile customization can include adding protection, seating, storage, and style that are just for you. It's a great way to infuse your snowmobile with your personality and make sure it has the features you need.
Let's learn a little bit more about snowmobile customization. And take a look at our discussion of snowmobile insurance, which you can find by working with an independent insurance agent in your area.
Cosmetic Upgrades for Your Snowmobile
Cosmetic upgrades aim to transform your sled into a unique and eye-catching winter motorsport vehicle. One popular way to enhance your sled’s appearance is by adding sled wraps or decals. Decals are designed to fit the make and model of your sled, beginning at price points in the $150 - $200 range.
Unique, customized graphic artwork will cost even more. The decals will be printed and shipped to you along with self-installation instructions.
Parts and Performance Upgrades
Custom sled parts and accessories help you get the most power or traction out of your snowmobile in varying terrain or different riding conditions. Some add-ons also give you a more comfortable and safer ride.
Running boards prevent snow from kicking up onto the snowmobile and add foot traction for riders. Basic boards cost $100-$300, but more advanced models will run you over $1,000.
New tracks can be installed to better fit your riding style, e.g., racing vs. mountain climbs. Before you customize your snowmobile to adapt to one type of ride (steep climbs, greater speed, etc.), consider any corresponding limitations as well as added fuel or maintenance costs.
Sled Cover Options
Snowmobile covers protect and preserve the value of your investment. Covers can be used for trailering to prevent road salt and wind damage when not using an enclosed trailer. You’ll also want to cover your sled in the off-season to protect it from dust, dirt, and moisture.
Basic canvas covers are lower in price, around $100. If you’re looking for a longer-lasting, water-resistant, or stretchable fabric, you’ll pay more, but get better protection in return.
Snowmobile Insurance for Customized Sleds
Snowmobile insurance is an important part of your investment in a customized snowmobile. Just like you wouldn't drive your car around without insurance, protection for you and your snowmobile is important to:
- Protect your snowmobile
- Protect yourself if you're injured
- Protect your passengers if they're injured
- Protect someone else who's driving your snowmobile
- Protect yourself if you injure someone
- Protect yourself if you damage someone's property, including someone else's snowmobile
Without snowmobile insurance, one accident can destroy your investment and leave you alone to face a lawsuit for injuring someone with your sled.
Get Snowmobile Coverage
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
What does snowmobile insurance cover?
A basic snowmobile insurance policy will typically include coverage for both bodily injury and property damage liability:
- Snowmobile bodily injury liability coverage: This is designed to cover medical bills that may be associated with bodily injuries that you cause to someone else during a snowmobile accident.
- Snowmobile property damage liability coverage: If you crash your snowmobile into someone's house and damage their property, this will cover the damage done. Property damage liability may also cover damage that you cause as a result of a collision with another snowmobiler. It covers damage to the other person's snowmobile, but not your own.
Keep in mind that a basic policy may not be enough for you, and in many cases, you may want to consider adding several kinds of optional coverage for your snowmobile, such as uninsured/underinsured motorist overage, collision and comprehensive coverage, accessories coverage, and even roadside assistance coverage.
In the event of an accident on the trails or during transit, a snowmobile insurance policy will generally pay to repair your equipment to a like-new condition. Issues may arise when the replacement or replacement cost of cosmetic upgrades totals more than the snowmobile is worth on the resale market.
In these cases, an insurance policy may state that the sled will only be repaired to functional quality. Prior to purchasing a policy, ask your insurance agent about any restrictions on repair costs, and also disclose the value of upgrades made to your sled.
Find the Best Snowmobile Insurance With Help From an Independent Insurance Agent
Snowmobile insurance is essential for any sled owner. It can protect you and your customized snowmobile in a variety of situations and help you recover your investment when something goes wrong.
To get the best coverage for your customized snowmobile, contact a local independent insurance agent. Local agents can work with multiple insurance companies to find you the best coverage for your unique sled.