From the Manitoba Public Insurance WebsiteAbout 25,000 snowmobiles are registered annually in Manitoba, but only two-thirds have coverage beyond the basic insurance for off-road vehicles (ORVs). As a snowmobile owner, you might not realize the limits of your basic coverage -- until you submit a claim. Basic snowmobile insurance doesn’t provide the same injury protection as basic auto insurance. You should understand what protection is offered through the basic insurance, then decide whether or not to purchase extended coverage.
The provincial Off-Road Vehicles Act sets out the basic ORV coverage we offer. ORV basic insurance offers third party liability protection to $200,000 -- but unless you buy additional coverage, you are responsible for paying any costs above $200,000 if you cause injury to another person or damage someone else’s property with your machine. If you are injured with no one to sue, you are responsible for paying for your lost income, medical and rehabilitation costs.
Ways to increase your coverage
We offer optional coverage beyond basic ORV insurance. Accident Benefits coverage offers financial protection for an owner’s injuries, while Family Protection gives an owner’s entire family financial protection if a family member is injured by an at-fault driver carrying too little or no insurance.
Another thing to consider when registering an ORV is whether to buy coverage for damage or theft. Both Collision Damage coverage and Comprehensive coverage can be purchased with a $200 or $500 deductible.
As well, third party liability can be extended from the basic level of $200,000 required by law up to $5,000,000.
Optional Autopac > Off-Road ExtensionYour Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) presents different financial risks from your automobile. Because the basic coverage provided with your ORV registration does not protect you against these risks, you'll benefit from checking out our optional ORV coverage options.
We offer affordable extra protection for you and your ORV. Here are some key points about your coverage choices:
Accident Benefits
Helps cover injury costs resulting from disability, medical treatment and rehabilitation
Covers operators of your ORV and passengers riding on it
Pays the same benefits regardless of fault
NOTE: Accident Benefits coverage outside of Manitoba extends to the Insured, and any passenger who is a resident of Manitoba. Alternate operators and their passengers, if residents of Manitoba, are also covered.
Third Party Liability Plus (new for 2006)
Replaces and improves on third party liability coverage by including underinsured motorist protection, which covers owners, their spouses and any dependent relatives.
Offers two-way liability protection against:
claims others make against you for property damage or injuries and
other ORV operators who haven’t enough liability insurance to cover your injury claim.
Choose from three levels of coverage: $1 million, $2 million and $5 million*
*Underinsured motorist protection of $200,000 is still available for 2006 under the name Family Protection.
Collision protection*
Covers collision damage to your ORV
Choose from either a $200 or $500 deductible
*Your Autopac Agent may need to inspect your ORV before you can buy this coverage.
Comprehensive protection
Covers damage to your ORV from causes other than collision, such as, fire, theft, vandalism and hail
Choose from either a $200 or $500 deductible
Ask your Autopac agent for more details.
Some restrictions apply on buying this coverage. Special risk situations may require a separate application.
NOTE: ORVs that race even recreationally are not eligible for insurance other than Basic Third Party Liability and registration.
With all our ORV coverage, you renew on the same schedule as the rest of your Autopac. Your coverage begins as soon as you apply, but you don’t have to pay until the start of the riding season. And even though you only pay premium during the ORV riding season, your coverage lasts year round.
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OFF ROAD VEHICLE ACT MANITOBA"snowmobile" means a vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 454 kilograms and
(a) is not equipped with wheels, but in place thereof is equipped with tractor treads alone or with tractor treads and skis, or with skis and a propeller, or is a toboggan equipped with tractor treads or a propeller,
(b) is designed primarily for operating over snow or ice, and is used primarily for that purpose, and
(c) is designed to be self-propelled; (« motoneige »)
"snow vehicle" means a vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight exceeding 454 kilograms and
(a) is not equipped with wheels, but in place thereof is equipped with tractor treads alone or with tractor treads and skis, or with skis and a propeller, or is a toboggan equipped with tractor treads or a propeller,
(b) is designed primarily for operating over snow or ice, and is used primarily for that purpose, and
(c) is designed to be self-propelled; (« véhicule nival »)
MINIMUM SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Headlights and taillights
23(1) No person shall operate an off-road vehicle at the times specified in subsection (2) unless it is equipped with
(a) at least one headlamp in good working order which casts a white light; and
(b) at least one lamp which is in good working order which casts a red light to the rear of the off-road vehicle.
