Track dar legality question.
Discussion
My friend and I are considering getting a cheap hot hatch of some description to use for some trackday action. As we would have no intention of using it on the road is it possible to turn up a track day with no tax or insurance? To prove an element of road worthiness we'd certainly consider having it MOT'd.
Never heard of a trackday organizer requiring tax or MOT. I have only done bike trackdays and the only technical scrutiny taking was exhaust noise testing. If your engine was held together with gaffer tape and prayers they would never know.
You can take out trackday insurance but it isn't required which basically means you are on your own if you crash your car/bike regardless of whether you were at fault or not. I sort of took that as a given amongst participants.
You can take out trackday insurance but it isn't required which basically means you are on your own if you crash your car/bike regardless of whether you were at fault or not. I sort of took that as a given amongst participants.
Edited by redtwin on Saturday 5th February 13:05
jsg612 said:
I'd imagine it would be advisable to take out some form of third-party policy to cover damage against the track should the worst happen, however actual vehicle insurance no.
Do you realize that practically nobody is covered insurance wise on track days, and the very few that are covered are the ones there is super experience machinery with a policy that has an insane excess attached or were lucky enough to get a couple of track day cover thrown in with their policy from a specialist insurer, right? If you're not going to get insurance for the road getting insurance for the track on a cheap hatchback makes nearly zero sense.
Simps said:
Do you realize that practically nobody is covered insurance wise on track days, and the very few that are covered are the ones there is super experience machinery with a policy that has an insane excess attached or were lucky enough to get a couple of track day cover thrown in with their policy from a specialist insurer, right?
If you're not going to get insurance for the road getting insurance for the track on a cheap hatchback makes nearly zero sense.
The cost of the car is irrelevant. I certainly wouldn't like to cough up the repair bill for a track barrier that I've just ploughed through at 80mph.If you're not going to get insurance for the road getting insurance for the track on a cheap hatchback makes nearly zero sense.
jsg612 said:
The cost of the car is irrelevant. I certainly wouldn't like to cough up the repair bill for a track barrier that I've just ploughed through at 80mph.
I believe liability for that sort of thing lies with the trackday organiser, rather than the driver. I have in the past had track day insurance, pretty sure it only covered the car (I took it out because I was using my road car on track and didn't have a spare).I'm assuming you're getting the said "hot hatch" to the track on the back of a flatbed or trailer? As clearly it would need to be fully insured/taxed if you intended to drive it there!
As for the trackway insurance, there is no liability for third party cover as it's a sport taken at your own risk, but as had already been highlighted, you may want to consider getting cover for the track furniture, barriers/signs etc even for the Tarmac itself incase your car goes up in smoke and ruins the track surface.
Other than that, I would check with the raceway organisers and see what they require and recommend as you could end up with the kitchen sink if you take all of our info as gospel!
As for the trackway insurance, there is no liability for third party cover as it's a sport taken at your own risk, but as had already been highlighted, you may want to consider getting cover for the track furniture, barriers/signs etc even for the Tarmac itself incase your car goes up in smoke and ruins the track surface.
Other than that, I would check with the raceway organisers and see what they require and recommend as you could end up with the kitchen sink if you take all of our info as gospel!
jsg612 said:
The cost of the car is irrelevant. I certainly wouldn't like to cough up the repair bill for a track barrier that I've just ploughed through at 80mph.
The only circuit where that could happen is the 'ring.what you have said has no relevance whatasoever to going to a uk track day, no insurance is required, and everyone signs the same disclaimer before going on track - its not like driving on the road..
zx10ben said:
I'm assuming you're getting the said "hot hatch" to the track on the back of a flatbed or trailer? As clearly it would need to be fully insured/taxed if you intended to drive it there!
Of course 
IMO there is no point if forking out for tax/MOT/insurance if the car is simply going to be trailered from one private property to another.
The car <would> be kept to a high standard, just without the £35 piece of paper to prove it.
raf_gti said:
Of course
IMO there is no point if forking out for tax/MOT/insurance if the car is simply going to be trailered from one private property to another.
The car <would> be kept to a high standard, just without the £35 piece of paper to prove it.
Castle Combe Action days require an MOT IIRC.IMO there is no point if forking out for tax/MOT/insurance if the car is simply going to be trailered from one private property to another.
The car <would> be kept to a high standard, just without the £35 piece of paper to prove it.
raf_gti said:
Of course
IMO there is no point if forking out for tax/MOT/insurance if the car is simply going to be trailered from one private property to another.
The car <would> be kept to a high standard, just without the £35 piece of paper to prove it.
You would have no problem on any of the track days I've been on.IMO there is no point if forking out for tax/MOT/insurance if the car is simply going to be trailered from one private property to another.
The car <would> be kept to a high standard, just without the £35 piece of paper to prove it.
They only start asking questions if you turn up with someone on a trailer that looks like it should be at a breakers.
Lets face it, if you go on a cheaper trackday half the cars that are driven there shouldn't be road legal
davepoth said:
Castle Combe Action days require an MOT IIRC.
So they say, but they don't really. It's to simply a rule to try and keep those lacking intelligence from turning up in unsuitable sheds. This of course assumes a valid MoT makes a car roadworthy, let alone trackworthy!In reality they let on cars that have never been on the road, let alone near an MoT station.
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