Hagerty’s high-performance drivers education (HPDE) insurance protects your car while it’s on the track.
- You, one other driver (if pre-approved), and your driving instructor do physical damage to your vehicle.
Do I need insurance for track days?
The purchase of track day insurance is not required by law. It is, nevertheless, always preferable to be safe than sorry. For the uninitiated, driving on a racetrack can be disorienting. Speeds can be easily obtained, and the track’s frequently huge open space means that, like a highway, you don’t realize how fast you’re traveling.
Unlike a highway, circuits contain hard twists and bends, and it’s at these places that the great Colin McRae observed, “Straight highways are for fast vehicles, turns are for fast drivers.” It is at these turns that you and other cars may become aware of how quickly they have loomed up.
For piece of mind, track day insurance is a modest thing to pay. It’s not you who’s the issue; it’s the people around you who don’t seem to care about your car.
Does insurance cover your car on the track?
Specialist in classic automobile insurance Hagerty said that it will issue Demon-specific insurance covers, ensuring that owners would have at least some protection for their barely camouflaged race cars.
That got us thinking: What kinds of concerns should other weekend warriors have about their car insurance, particularly drivers who use their vehicles for daily transportation to and from work during the week and then try their hand at an autocross or local drag strip on Sunday? Are these vehicles eligible for competition?
The quick answer is that it’s unlikely. We contacted many insurance companies, and they all gave us the same response: go racing and you’re on your own.
‘If Something Happens, We Won’t Cover It’
“We won’t even put a race car on your policy if you tell us you’re racing,” USAA’s Rich Johnson said. “We’ll insure your Demon for street use if you have one. We won’t cover anything that happens on the racetrack.”
“While there may be some state-specific exceptions, “generally, Progressive’s personal auto policies contain exclusions that preclude coverage for injuries or property damage sustained in preparation for or while a vehicle is being used in competition,” according to a statement from company representative Jeff Sibel.
Justin Herndon, a spokeswoman for Allstate, reiterated this sentiment, saying, “In general, when someone is participating in a contest like racing or utilizes their car on a track meant for racing and suffers a loss, our personal auto plans expressly exclude coverage.”
Competition Coverage
Weekend racers, on the other hand, can get a supplemental insurance coverage that picks up where traditional insurance stops off specifically when they go onto a racetrack.
Amateur racers are catered to by specialty insurance companies like Heacock Classic and Lockton Motorsports, which offer plans that cover competition vehicles both on and off the track, as well as trailers and spare parts. And neither of those firms, nor the more mainstream insurers we spoke with, have any objections to the combined coverage – one picks up where the other ends off.
Lockton, for example, has policies developed expressly for autocrossing. According to company representative Joel Lattin, a full season of autocross competition will cost roughly $250 per year, based on a car agreed worth of around $25,000. Physical damage to the car is covered, but not mechanical components that have been abused. It also excludes coverage for liability.
Honesty Is the Best (Insurance) Policy
The simple conclusion is that some types of racing and a wide range of cars, whether street legal or not, are covered. While an internet search will yield a wealth of information, bear the following in mind before approaching the starting line:
- Before you go shopping, thoroughly study your policy, including the dreaded fine print, to learn exactly what is and is not covered.
- If you choose for extra coverage, be sure you understand the policy’s details as well.
“It’s up to each individual to review the legal language of his or her own policy or call their insurance agent to be 100 percent sure he or she would be covered in the event they engage in,” Sibel of Progressive said.
Does insurance cover you on track?
Almost all basic car insurance policies do not protect you once you enter a racetrack, even for activities like driver training or exhibition laps. Simply fill out the Track Insurance Quote/Proposal form and send it to us now to get a quote for your event!
Do you need car insurance on a race track?
The Alberta Standard Automobile Policy S.P.F. No. 1 is required by law for all companies offering insurance for street-licensed vehicles in Alberta (2013). This standard insurance does not cover an automobile that has been involved in a “race or speed test.” If you’re part of a timed run group, this behavior will, of course, void your insurance. We do, however, provide a number of non-timed run groups, and we do not distribute prizes or rank competitors in any of them. Our legal advisor recommends that running in non-timed run groups DOES NOT disqualify you from insurance coverage, and countless successful claims over the years back up that legal view.
However, we have no control over how your insurance company interprets our actions in light of the policy’s terms… or how long the battle will last if you file a claim.
What should I bring to track day?
Many clubs have loaner lids, which you should use if it’s your first time, but trust me when I say you don’t want to stick your head inside one of those community centers.
sweatboxes if it isn’t absolutely essential. If you want to buy your own helmet, check sure it has all of the necessary features.
certification. This changes from one club to the next. The majority of helmets on the market today have a Snell SA2010 rating, which means they’ll keep you safe until the year 2020.
2020. The prevailing agreement on how much to spend is straightforward: as much as you can afford.
A neck protector is also a good idea, however karting-style neck protectors are not recommended for automobile use. For neck protection, I use a HANS device, but it can only be utilized if your automobile is equipped with one.
Seat belts and adequate seats are required. Other head-restraint systems, such as the Simpson R3, are available for use with a three-point belt.
When it comes to track day tires, there are two schools of thinking. There’s a lot to be said about the lessons you can learn from street tires, as well as the lower limits they provide.
impose on the vehicle, but what if you wreck one and end up with a five-hour drive home? The difficulty of fitting track tires on your wheels and getting to the track will seem like a deal.
after having had a session on thick, sticky rubber The question then becomes how to get four wheels on the track, which will be determined by your vehicle. If they do,
Are track days safe?
Track days are a great opportunity to get in your car and have some fun without having to worry about stop signs or speed limits. They’re designed to allow you to appreciate your car’s performance in a safe and controlled manner “a secure” setting
However, anything involving cars, high speeds, and the potential for human error is risky. Don’t get in over your head for your own safety and the protection of others.
