If anyone here has any experience with getting a car fixed after an accident while auto-xing or at a driver's school, please PM me. I am looking for things learned, experience, suggestions, etc. when dealing with the insurance company.

 

Are you absolutely sure it can't be covered out of pocket? It would likely be a much better situation if it can be handled without the insurance claim process.

As far as helping... PedalFaster (of FAQ fame) has some experience. Send him a PM.

 

If you have State Farm, they will probably cover it. I spoke to my agent, and she gave the thumbs up

 

My car has $8 - 10K worth of damage. I would rather not pay that amount out of pocket.

 

8 - 10k!?!?!?!?!?! What happened? Who has you business? (insurance-wise)

 

I had a big crash on the track, and my insurance co. (State Farm) covered it. I told them the truth, 100%, and they didn't bat an eye. They still have my business, for obvious reasons.

I would not advise trying insurance fraud.

By the way, $8K in damage is probably somewhere around the break-even mark. Depending on your record and your deductable, if you make a claim you may be paying as much extra over the next few years as you get back for the claim.

As always with insurance situations, it totally depends on state law where you live and your own insurance policy.

 

I also was successful in having damages covered under my automobile insurance. The accident occured at a performance driving school and I was 100% honest with my claims adjuster about what happened. My company raised my rates substantially (nearly double), so I switched to a different carrier (again with full disclosure) and my rates wound up only going up ~15%.

Coverage is variable, so don't assume that because we had good outcomes that you are also going to be covered. Some policies now specifically exclude DE events on race tracks. Also, coverage will vary state to state, so even if you have the same carrier your policy may be different. Make sure to carefully read your insurance policy and understand what the terminology means as that is the contract that you have with your company.

Even though there is a lower likelihood of vehicle damage in an autocross compared with HPDE, it is specifically excluded from coverage in most policies since it is a contest of speed and a timed event.

 

I can't discuss it as it happened at an SCCA driving school. Just suffice it to say that the right front is severely damaged.

 

By the way, thanks for responding. Currently, it looks like the car will be repaired, but I will know more in a few days. I was honest with the insurance company. An incident with 30 or 40 witnesses would be pretty hard to BS on.

 

If there is no other vehicle invovled (solo loss) then you're OK if you are with any of the more reputable insurance companies. Just explain it was at a drivers/training school and not a timed event...that is the key. Timed events are excluded but driving schools are OK. I've had claims with guys on motorcycles hitting each other at laguna seca and we've covered the damage (one of the big 3 insurers) no problem although you may get a risk advice memo in your policy which really doesn't mean jack most of the time