Hello all - a friend of mine said if you track the car with an instructor (even if no other cars are present) standard insurance would not cover any potential damages (collision, etc.). Is that true?

 

its amazing the number of accidenst that happen "in the parking lot" of the tracks though.

I think you will be spending out of pocket if you wreck at a track...unless you are doind a highway safety or drivers course. In those cases, the insurance companies will cover it b/c they encourage driver safety.

 

Yeah, racing at a track, jumping out of an airplane, etc. Insurance companies just don't like to cover that kind of stuff.

 

Actually, I think you've got it backwards. Many insurance policies cover off road driver education. But it depends on the policy. The fact that you have an instructor in the car is about your only hope for arguing that racing school is "driver education". It's been done but, of course, your policy may vary...

I wouldn't depend on your insurance even if it specifies driver education or driving school. No risk, no reward!!!

 

My understanding is that most insurance companies (like mine) only prohibit timed events and contests of speed.

The track days I go to are untimed Driver Education events and according to my (very cool) insurance agent, fully covered.
If you total your car on the track they'll probably drop you like a stone, but they'll pay the claim.

 

I think this sums it up. No-one can tell you what your policy covers without reading it. You should check with your broker or agent....

 

Definitely check with your insurance company, and if you do go, make sure you have something in writing. Someone up here wrote off their car at a track day, but because he wasn't racing, the car was still covered. Of course, we all know he'll still be paying for it with increased premiums.

 

It may vary by state law, but every insurance company in Texas is fine with "performance driving schools." If you're going to drive like a bat out of hell, at least learn to do it safely, right?

The events I've gone to have always taken strict measures to ensure there is no public timing or other competitive elements present, specifically for insurance reasons.

TXR