Skates, Skateboards & Scooters

Skates, Skateboards & Scooters Inventory Guide for Insurance Claims and Policy Coverage

Skates, skateboards, and scooters, whether for casual riding, competitive sports, or recreational use, can represent a significant financial investment. From custom-built skateboards and professional-grade skates to high-performance electric scooters, properly documenting and insuring your gear ensures protection from financial loss due to damage, theft, or loss.

This guide will help you create a comprehensive inventory of your skates, skateboards, and scooters for insurance purposes.

What Are Insurable Skates, Skateboards & Scooters?

Skates, skateboards, and scooters come in many forms, from traditional models to high-end electric or custom-built versions. These items are often subject to damage from wear and tear, accidents, or theft, making it essential to properly document and insure them.

Whether you’re a casual rider or an enthusiast, insuring your gear helps ensure you can replace it in case of an unexpected event. Much like other custom work, high-value or custom-built items may also require specialized insurance riders.

Importance of Documenting Skates, Skateboards & Scooters

Many skates, skateboards, and scooters, particularly custom-built or high-performance models, can be expensive to replace. Keeping detailed records of your equipment, including brand names, model numbers, custom modifications, purchase receipts, and photos, will help ensure that your gear is accurately valued in the event of an insurance claim.

For rare or collectible items, obtaining appraisals may be necessary to establish their market value. Check out our articles on Collections and Memorabilia for more info.

Ensuring Proper Insurance Coverage for Skates, Skateboards & Scooters

Replacement Value Coverage: Ensure that your insurance policy covers your skates, skateboards, and scooters at replacement value, allowing you to replace them with equivalent or upgraded models at current market prices in case of damage, theft, or loss.

Detailed Documentation: Keep a thorough inventory of your skates, skateboards, and scooters, including any custom modifications or high-end parts. Record model names, serial numbers, purchase receipts, and photos. For rare or custom-built items, consider obtaining an appraisal to accurately reflect their value.

Consider Specialized Riders: If you own custom-built boards, high-end electric scooters, or rare collectible skateboards, consider adding a rider to your insurance policy to ensure full coverage for specialized or valuable equipment.

Regular Inventory Updates: As you upgrade or acquire new gear, update your inventory to reflect the current value of your collection and ensure your insurance policy is updated accordingly.

Comprehensive List of Skates, Skateboards & Scooters by Category

Here’s a categorized guide to help you document your skates, skateboards, scooters, and accessories for insurance purposes.

Skates

  • Inline Skates (Rollerblades):

    • Recreational skates: Designed for casual outdoor use, often featuring a comfortable boot and smooth wheels for paved surfaces.

    • Aggressive skates: Built for tricks and stunts, these skates have smaller, harder wheels and reinforced frames for grinding rails and ramps.

    • Speed skates: High-performance skates designed for racing or long-distance skating, featuring low-cut boots and large wheels for maximum speed.

    • Custom skates: Skates with customized frames, wheels, or boots, often tailored for competitive or specialized use.

  • Quad Skates (Roller Skates):

    • Traditional quad skates: Skates with four wheels arranged in a square, often used for roller derby, dancing, or casual indoor skating.

    • Outdoor quad skates: Durable skates designed for outdoor surfaces, featuring larger, softer wheels for smoother rides over rough terrain.

    • Artistic skates: Specialized quad skates used for figure skating or competitive dancing, featuring stiff boots for better control.

  • Ice Skates:

    • Recreational ice skates: Skates designed for casual ice skating, often featuring comfortable boots and basic blade designs.

    • Figure skates: High-quality skates with specialized blades and boots for figure skating, offering more control and precision.

    • Hockey skates: Designed for speed and agility on the ice, hockey skates feature stiff, protective boots and sharp blades.

Skateboards

  • Standard Skateboards:

    • Street and park skateboards: Versatile boards designed for tricks, grinding, and technical skating on ramps, streets, and skateparks.

    • Vert skateboards: Boards designed for vertical skating on halfpipes or large ramps, featuring larger, wider decks for stability.

    • Custom-built skateboards: Custom setups tailored to the rider’s preferences, including specialized decks, trucks, wheels, and bearings.

  • Longboards:

    • Cruising longboards: Long, stable boards designed for smooth rides, often used for transportation or casual rides around town.

    • Downhill longboards: Built for speed and stability during downhill races, featuring stiff decks and specialized wheels for grip.

    • Freestyle longboards: Versatile boards designed for tricks, dancing, and freestyle moves, offering flexibility and control.

