Mowing lawns is becoming expensive: According to the federal government, riding lawn mowers should be subject to insurance

Mowing lawns is becoming expensive: According to the federal government, riding lawn mowers should be subject to insurance

For some amateur gardeners, nothing is more relaxing than mowing the lawn. But under certain circumstances this can become really expensive in the future. A green, strong lawn needs to be maintained to stay that way. Above all, regular mowing is part of it. This is not a problem for a small area. However, if the property is large, this may take some time. In these cases, a riding lawn mower may be worthwhile. At least until now. Because if the federal government's plans go according to plans, mowing with a vehicle could be expensive and this could make the electric or gasoline push lawn mower a more attractive option for cutting the lawn.

What is it about?
According to the federal government's plans, "self-propelled machines and forklifts with a maximum design speed of up to 20 km/h" will be subject to insurance in the future. This means that in the future - specifically from December 23rd, 2023 - there will also be an insurance requirement for ride-on lawn mowers. It is important that the devices are also driven on public land - for example a small path or street. If the business only takes place on your own property, additional insurance is not necessary for the time being. To protect the vehicle, the owner must then take out a general liability policy (liability insurance) specifically for the device. Anyone who fails to comply with this obligation is committing an administrative offense and is also committing a criminal offense and must then expect a fine - or in the worst case, even a prison sentence.

However, according to the General Association of Insurers (GDV), the obligation to insure under the Compulsory Insurance Act does not need to be expanded. Such work machines are usually covered by the vehicle owner's general private liability insurance. "The current solution is clear, practical, cost-effective and completely sufficient. We are not aware of a claim in which the general liability insurance coverage was not sufficient," says GDV Managing Director Jörg Asmussen.

The change in the law is based on the EU directive on motor vehicle liability insurance (“KH Directive”, EU 2021/2118).

According to a report from T-Online, requiring insurance for riding lawnmowers operated on public land could have expensive implications for consumers. From December 23, 2023, owners of such devices would have to take out special liability insurance. This could result in additional costs for users as insurance premiums may vary depending on the provider and model of riding lawnmower. In addition, the prices for the devices themselves could also increase, as manufacturers may have to meet higher insurance requirements.

For the market, this could mean that consumers are more likely to switch to electric or petrol seatless lawnmowers as these do not require additional insurance. This could reduce demand for riding lawnmowers and manufacturers could see a decline in sales.

The insurance industry could benefit from the change in the law by allowing them to sell more insurance policies for riding lawnmowers. However, the General Association of Insurers (GDV) argues that the existing regulation is sufficient and that additional insurance requirements are not necessary.

The exact impact on the market, consumer and industry would depend on various factors, including consumer acceptance, insurance costs and manufacturers' adjustments. It remains to be seen what effect the planned insurance requirement for riding lawn mowers will actually have.

Source: According to a report by www.t-online.de