Trackday insurance...again...(i know i'm sorry)
Discussion
I know this topic gets done to death on here but i have had a hunt around on the search topic and have not really found an answer.
1)It would appear that you don't have to have trackday insurance - i spoke to some insurers (my last policy had it included, but my current one doesn't) Is this true?
2)Do all/any track event organisers ask to see it when you turn up (i don't remember showing mine the last time i went)?
3)As i understand it, track day insurance only covers your car (less excess) for dings. If you plough into someone it does not cover the cost of their car's damage - they are meant to claim for any damage (even if you inflict it) on their own trackday policy. Is this true?
4)More worryingly if you kill/injure someone, your policy does not pay out
Surely it must be worth taking out some personal liability insurance or something - could they sue you?
Anyone with any advice on some or all of the above topics who can comment would be really appreciated.
My car is only an m3 evo, so not worth loads of money so I wasn't too worried about trackday insurance, but now I have heard all this I'm a bit worried
1)It would appear that you don't have to have trackday insurance - i spoke to some insurers (my last policy had it included, but my current one doesn't) Is this true?
2)Do all/any track event organisers ask to see it when you turn up (i don't remember showing mine the last time i went)?
3)As i understand it, track day insurance only covers your car (less excess) for dings. If you plough into someone it does not cover the cost of their car's damage - they are meant to claim for any damage (even if you inflict it) on their own trackday policy. Is this true?
4)More worryingly if you kill/injure someone, your policy does not pay out
Surely it must be worth taking out some personal liability insurance or something - could they sue you?
Anyone with any advice on some or all of the above topics who can comment would be really appreciated.
My car is only an m3 evo, so not worth loads of money so I wasn't too worried about trackday insurance, but now I have heard all this I'm a bit worried
1. Trackday insurance is entirely up to the individual and the policy they choose. There's no requirement to have it - 99.9% of people would be paying for something they don't use.
2. You are not obliged to have insurance at any trackday I've been to.
3. Yep, one of the reasons I have a policy that covers trackdays is in case I suffer major damage caused by someone else. Brake failure, oil left on track etc. There's any number of things that could cause a major incident. Whether you could succeed with a civil case for damages is not my area of expertise.
4. You and/or the organiser could maybe be sued for damages, loss of earnings etc. Some of them sell personal liability insurance for just this purpose.
My view is that you are in control of your own driving standards, so if driving appropriately for trackday conditions then someone would have a hard job proving negligence and hence winning a case against you. You cannot control others but the organisers do try, you can and should complain about anyone driving poorly. Just in case they crash into you later, at least you raised your concern. Plus, given the speed differentials you are never near another car for long as long as everyone's driving correctly and letting people past.
Motorsport is dangerous
2. You are not obliged to have insurance at any trackday I've been to.
3. Yep, one of the reasons I have a policy that covers trackdays is in case I suffer major damage caused by someone else. Brake failure, oil left on track etc. There's any number of things that could cause a major incident. Whether you could succeed with a civil case for damages is not my area of expertise.
4. You and/or the organiser could maybe be sued for damages, loss of earnings etc. Some of them sell personal liability insurance for just this purpose.
My view is that you are in control of your own driving standards, so if driving appropriately for trackday conditions then someone would have a hard job proving negligence and hence winning a case against you. You cannot control others but the organisers do try, you can and should complain about anyone driving poorly. Just in case they crash into you later, at least you raised your concern. Plus, given the speed differentials you are never near another car for long as long as everyone's driving correctly and letting people past.
Motorsport is dangerous
thanks Jubal - that is a really spot on answer.
I think as my car is not worth that much, and the excess is usually quite high, (plus i'm a bit of a novice driver - so i tend to keep out of everyone's way!) i might not worry too much about track day insurance for the car, but will look into personal liability cover for accidentally injuring someone else
I think as my car is not worth that much, and the excess is usually quite high, (plus i'm a bit of a novice driver - so i tend to keep out of everyone's way!) i might not worry too much about track day insurance for the car, but will look into personal liability cover for accidentally injuring someone else
It's always possible you will lose control and crash into someone else's car (let's say an expensive one), and it will clearly be your fault. Or am I missing something? For this reason I would ensure I have at least 3rd party ins. (my car is not worth lots so no worries here).
Regards
Regards
nicedude1976 said:
It's always possible you will lose control and crash into someone else's car (let's say an expensive one), and it will clearly be your fault. Or am I missing something? For this reason I would ensure I have at least 3rd party ins. (my car is not worth lots so no worries here).
