AA No Longer Cover Trackdays

AA No Longer Cover Trackdays

Author
Discussion

Squidward

Original Poster:

57 posts

130 months

Wednesday 18th September
quotequote all
Hi All,

Probably only affects the minority of people, but thought it worth posting up.

I've been an AA member for years now - probably to my financial detriment, given the cost of membership in that time vs the cost of recovery on the one time I've actually needed my car recovered(!)

The only reason I'd maintained my membership all these years is because the AA were the only breakdown company to offer recovery from Trackdays. To that point I did use them approx 5 years ago when I had my Z4M recovered from Goodwood after a top-end failure.

I always quietly wondered when that cover would end - well, looks like Feb 2024 they updated their T&Cs - extract below;



Given that my renewal has come up and my cover (joint cover for my wife & I, not including home start) is now £20 a month, and no longer covers recovery from trackdays, I think I'll be looking elsewhere. A real shame.

Anyway, TL:DR, if you have AA cover because they used to recover from trackdays, they no longer provide that service, so don't get caught out!

geeks

9,735 posts

146 months

Wednesday 18th September
quotequote all
Squidward said:
Hi All,

Probably only affects the minority of people, but thought it worth posting up.

I've been an AA member for years now - probably to my financial detriment, given the cost of membership in that time vs the cost of recovery on the one time I've actually needed my car recovered(!)

The only reason I'd maintained my membership all these years is because the AA were the only breakdown company to offer recovery from Trackdays. To that point I did use them approx 5 years ago when I had my Z4M recovered from Goodwood after a top-end failure.

I always quietly wondered when that cover would end - well, looks like Feb 2024 they updated their T&Cs - extract below;



Given that my renewal has come up and my cover (joint cover for my wife & I, not including home start) is now £20 a month, and no longer covers recovery from trackdays, I think I'll be looking elsewhere. A real shame.

Anyway, TL:DR, if you have AA cover because they used to recover from trackdays, they no longer provide that service, so don't get caught out!
Its been like that for a couple of years now, 2020 sticks in my head for some reason

2172cc

1,221 posts

104 months

Wednesday 18th September
quotequote all
How can they prove that you have participated in a Speed Event? I broke the gearbox in my 205GTi at Santa Pod a few years back participating in a Run Wat Ya Brung and managed to get someone to tow me 2 miles down the road where the RAC eventually recovered me. First thing the driver said was 'been to Santa Pod have we?'. I told him I was just spectating and he then loaded me up.

mmm-five

11,437 posts

291 months

Wednesday 18th September
quotequote all
How long before the breakdown does that clause apply to?

For example, if you went on a track day 3 months ago, would they refuse to come to a breakdown today on the motorway?

ScoobyChris

1,809 posts

209 months

Wednesday 18th September
quotequote all
Squidward said:
Anyway, TL:DR, if you have AA cover because they used to recover from trackdays, they no longer provide that service, so don't get caught out!
Years ago a friend had an engine failure on a track day and someone was kind enough to help recover his car to the nearby Little Chef (?) car park. Friend then rang the AA and told them he'd broken down, could they arrange for recovery.

Chris

Squidward

Original Poster:

57 posts

130 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
geeks said:
Its been like that for a couple of years now, 2020 sticks in my head for some reason
Far as I can see from looking at their T&Cs on their website, this change didn't come into effect until Feb 2024. It definitely can't have been 2020 - I was recovered in June 2021 from a trackday, and it was still not specifically excluded from their T&Cs at that point because I quoted their T&Cs at them when they tried to wriggle out of recovering me!!


geeks

9,735 posts

146 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
Squidward said:
geeks said:
Its been like that for a couple of years now, 2020 sticks in my head for some reason
Far as I can see from looking at their T&Cs on their website, this change didn't come into effect until Feb 2024. It definitely can't have been 2020 - I was recovered in June 2021 from a trackday, and it was still not specifically excluded from their T&Cs at that point because I quoted their T&Cs at them when they tried to wriggle out of recovering me!!
It may not be 2020 but it wasn’t this year because I remember the hoha on the Farcebook groups etc. anyway it’s a moot point really

essayer

9,623 posts

201 months

Thursday 19th September
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“I was just here watching my friend”

blue_haddock

3,866 posts

74 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
About 15 years ago i was partaking in a hill climb at Prescott and a drive shaft went, limped down the hill into the public car park and then got recovered from there with no questions asked by green flag.

