After many discussions with my insurance guy who kept telling me that coverage will apply on a track for a DE event, He finally talked to a claim adjuster and what a surprise the coverage will be voided if the car is on any designated racing surface....My Car Insurance is with State Farm....
I called Geico and Farmers same result

I thought I pass that on to all WE DON T HAVE ANY INSURANCE ON THE TRACK....

Now that being said does any one know where to get any kind of coverage???

 

As a "former" tracker (I don't any longer just because of this insurance problem) I did alot of investigation about this subject. I have spoken directly with all the big insurance companies (anonomously), agents and the insurance commissioners office. If you read the actual policy language (the legalize in the big policy you get), nearly every policy in Washington State no longer allows "any ACTIVITY on a temporary or permanent track". Most timed events are no longer covered. I investigated about "Drivers Education" and was told if I was caught going over 60mph and on any type of track, that I would not be covered. Washington State does not want you doing any of these type of events period. With each year, more and more WA insurance policies are having this language added.

I actually discovered this problem initially after my son had an accident and the insurance company found his autocross map in the glove box when they towed his car. They nearly did not pay out on the claim (although not related to autocross), because they said we had violated our policy by admitting we participated in autocross. We finally got the claim paid (long, painful process) but then they then dropped us (my husband and I had been with them for 30 years with CLEAN records).

I had been doing Drivers Education type events in the past which I loved. If you do have an accident and get towed off the track as many organizers/tracks will do for you, it is then considered insurance fraud and then you can end up in jail.

I do have a name of a track insurance company (I could find only one in the US). It is a year long policy that covers you for up to 23 days on a track, and the rates are based on your car value. Don Kitch gave me the contact information. It is very expensive. WARNING about this though: your insurance company will be notified if you file a claim.


It SUCKS! If someone finds out different - let me know. Otherwise, you self insure at these events. If you hit someone else, or hurt someone, that becomes a bigger issue.

 

the entire lack of or no insurance on the track thing is what keeps me from going. =*( i really want to go, but it's not worth it to me should i have an issue while i'm out there.

autoX, as i understand, is a non covered insurance event as well. but, what keeps me going is that you are the only car on a 1 minute course. no walls to hit, no other cars to hit, etc. sure, you can spin out, but you reallllyyyyy have to do a doozie of a drive to get near the wall. i guess i'll cross my fingers and hope nothing happens!

it's soooo much fun! lol!

 

This whole insurance matter is exactly why I chose not to track my car. I simply am not willing to risk taking a chance on being denied coverage for something that happens. I've heard too many horror stories from those who have chosen to track their cars and ended up wrecking their cars. Total loss, they'd say with no insurance possible. I guess, you should only consider tracking IF you know you can afford to take that as a loss and you're willing to pay for it out of your own pocket.

Well, said, Greta. I'm glad to hear that you were eventually able to get the claim even if it meant losing your insurance coverage from that provider. It sucks that had to happen. The insurance providers are so "****" about everything these days. It's like pulling teeth trying to get they to pay up these days. That's why I hate insurance companies.

 

This topic has been beat to death over the last year as insurance companies have added the exclusionary language to their policies. Essentially you're on your own now. My solution has been to go to driving schools that provide the car, tires, gas, instructor and insurance. It's not inexpensive, but it does provide some sense of coverage and peace of mind. Of course, if you have a salvage title junker and nothing to lose, what should you care?

 

i agree with you jason. i'll hope that nothing happens to me out at autoX. i know it just takes one freak accident to happen.

if you can't afford to pay, then you probably can't afford to play. that's my motto! lol! now, in saying that....i better go knock on wood! hehe!

 

+1 I follow the same philosophy as well. I even paid extra for the additional insurance coverage at the last driving school I went to, the PSDS (Porsche Sport Driving School). They have two levels of coverage. One is offered at the time of tuition purchase but that only takes your payout down to $20,000 if something were to happen. The second level of coverage is offered at the time you arrive at the school which takes it down to $2,000. Well worth every penny because you never know what could happen in a school like that.

 

Just have your wrecked car towed out to a side street , then push it in the ditch and Bingo you have a 'phantom car ' incident..

 

Not worth the risk..

 

Even bigger risk - this is insurance fraud - you'll end up with no insurance coverage and in jail if you are caught!

 

I am registered for the Porsche Sport driving School in Birmingham that Jason so highly recommends. I go the first weekend in May - I can't wait!!!! Use others cars - more fun, no worries.

 

I was kidding ...

 

Even if you don’t wreck your car, you will definitely trash anything that can be considered consumable. From strut inserts, bushings, anything aluminum, engine components, fluids, of course brakes and tires. Everything on the car has a service life that should be adhered to. If you can’t afford to replace just about everything on the car, you should not be pushing your car to the limit, because when you go slightly beyond that limit you will be paying. That is why people buy a track only car to beat on. There are some good deals on very fast and capable older cars that are surprisingly quick around the track, and are a good value when considering parts replacement or even the entire unibody. I have also heard they are more fun to hustle around. It’s more fun when you’re not worrying about how much this or that is to replace, just how much fun you’re having. Imagine if Raikkonen had to pick up the tab every time his engine exploded or gear box self destructed at McLaren. It would have driven him to drinking……Oh wait, I meant drinking more!

 

It's true that our personal policies exclude track and driving events, however, most official and sponsored events (e.g., through BMW CCA or PCA) include an event-wide liability policy.

For example, I know all official BMWCCA events provide this coverage ($10 million per event). However, you're on your own if you or someone else damages your own vehicle/property (comprehensive and collision-type of claim). Best advice someone gave me about DE's is that you should be willing/ready/able to pay for any damage you might incur to your car while on the track or at an event, because it isn't covered unless you buy specific track coverage.

What is interesting is that BMWCCA (PCA probably does too) requires every participant to sign a liability waiver for each event which prohibits you from suing the club or other participants. Clever. I'm interpreting this as a situation where you are only going to get protection in situations of gross negligence, which is a higher standard I suspect. I'm no attorney.

You can find more details on http://www.bmwpugetsound.com/ under the Driving Schools section. There is a fairly detailed explanation of coverage from the Club's attorney.

 

Talk to Don Kitch at Proformance. he has some contacts that insure for track events. The coverage is very limited and expensive, but it does cover you on the track. You'd have to contact them for specifics but I do know that the coverage did not cover you on public roadways.

HTH

I would offer, that if this insurance thing has kept you off the track, I'm sorry. You are really missing out.