The mindset of “It’s a dangerous one to say “that only happens to the other man.” While these competitions take place on a track with people who are serious about driving technique and skill, there are still drivers who put themselves in dangerous positions solely for the sake of ego. People have died as a result of Track Days. While some circumstances are unavoidable, others can be avoided. Here are some ideas to consider while planning a track day.
There are no trophies awarded at the end of track days, no Scuderia Ferrari scouts are stationed around the fences, and no FIA SuperLicense is required to participate. As a result, a fair self-evaluation of your ability level is beneficial to your enjoyment.
Run with the novice group if you are a novice, regardless of how cool your automobile is. As shown in the amusing, but frankly stated video below, many people who attend these gatherings definitely have more money in their wallets than in their heads.
These guys are frequently easy to spot because they have nearly caused accidents while speeding into the venue before even checking in at registration. By the end of the day, these people will have alienated their run group by “parking” their cars in corners with no “point-bys” and then scooting away on the straightaways.
Your run group placement is not determined by the horsepower or make of your automobile. Despite having racing experience and a license, I had a terrific time at the SCCA’s Track Night in America when they put me in the novice group for the sake of the tale and I got to work with the instructors. It’s always a good idea to be learning if you want to be good at something. Before approaching the course, the novice meeting provided me a clear head.
How many times have you seen a televised race where the driver was reported as saying, “Something went wrong”? A automobile is made up of numerous components. Any of a number of faults can occur, especially when driving aggressively.
Your car will need to go through a pre-race inspection on location before each track day begins “Technology.” This is a determination of the car’s worthiness made by track-day personnel, track personnel, or you. If you’re going to “You’ll need to turn in a tech form on the honor system if you’re doing “self tech.”
Because there is rarely enough staff to service all of the cars that show up for a track day, the driver must complete a checklist of functionality as part of registration. Most track days include a webpage where you can download and print the registration form so it’s ready when you arrive.
Before hitting the track, a fresh oil change and a professional inspection go a long way toward giving you peace of mind. A couple of instances are depicted in the videos below. The guy in the Datsun had a terrifying crash with his junk dangling from nylon ties. Fortunately, his passenger appeared to be only shocked and unharmed. The interior of the car made me doubt the roadworthiness of this hunk of junk.
This is a fairly severe video. When something breaks in the front suspension of the guy’s Cobra as he speeds up the straightaway at Willow Springs at 130 mph. Even the coolest cars can suffer from a simple breakdown that leads to disaster.
Driving an automobile is a serious job, whether on the street or on the track. When you add in the aspect of performance, you’re bound to be bitten. Worse yet, the virus might quickly spread to others. The day is won by common sense. As the Beach Boys once sang, “Beach Boys, Beach Boys, Beach Boys, Beach Boys, “Don’t let go of your ego.” Don’t allow your ego or lack of talent ruin what should be a fantastic day.
Does Progressive insurance cover track days?
- Track days or competitions: You’re usually not covered if you ride your bike in races, timed events, speed tests, or on a track.
- Commercial use: If you ride your motorcycle for a living, you could not be insured while on the job. Consider a commercial vehicle insurance policy if you ride your bike for work on a regular basis (not just commuting).
- Wear and tear: Motorcycle insurance does not cover depreciation of your bike.
Do Drag racers have insurance?
Any form of racing damage or liability is not covered by a typical auto or home policy. Drag racing, autocross, rallies, and track days are examples of common amateur motorsports that are not covered by standard auto insurance coverage.
In the exclusions section of your policy, there’s probably fine print that reads something like this:
“Liability arising from the sponsorship or participation in any organized or agreed-upon racing, speed race, or demonstration in which your insured car has an active role, or from the practice or preparation for any such contest.”
Liability insurance may be carried by the governing body for the type of racing you undertake. It will, however, almost always be bare-bones coverage designed to protect those you damage. The majority of businesses aren’t in the business of safeguarding and maintaining drivers’ automobiles.
Do track days void warranty?
Even the “slowest” of the current V-8 Challengers, the base R/T, can do the quarter-mile in under 13 seconds in factory form, while the Hellcat can run it in under 11 seconds. What’s not to like about a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty? This is dependent on how you operate your vehicle.
“Your warranties do not cover the costs of fixing damage or conditions caused by racing, nor do they cover the repair of any flaws found as a result of participating in a racing event,” says Dodge’s 2020 warranty manual.
But wait, aren’t these automobiles designed for drag racing? “The implicit warranty of fitness for a specific purpose does not apply if your car is utilized for racing, even if the vehicle is prepared for racing,” Dodge’s legal team said.
As it turns out, some Challengers have some leeway when it comes to drag strip fun. “The SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Redeye are expressly developed for performance, including recreational track use,” said FCA U.S. product spokesperson Claire Carroll. As a result, using the track does not automatically void the warranty. Non-OEM vehicle modifications, misuse, and/or sanctioned competitive racing, on the other hand, might cause unforeseen damage that is not covered by warranty. Each warranty claim is assessed, and coverage is determined based on factors such as the type of failure, driver behavior, and/or unique incident.”
When striving to shave another tenth or two off the ET, Challenger stick-shift lovers should keep the following in mind: “Manual transmission clutch parts are not covered under the powertrain limited warranty.” (That statement is written in all caps in the warranty booklet because everyone knows that indicates the Dodge people are shouting.)
Are rally cars insured?
Yes. Because a portion of the event (the non-racing portions) takes place on public roads, your automobile must have the same road-going insurance as any other vehicle. This coverage’s liability limits must be at least $100,000 per person, $200,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage.