Insurance issues with track driving?

I've been told that my standard auto insurance would cover me if I'm doing a driving SCHOOL, but not a RACE event. So I assume that's why DE is always stressed as NOT being a race (that and to keep boneheads from driving too aggressively). Is this the truth? Has anyone had any experience with this situation? Not that I plan to wad up my car on the track, but I'd like to know where I stand just in case.

I have no personal experience with this, nor am I an attorney or insurance expert, but it's hard for me to believe that you'd be covered. I've heard stories about guys taking their track-injured cars to other places, and claiming alternate sites for their one-car accidents. I'd be interested in anybody's personal knowledge. AS

A key question-who told you that you would be covered while driving at a driving school? If it was your insurance agent, and he will put it in writing, you should be fine (you can then claim that you had reason to believe you were covered). If you don't have something in writing saying you are covered and your policy language is ambiguous, you will have to rely on the "believing you are covered" angle. If the claim is small, they probably will just give you the normal run-around and eventually cover most of the damage. If you total a new 996, they will deny coverage and you will have to sue and hope the courts find in your favor. At my recent renewal, I noticed that the racing exclusion on my policy now clearly excludes coverage while the car is used at a performance driving event, driving school, an above-legal-speed rally, or a closed road rally. And just in case they left anything out, they go further to say that any damage incurred while the car is being "used at a racing facility" is excluded. So I gotta be careful in the parking lot the next time I go to watch an ALMS race . As I have said elsewhere, they are in the business of collecting premiums, not of paying claims!

Well said, Jay. Apparently insurance companies are wising up all over the country. Some who've filed a claim for damage done at DE have reported that their insurance company covered the claim ok, but later dropped their coverage. It's probably unreasonable to expect regular insurance coverage to repair damage due to crashes on race tracks where people are doing over 100 mph trying to pass other people doing over 100 mph. Once insurance companies learn that "drivers education" is done at racing speeds, the jig is up. Many don't even bother reporting track crash damage to their insurance company.

I think at any rate if he/she would total a car in a track event like a DE then I imagine they will cover for it but drop you there after. It's a risk you'll take when tracking the car. DE's does not protect you from totaling your car- as they say "**** Happens". Regards. Mike

I just read my insurance policy, and the only applicable language is in the Exclusions section, and it says: This coverage does not apply to loss...sustained to any vehicle operated in any race or speed contest... That's it, nothing else that I could find. To me, this would mean I'm covered at a DE event, because its clearly not a "race or speed contest". It seems that DE's are always very careful to explain that they are not races, and I thought that this was one big reason why. Makes sense to me. Also, my insurance company is AAA, which is considered a relatively good company, that takes good care of their customers. That's according to a friend who owns an auto body shop, and deals with insurance companies daily. Obviously, the best insurance is caution, but it would still be nice to know where we stand, just in case. Its nice to see that no one on this board has had any experience on this topic.

DP35, Your point is logical but doesn't meet a "common sense" test. I don't think anybody's insurance contemplated our desire to see how fast we could drive a Porsche around a race track. If the insurance pays up and drops you, you're lucky in my opinion. If they make you take them to court, your attorney will make your point about the non-exclusionary language. A steely-eyed judge will then ask you what you were thinking. Someone will probably point out that learning how to race may actually be riskier for the insurance company than allowing a skilled driver to race. I'd suggest you don't bet the retirement fund on the insurance company pay off.

I am looking into buying physical damage insurance specifically covering Driver's Education events. I have found a company offering the coverage &they are sending me an application. Depending on the coverage exclusions (and the cost) I will certianly consider it.

If you look to the common sense theory, any judge could look to approve the insurance company denying any claim if the vehicle was used 'illegally' which could mean almost any accident and almost any occurance when you were driving over the speed limit etc. An intersting point to consider on this is the results of a traffic survey here on LI a few years ago. The average vehicle speed on the LI Expressway at the Rt 110 junction was 60 mph. The speed limit is 55 mph and from 7-9 and 4-6 pm, the average speed is more like 10 mph. That means almost everyone is always exceeding the speedlimit and driving recklessly which would mean the insurance company should deny coverage. Where does this lead us... maybe there should be a rider or surcharge for coverage, same as expensive stereo equipment needs a rider. I would like to get race in surance on my car. I know someone has to write it, its just a matter of who and how much. Is it better to self insure? Anyone know anything about race insurace?