Homeowners Insurance and Trampolines: Are They Covered?

Jumping on a trampoline is a great way for the entire family to burn off energy and have a little fun.

But while trampolines can provide plenty of backyard entertainment, they can also affect your home insurance rate.

Even though trampolines are safer with the right safety equipment, there’s always the risk of injury. And since trampolines aren’t permanently affixed to the ground, they can become damaged or airborne during a storm.

Does your homeowners insurance cover injuries caused by your trampoline or damages?

Here’s what you need to know before getting a trampoline for your home.

How Does Home Insurance Work With Trampolines?

Although home insurance provides plenty of protections, it doesn’t protect against every type of scenario.

If you have a trampoline on your property, it’s important to understand how your policy works. Depending on your coverage, the policy might not cover damage to a trampoline, or trampoline-related injuries.

If you buy a trampoline for your home, it’s important to notify your home insurance provider immediately. They can provide additional information about coverage, so you know what to expect.

Typically, one of the following scenarios will apply to your trampoline:

1. Your home insurance provider doesn’t cover the trampoline

Depending on your policy, your home insurance provider might completely exclude trampolines from your coverage.

Jumping on a trampoline is fun, but they can also cause injuries. And frankly, some insurance providers don’t want the financial risk.

Someone jumping on a trampoline could fall and hurt themselves, requiring medical attention. And there’s also the risk of a trampoline becoming airborne during a storm. This can cause serious injury or damage to another person’s personal property.

If your home insurance policy excludes trampolines, you're unable to file trampoline-related claims.

2. Your home insurance covers trampolines, but with conditions

On the other hand, your insurance provider might cover a trampoline, but with conditions.

In which case, you’re only covered if you take specific steps to protect others from harm and reduce the risk of the trampoline causing personal property damage.

These safety requirements can vary from company to company. For example, your provider might require a fence around your trampoline, or that you place the trampoline on a soft surface. This includes grass instead of concrete, or perhaps putting mulch around the perimeter.

Likewise, your provider might require a safety net around the edge of the trampoline.

3. Your insurance provider covers the trampoline with no exclusions

Some home insurance policies might cover a trampoline with no exclusions.

So, you’re protected in the event of an injury, or if your trampoline causes damage to another’s property.

Which Part of Your Policy Covers Trampolines?

Since homeowners insurance has four components, which part of your policy covers trampolines? This depends on the nature of the claim.

For example, if a neighbor or friend is injured while jumping on your trampoline, the liability portion of your homeowners insurance covers their medical expenses. Liability also provides protection if you’re sued by an injured party.

In another scenario, a strong wind storm might blow your trampoline into your neighbor’s yard. It might damage their fence or other property. If so, your liability insurance pays to cover this damage, too.

But what if a covered peril damages your trampoline? Are you protected?

If your insurance covers trampolines—and it’s damaged by a named peril in your policy—then yes, your insurance policy will pay the replacement cost. You’re also protected if a tree falls and crushes your trampoline.

Can You Buy Trampoline Insurance?

Unfortunately, if your home insurance policy excludes trampolines, there isn’t an option to add a rider or separate coverage for your trampoline.

To protect others, though, you can take safety precautions. These include anchoring the trampoline to the ground, placing it on a soft surface, and putting netting around the jump area.

If your policy does include coverage for trampolines, another option is to increase your liability protection.

Standard homeowners insurance offers about $100,000 of liability protection. For example, according to Insure.com the average annual cost of homeowners insurance nationally for a policy with $300,000 coverage and $100,000 of liability protection and a $1,000 deductible is $2,540. But you can increase this to $300,000 or $500,000. You can even buy umbrella liability protection for up to $1 million.

Will a Trampoline Increase Your Insurance Cost?

In most cases, yes, having a trampoline on your property will increase your homeowners insurance premium.

Rate increases will vary from provider to provider.

So if you have a trampoline, make sure you shop around and compare premiums.

Trampolines are considered an attractive nuisance, meaning they are inviting to children. In which case, there’s the risk of children trespassing on your property, using the trampoline without permission, and then harming themselves.

And unfortunately, if you don’t take the necessary safety precautions, you could be held liable for an injury. Even in cases of trespassing.

For this reason, insurance providers typically charge more when customers have a trampoline on the property.

What You Should Know About Deductibles?

If your homeowners insurance policy covers trampolines and you file a claim, keep in mind that you’re responsible for the deductible.

This is what you’ll pay out-of-pocket before your insurance provider pays a claim. This is need-to-know information because the cost of replacing a trampoline might be less than your deductible.

Homeowner insurance deductibles can start as low as $500 to $1,000. Meanwhile the cost of a trampoline can start as low as $300 or $400.

So if a windstorm or other covered event destroys your trampoline, consider the cost of replacing it before filing a claim. If you have a high deductible and an inexpensive trampoline, you’re better off replacing the trampoline out-of-pocket.

Trampoline Safety Tips

Even if your home insurance provider covers trampolines, you should do as much as possible to ensure the safety of anyone who jumps on your trampoline.

This reduces the likelihood of an injury, which means you’re less likely to have a claim against your insurance policy.

Here are a some trampoline safety tips:

• Check the surfaces around your home and place the trampoline on even ground.
• Never put a trampoline on concrete. Position it on a soft surface, like grass or on top of mulch. Also, make sure it’s away from trees and other structures such as a shed or fence.
• Anchor your trampoline to the ground. This reduces the likelihood of it becoming airborne during a storm.
• Install a safety net around the perimeter of your trampoline to help prevent falls.
• Make sure jumpers remain in the center of the trampoline, and not along the edges.
• Do not jump off a trampoline. Install a trampoline ladder instead.
• To reduce the likelihood of falls or slips, remove shoes and socks before using a trampoline.
• Regularly inspect your trampoline to make sure the springs and bolts are in good condition.
• Do not use a trampoline that has holes in the netting or landing surface.
• Remove objects from the jump surface such as shoes, balls, and toys.
• Cover the steel frame and springs of a trampoline with safety pads.
• Discourage your children (and others) from doing somersaults or flips on the trampoline.

Conclusion

Trampolines are fun for the entire family, but they aren’t without risks. If you have a trampoline or you’re thinking about buying one, speak with your home insurance provider.

They can provide information about coverage and rates.

In addition, take the needed steps to keep your family and others safe, thus reducing the likelihood of injury.