When lamps required to be on
23(2) The operator shall have the lamps with which the off-road vehicle is equipped on
(a) at any time from one-half hour before sunset until one-half hour after sunrise; and
(b) at any other time when visibility is reduced to 60 m or less.
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S.M. 2002, c. 42, s. 7.
Mufflers
24(1) Every off-road vehicle shall be equipped with a noise muffler in good working order which shall be in operation while the engine is running to prevent excessive or unusual noise and no person shall equip, operate or permit the operation of an off-road vehicle that has a muffler cut out, straight exhaust, gutted muffler, by-pass or any device which has the effect of by-passing or reducing the effectiveness of a noise muffler.
Spark arresters
24(2) Every off-road vehicle shall be equipped with a spark arrester in good working order which shall be in operation while the engine is running to prevent the possibility of a fire hazard to the terrain.
Compliance with safety standards by manufacturer
25(1) No manufacturer or distributor of off-road vehicles manufactured for sale in the province shall sell, offer for sale, have in possession for sale or deliver for sale any off-road vehicle unless it and its equipment and components comply with all the safety standards prescribed by regulations under this Act.
Compliance with safety standards by vendors
25(2) No person shall sell, offer for sale, have in possession for sale, or deliver for sale, in the province, a new off-road vehicle unless it and its equipment and components comply with all the safety standards prescribed by the regulations under this Act.
Alterations, etc. to comply with safety standards
25(3) No person shall modify or alter an off-road vehicle, or replace equipment or components of an off-road vehicle in such a manner or to such an extent that the off-road vehicle no longer complies with the safety standards prescribed by the regulations under this Act.
Equipment and components to comply with safety standards
25(4) No person shall sell, offer for sale, have in possession for sale, in the province, equipment or components of an off-road vehicle which do not meet the safety standards prescribed by the regulations under this Act.
Homemade off-road vehicles to comply with safety standards
25(5) No person shall manufacture an off-road vehicle for use in the province unless the off-road vehicle complies with the safety standards prescribed by the regulations under this Act.
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Helmets required
28(1) No person shall ride on or operate an off-road vehicle unless the person is wearing on his or her head a properly adjusted and securely fastened helmet in compliance with the requirements contained in the regulations under this Act.
Where helmets not required
28(2) Subsection (1) does not apply
(a) to a person operating an off-road vehicle being used in the course of farming, commercial fishing, hunting or trapping operations; or
(b) to the operator or passengers of an off-road vehicle equipped with occupant roll-over protection and seat belt assemblies that meet the safety standards prescribed in the regulations and the seat belt assemblies are being worn in a properly adjusted and securely fashioned manner.
Occupant roll-over protection
28(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), "occupant roll-over protection" means a cab or frame that is capable of supporting an off-road vehicle in an overturned position.
Seat belt required
29(1) Every operator of and passenger in an off-road vehicle which is being operated in accordance with the provisions of this Act and in which a seat belt assembly is provided, shall wear a complete seat belt assembly in a properly adjusted and securely fastened manner.
Prohibition of removal of seat belt
29(2) No person shall remove from an off-road vehicle a seat belt, or any part thereof, that was installed by the manufacturer, except to replace broken or worn seat belts or parts thereof.
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Operation of off-road vehicles on highways
33(1) Except as may be authorized under another provision of this Act or under the regulations, no person shall operate an off-road vehicle
(a) upon or across a roadway or the shoulder thereof;
(b) on or across the median of a divided highway;
(c) on the right-of-way of an interchange; or
(d) on or across a sidewalk.
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Where operation on the shoulder is permitted
34(1) An off-road vehicle may be operated upon the shoulder only when
(a) the off-road vehicle has more than two wheels and is being used for agricultural purposes;
(b) the off-road vehicle displays to the rear a slow moving vehicle sign; and
(c) the operator is 16 years of age or older and holds a licence other than one that has a restriction on operating off-road vehicles.
Method of operation on the shoulder
34(2) Where an off-road vehicle is being operated on the shoulder as permitted under subsection (1), the operator shall drive
(a) in the same direction as vehicular traffic on that side of the roadway; and
(b) at a speed not exceeding 40 km/h.
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S.M. 2001, c. 7, s. 29; S.M. 2002, c. 42, s. 12.