Regards
Regards
And where do you get this 3rd party track insurance from?
I have done a few trackdays (with cars priced below £20k) I have not worried about insurance. But on my last trip (Brands last month) I had an off and missed the barrier by 2-3ft.
I have gone through things in my mind to why I did it and know I will not make the same mistake again (slightly damp, cold tyres and pressures a tad high and pushing a little too hard to early)......
I have done 8-10 events, so I can live with it as a one off.
Still I have booked another track day and I am not taking out insurance.
On the liability side, there was a recent case where one chap tried to sue another for causing a two car crash. The court chucked out the case, as the event was on a racing track and they suggested it's where things like that happen....
Anyway, book the day, take out insurance if you must and just enjoy it. Just drive within your limits (ish)...
Mat
I have gone through things in my mind to why I did it and know I will not make the same mistake again (slightly damp, cold tyres and pressures a tad high and pushing a little too hard to early)......
I have done 8-10 events, so I can live with it as a one off.
Still I have booked another track day and I am not taking out insurance.
On the liability side, there was a recent case where one chap tried to sue another for causing a two car crash. The court chucked out the case, as the event was on a racing track and they suggested it's where things like that happen....
Anyway, book the day, take out insurance if you must and just enjoy it. Just drive within your limits (ish)...
Mat
nicedude1976 said:
It's always possible you will lose control and crash into someone else's car (let's say an expensive one), and it will clearly be your fault. Or am I missing something? For this reason I would ensure I have at least 3rd party ins. (my car is not worth lots so no worries here).
Regards
Regards
Its irrelevent, even if an accident on track is your fault, its the other drivers responsiblity to pay for the damage to thier vehicle.
It is generally understood that you have to pick up your own pieces if a collision happens. That is why it is so very important to go with the sort of trackday provider that tries not to cultivate idiots.
Basically there are three scenarios,
your ball joint fails on the entry to a fast corner and..
a; you plough into and damage the armco and a spectators vehicle. You may get a bill for it , you may not.. it depends on the circuit
b; you hit another car (unlikely). If you are a complete ba$tard you could walk away.. it's only your conscience that would make you pay up.
c; you kill someone (very unlikely). You both signed the disclaimer which means no payola.. you ain't gonna get sued.
So, breathe easy my friend.. your E36 could easily wipe out a very expensive car and its driver.. all you have to do is get another E36 and sell the salvage of your old one.
and if it you that gets t boned.. you won't have a leg to stand on.. physically or legally!!
Basically there are three scenarios,
your ball joint fails on the entry to a fast corner and..
a; you plough into and damage the armco and a spectators vehicle. You may get a bill for it , you may not.. it depends on the circuit
b; you hit another car (unlikely). If you are a complete ba$tard you could walk away.. it's only your conscience that would make you pay up.
c; you kill someone (very unlikely). You both signed the disclaimer which means no payola.. you ain't gonna get sued.
So, breathe easy my friend.. your E36 could easily wipe out a very expensive car and its driver.. all you have to do is get another E36 and sell the salvage of your old one.
and if it you that gets t boned.. you won't have a leg to stand on.. physically or legally!!
Is this thread truly representative of how few people bother with trackday insurance? I've been out six times so far and never bothered with insurance, but the more I do, the more I feel I'm pushing my luck. :-/
While a lack of insurance is a good incentive to play safe (as if you actually need one!), I have worried about trashing someone else's car. Interesting to read that you're not liable for damage to others' cars (I hadn't realised that), but I'm sure I'd feel compelled to compensate if the unthinkable did happen...
Anyway, thanks for posting the thread, poshgit. And cheers to all the respondents!
Mal.
While a lack of insurance is a good incentive to play safe (as if you actually need one!), I have worried about trashing someone else's car. Interesting to read that you're not liable for damage to others' cars (I hadn't realised that), but I'm sure I'd feel compelled to compensate if the unthinkable did happen...
Anyway, thanks for posting the thread, poshgit. And cheers to all the respondents!
Mal.
Just brought a car for track days, and after searching around I found a broker that covers trackday insurance within the standard policy, and it was the cheapest quote out of five that I obtained.
It was even cheaper than ones that didn't cover tack days!
It's with Allianz so it's a reptable one.
The Specialist broker was A.Manning UK ltd 01491 578759
Hope this helps
Shawn
It was even cheaper than ones that didn't cover tack days!
It's with Allianz so it's a reptable one.
The Specialist broker was A.Manning UK ltd 01491 578759
Hope this helps
Shawn
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