Paul_M3

2,417 posts

192 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
My road and track insurance is through Classicline, and they also include breakdown cover.

They're obviously wise to people getting towed away from the track, as when I inform them of my track days they clearly state on the phone that my breakdown cover will not be in force at the track OR for the rest of that day.

hyperblue

2,817 posts

187 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
I once had the misfortune of breaking down just outside Bedford Autodrome. The RAC recovered the car, but did advise me to remove the noise test sticker and wristband next time!

brillomaster

1,396 posts

177 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
i've been recovered from trackdays three times now... twice with RAC when engines went bang, and then once with AA when my alternator died.

very disappointing to hear that they now specifically exclude trackdays - does anyone know of any companies that still do? Seems theres a market there if a company was willing to offer it as a service - there are plenty of people who take their own cars on trackdays but do not have a trailer.

geeks

9,735 posts

146 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
brillomaster said:
i've been recovered from trackdays three times now... twice with RAC when engines went bang, and then once with AA when my alternator died.

very disappointing to hear that they now specifically exclude trackdays - does anyone know of any companies that still do? Seems theres a market there if a company was willing to offer it as a service - there are plenty of people who take their own cars on trackdays but do not have a trailer.
As I said its been this way for a while, had a quick search my 2020 guestimate was a bit out, looks like 2022, evidence that the OP was recovered in 2021 so 2022 seems right.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

was8v

1,988 posts

202 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
A related old wives tale is that there's a tree just outside the gates of Oulton Park that is the most crashed into tree in existence.

OverSteery

3,667 posts

238 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
was8v said:
A related old wives tale is that there's a tree just outside the gates of Oulton Park that is the most crashed into tree in existence.
I don't know about the AA, but the RAC don't cover accident recovery. Nor any business use.

PJ_Parsons

143 posts

145 months

Thursday 19th September
quotequote all
I banged out an engine at Oulton a few years back. I was covered with GEM Assist, but did not think they covered track days. I told the bloke on the other end of the phone the truth and to my surprise, a trailer was sent to take me home. No charge of any sort.

944 Man

1,814 posts

139 months

Saturday 19th October
quotequote all
Paul_M3 said:
My road and track insurance is through Classicline, and they also include breakdown cover.

They're obviously wise to people getting towed away from the track, as when I inform them of my track days they clearly state on the phone that my breakdown cover will not be in force at the track OR for the rest of that day.
I realise that this appears to be quite idle on my part, but can you tell me what CL's recovers restrictions are please? It is distance from home address that I need to know, but I can't find the details anywhere. It is a Classic policy with Aegis but I presume that they are all the same.

Paul_M3

2,417 posts

192 months

Saturday 19th October
quotequote all
944 Man said:
Paul_M3 said:
My road and track insurance is through Classicline, and they also include breakdown cover.

They're obviously wise to people getting towed away from the track, as when I inform them of my track days they clearly state on the phone that my breakdown cover will not be in force at the track OR for the rest of that day.
I realise that this appears to be quite idle on my part, but can you tell me what CL's recovers restrictions are please? It is distance from home address that I need to know, but I can't find the details anywhere. It is a Classic policy with Aegis but I presume that they are all the same.
Do you mean how far away from home you need to be to be able to use the cover?

I’ve had a quick look and I think you only need to be more than a mile from home.

944 Man

1,814 posts

139 months

Saturday 19th October
quotequote all
That is what I meant yes. I have found it and mine is the same, thank you. They do not say whether it is a radial mile or a mile to travel.

As well as finding out that they have deleted driving other cars cover this year, I see that there is a £3,000 annual limit on all repair and recovery costs. That doesn't bode well if you need recovering from Italy or Spain. I wonder whether there is scope to engage a fourth party recovery company? If so you might have a chance of getting your car back using someone like Lizard Logistics or similar.

milesgiles

1,019 posts

36 months

Sunday 20th October
quotequote all
ScoobyChris said:
Years ago a friend had an engine failure on a track day and someone was kind enough to help recover his car to the nearby Little Chef (?) car park. Friend then rang the AA and told them he'd broken down, could they arrange for recovery.

Chris
Directions to take a tow rope to a track day then