Authority to cross a roadway and shoulder
35(1) A person may operate an off-road vehicle directly across a roadway or shoulder
(a) at or within 5 m of an intersection, unless prohibited by the traffic authority;
(b) at any other place along the highway if the distance to the nearest intersection is 3 km or more, unless prohibited by the traffic authority;
(c) at any place designated by the traffic authority as a place on the highway where off-road vehicles may cross a roadway and shoulder; or
(d) along any highway or portion thereof where the traffic authority has permitted off-road vehicles to cross without regard to location.
Licence requirement
35(2) No person shall operate an off-road vehicle directly across a roadway and shoulder unless he or she holds a licence other than one that has a restriction on operating off-road vehicles.
Clear view of crossing
35(3) No person shall operate an off-road vehicle across any roadway and shoulder if the operator does not have a clear view of traffic for a sufficient distance to determine whether the roadway and shoulder can be crossed in safety.
Rules before crossing roadway or shoulder
35(4) Before entering onto a roadway or shoulder, the operator of an off-road vehicle shall
(a) bring the off-road vehicle to a stop; and
(b) yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the roadway or shoulder and to traffic that is approaching and is so close that it constitutes a hazard.
Crossing roadway or shoulder at ninety degree angle
35(5) Where an operator of an off-road vehicle intends to cross a roadway and shoulder, the operator shall enter and cross at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the direction of the roadway and shoulder.
Authority to cross a sidewalk
35(6) A person may operate an off-road vehicle directly across a sidewalk
(a) at or within 5 m of an intersection, unless prohibited by the traffic authority;
(b) at any other place along the sidewalk if the distance to the nearest intersection is 3 km or more, unless prohibited by the traffic authority;
(c) at any place designated by the traffic authority as a place on the highway where off-road vehicles may cross a sidewalk; or
(d) along any sidewalk or portion of one where the traffic authority has permitted off-road vehicles to cross without regard to location.
Clear view of crossing
35(7) No person shall operate an off-road vehicle across a sidewalk if the operator does not have a clear view of traffic for a sufficient distance to determine whether the sidewalk can be crossed in safety.
Rules before crossing sidewalk
35(
Before crossing a sidewalk, the operator of an off-road vehicle shall
(a) bring the off-road vehicle to a stop; and
(b) yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic.
Crossing sidewalk at 90 angle
35(9) Where an operator of an off-road vehicle intends to cross a sidewalk, the operator shall enter and cross at an angle of approximately 90 to the direction of the sidewalk.
Stopping when sidewalk adjacent to roadway
35(10) Notwithstanding clause (4)(a), a person who stops his or her off-road vehicle before crossing a sidewalk that is immediately adjacent to a roadway does not have to stop the vehicle again before crossing the roadway as long as at the point of stopping he or she has a clear view of traffic on the roadway for a sufficient distance to determine whether the roadway can be crossed in safety.
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Only one off-road vehicle to cross roadway at a time
37 Where the operator of an off-road vehicle is permitted to operate an off-road vehicle across a roadway and shoulder, the operator shall not cross the roadway and shoulder at the same time as any other off-road vehicle.
Use of roadways in emergencies
38(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, where a storm or blizzard renders a roadway impassable to vehicular traffic, a local authority may authorize, for a fixed period, the operation of designated off-road vehicles on the roadway or shoulder or designated portions thereof; and during that period, operators may operate off-road vehicles on the roadways or shoulders.
Definition of "local authority"
38(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), "local authority" means
(a) the council of
(i) an incorporated city, town or village, or another municipality, and
(ii) a community or incorporated community, as defined in The Northern Affairs Act;
(b) the resident administrator and council of a local government district; or
(c) the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs with respect to Northern Manitoba.
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Keeping to the right of the roadway and shoulder
42(1) Where an off-road vehicle is being operated on the right-of-way but not upon or across the roadway or shoulder, the operator shall drive the off-road vehicle to the right of the roadway and shoulder and in the same direction as vehicular traffic on that side of the roadway.
Manner of operating off-road vehicle on a roadway
42(2) Where an off-road vehicle is being operated on a roadway as permitted under this Act or any by-law, regulation or rule, the operator shall
(a) drive the off-road vehicle as close to the right hand edge or curb of the roadway as is practicable; and
(b) except to pass another vehicle, drive in a single line with other off-road vehicles.
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Penalties for contravention of section 25
62 A person who contravenes section 25 is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction
(a) in the case of a person other than a manufacturer, to a fine of not more than $2,000.; and
(b) in the case of a manufacturer, to a fine of not more than $5,000.