  • Electric Skateboards:

    • Electric longboards: High-performance electric skateboards powered by motors, featuring wireless controls for adjusting speed and braking.

    • Commuter electric boards: Electric skateboards designed for urban transportation, offering a balance of speed, range, and portability.

  • Collector’s Skateboards:

    • Limited-edition decks: Rare, collectible skateboard decks featuring artwork from well-known artists or brands.

    • Vintage skateboards: Classic boards from iconic brands or skateboarding’s early days, often sought after by collectors.

Scooters

  • Kick Scooters:

    • Standard kick scooters: Non-motorized scooters designed for casual riding, often featuring lightweight frames and adjustable handlebars.

    • Stunt scooters: Scooters built for tricks and stunts, featuring reinforced decks, bars, and wheels for durability in skateparks.

  • Electric Scooters:

    • Commuter electric scooters: High-performance scooters designed for urban transportation, featuring powerful motors, long battery life, and folding frames for portability.

    • Off-road electric scooters: Rugged electric scooters with larger tires and enhanced suspension for off-road use.

    • Custom electric scooters: Modified electric scooters featuring aftermarket motors, wheels, or handlebars for enhanced performance or aesthetics.

  • Collector’s Scooters:

    • Vintage or limited-edition scooters: Collectible scooters from past eras or limited runs by well-known brands.

Accessories & Safety Gear

  • Helmets:

    • Standard helmets: Protective helmets designed for use with skates, skateboards, or scooters, often featuring impact-resistant shells.

    • Custom or pro helmets: High-end helmets used in professional competitions or by experienced riders, offering additional protection and design features.

  • Protective Pads:

    • Knee and elbow pads: Essential protection for high-impact sports like skateboarding or aggressive inline skating.

    • Wrist guards: Protective gear designed to prevent wrist injuries during falls.

    • Impact shorts: Padded shorts designed to protect the hips and tailbone during falls.

  • Bags & Storage:

    • Backpacks & skate bags: Specialized bags for carrying skateboards, scooters, or skating gear, often with compartments for protective gear.

    • Helmet and pad storage: Compact storage bags designed to hold helmets and protective pads when not in use.

  • Wheels, Trucks & Bearings:

    • Replacement wheels: Extra or replacement wheels for skates, skateboards, or scooters, available in different sizes and hardness levels for specific riding styles.

    • Trucks (for skateboards): The axle assembly that connects the wheels to the skateboard deck, often replaced or customized for better performance.

    • Bearings: Precision bearings used to enhance the speed and smoothness of skateboards, scooters, or skates.

Miscellaneous Gear

  • Lighting & Visibility Gear:

    • LED lights: Attachments for scooters, skateboards, or helmets to improve visibility during night rides.

    • Reflective gear: Reflective stickers or clothing designed to increase rider visibility for safety in low-light conditions.

  • Maintenance Tools & Kits:

    • Skate tools: Multi-purpose tools used to adjust trucks, change wheels, or tighten bolts on skateboards and scooters.

    • Bearing cleaners & lubricants: Maintenance kits designed to keep wheels and bearings performing at their best.

Key Considerations for Skates, Skateboards & Scooters Collection Management

Digital Inventory: Maintain a detailed digital inventory of your skates, skateboards, and scooters, including model names, purchase receipts, and photographs. Of course, Loti can help with all of this. Also, for custom or high-value items, include notes on any special modifications or accessories.

Proper Storage: Store your gear in a secure, dry space to protect it from damage due to moisture or wear. Use appropriate storage solutions such as racks or bags to prevent scratches or impacts when not in use.

Regular Inventory Updates: Update your inventory as you acquire new gear or replace old items. Ensure that your insurance policy reflects the current value of your collection, particularly if it includes rare or custom-built equipment.

Check for Specialized Insurance Riders: If you own high-value, custom, or collectible skates, skateboards, or scooters, consider adding a rider to your insurance policy to ensure full coverage in case of damage, theft, or loss.

Wrap-Up: Protecting Your Skates, Skateboards & Scooters

Whether you ride for fun, competition, or transportation, your skates, skateboards, and scooters are valuable assets that require proper care and protection. By maintaining a detailed and up-to-date inventory of your equipment and ensuring it’s covered by your insurance policy, you can safeguard your investment from financial loss due to damage, theft, or loss.

Proper documentation and insurance coverage will help ensure that your gear can be replaced or repaired quickly, allowing you to continue enjoying your rides with peace of mind.