I'm wondering about insurance coverage at track days. I've read over several threads and actually haven't found much info, other than "check with your agent". I did that, and my insurance (Farmer's) is worded in such a way that anything on a track, timed or not, drivers ed or not, would likely not be covered.

What I would like to know is... who has insurance that they've checked with and DOES cover non-timed, non-racing track events? I read one thread about State Farm, but would like some other company names. Obviously, I'll check with the agent about it before signing up, but If I had a short list of companies, that would help alot. I'm in SoCal BTW...

Thanks...

-David

 

Here is what Farmers says: EZ-Reader Car Policy 3rd Edition: Part IV "Exclusions":

This coverage does not apply to loss:

9. During any organized or agreed-upon racing or speed contest or demonstration in which your insured car has active participation, or in pracice or preparation for any such contest.

Not that that clarifies anything.

 

My State Farm agent said to go ahead and do a typical track day, the worst they would do is pay-up then cancel me.
Also not sure if this helps.

 

You might want to get that in writing. I would think they worst thing they could do would be to NOT pay-up and then cancel you.

 

My agent read that line and said, in his opinion, that anything on a racetrack would most likely be considered practice or preparation for racing, and therefore not be covered. He said I could go ahead and do it, but in case of a claim, he seriously doubted they would pay.

-David

 

DE's (driver education) events are *not* racing or contests of speed, nor are they practice for racing or contests of speed. As all the track day's I participate in are DE's, I'd feel safely covered if the provision in my policy were as (the Farmer's provision) written above.

An agent can give an opinion but he doesn't make the payout determination. I've heard of very few instances where insurance did not pay for an accident at a legitmate DE.

Sure they may (would) cancel your coverage, but they would pay.

 

I'd feel more comfortable with the verbage of "timed or competition" being excluded, as the track events I would most likley stick to would not fall under that category, whereas the Farmers wording leaves any event open to interpretation... Who's policy sticks with the "timed" wording?

-David


[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mikey
[B]DE's (driver education) events are *not* racing or contests of speed, nor are they practice for racing or contests of speed.

 

While I'm sure some insurance companies might pay without a fight, my guess is that many would try to decline coverage and force you to hire a lawyer to arbitrate with them. It's just there nature...



It's also interesting to note that autocrosses seem to fall under the Farmers exclusion as well.

 

Ask VTEC Racer; he has Farmer's and suffered some damage at Laguna Seca. They fought it, but they paid. The key is to deny anything having anything to do with racing (they will try to trick you into admitting that you were racing), and keep stressing these three points:
- noncompetitive
- non timed
- Driver's Education