Does A Trampoline Affect Homeowners Insurance?


WRITTEN BY: Mark Romero

UPDATED: APRIL 19, 2023 | 3 MIN READ

When shopping for a homeowners insurance policy, you’ll likely come across the question, “Do you have a trampoline?” At first glance, this does seem strange. Why would an insurance company care if you own what is essentially a large children’s toy? The answer is liability coverage.

You may be aware of the inherent dangers associated with trampolines. This post is not meant to dissuade you from owning one. Our goal is to help you learn about how they can affect your home insurance policy and what you can do to get covered and stay covered. 

Why Is My Homeowners Insurance Getting Involved Over A Trampoline?

If you or your child were injured on your trampoline, you would likely seek treatment covered by your health insurance policy. There would be no reason to contact your homeowners insurance carrier. Home insurance comes into play when individuals outside your immediate family are injured. 

If your children play on the trampoline with their friends or any other guests in your home and these guests get hurt, you may be liable to pay their medical expenses. A standard homeowners insurance policy typically includes liability coverage for this situation. 

Your trampoline can also blow away during a storm and cause damage to other parts of your property. Trampolines are often not secured properly (if at all) to the ground. Home insurance carriers are reluctant to cover people with items that could easily damage their property or neighbor’s property.

What’s The Harm In Owning a Trampoline?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regularly publish statistics about the startling number of individuals hospitalized due to trampoline injuries yearly. 

According to the AAP, the most common trampoline injuries include broken bones, concussions, and head and neck injuries. These are the kinds of issues that require overnight hospital stays and can end up being very expensive. With this level of risk, it’s unsurprising that insurers are wary of issuing policies to trampoline owners. 

How To Reduce Rick When Owning a Trampoline

If you choose to have a trampoline, here’s how to be proactive about reducing risk.

Don’t buy second-hand

A trampoline purchase is not the time to be cheap. Purchase a new trampoline to take advantage of warranty protection from the retailer and the manufacturer. 

Perform preventative maintenance

Periodically inspect the trampoline to look for defects and damage. Pay special attention to the springs which can rust. 

Supervise

An adult should always watch kids on a trampoline. They should also enforce safety rules like limiting the number of people on the trampoline at a time and make sure that the kids bounce at the center of the mat. 

Use a net

Using a safety net can reduce the likelihood of someone falling to the ground. This isn’t a foolproof method of preventing injury, however, as participants can still fall onto the sides and edges of the trampoline. 

Set trampoline close to the ground

This tip complements using a safety net. While you want to prevent falls as much as possible, they won’t go very far if someone does fall off. Keeping the trampoline low also makes getting on and off safer. 

Set up the trampoline in a clear area

Low hanging tree branches pose an overhead risk. Make sure the trampoline is placed a distance from trees or anything else that could hit someone on the head. 

How to keep a trampoline from blowing away

To prevent your trampoline from blowing over in high winds, use a Trampoline Tie-Down Kit. It straps the springs to the ground with large metal stakes designed for this purpose and corkscrews. You don’t have to keep it there 24/7, but we recommend tying it down when conditions get too risky or unpredictable.

What Will I Need To Do For My Home Insurance If I Own A Trampline?

Whether or not having a trampoline will be a problem will depend on your homeowners insurance policy. While some may simply require a small surcharge on your premium, others will require you to develop a detailed plan to reduce risk.

Do the following to show insurers how you plan on minimizing the risk of having a trampoline: 

Use a safety net with a lock

Make sure that children don’t have any unsupervised access to the trampoline. Also, remember to store the key in a place children can’t access or find. 

Anchor the trampoline to the ground

This is an easy way to prevent serious damage. You might need to hire a professional to show you the best way to anchor a trampoline securely. 

Keep records of preventative maintenance

Make note of any work or parts you have replaced on the trampoline to maintain it. Also, take pictures regularly to prove how it looked at any time. These records will be helpful if there’s an accident and you are accused of negligence. 

FAQs

Does a trampoline raise homeowners insurance?

When you have a trampoline in your backyard, the risk of being sued increases. So does personal property coverage on home insurance.

Does Geico’s home insurance cover trampolines?

Geico will cover a trampoline as long as it’s fenced-in and has a safety net.

Can you have a trampoline with Farmers insurance?

You can have a trampoline under Farmers Insurance if your yard is fenced in.

How to Get Homeowners Insurance That Covers a Trampoline

If you or your child were injured on your trampoline, you would likely seek treatment covered by your health insurance policy. There would be no reason to contact your homeowners insurance carrier.

Home insurance comes into play when individuals outside your immediate family are injured while on your property. This includes friends, neighbors, and even strangers who may be visiting your home.

Getting quotes for home insurance policies is important to ensure that you have the appropriate coverage. Comparing rates is the best way to find a policy that fits your needs and budget.

You can do this by calling us at the number above or completing our quote comparison form to see carriers in your area.