Racing is something most drivers think about now and then, wanting to test their vehicle at its maximum capacity. And while the temptation is very strong, you have to keep in mind the question of auto insurance when you are going to a circular track or a straight line 1⁄4 mile race road. Race drivers tend to think that they are great in handling a car, but the insurance companies have a different point of view.
Unexpected use
According to the majority of auto insurance companies, racers are the worst drivers and of course this is reflected in insurance rates. Well, the crashes and the damage respectfully is the worst when racing, so you’ll probably find that your car insurance policy won’t provide any insurance coverage in case you’re taking part in a race or a high-performance driving school. From the insurer’s point of view, using your own car in a race is just too risky, because if an accident occurs the damage is usually very bad.
And by bad we mean total loss of the car. Your auto insurance company doesn’t expect you to drive at speeds exceeding the legal street speed limits when you say your car is «for pleasure». And keep in mind, that any device tracking down mileage-based insurance installed in your car may not only monitor your speed of driving but acceleration and breaking as well, which can clearly show to the insurance company whether you’ve participated in a street race or not.
The question of racing
In previous years the majority of insurance companies would not provide coverage for damage occurred during any kind of racing event both organized and informal. In case of high-performance driving schools it’s not racing if speaking legally, because their courses are marketed as training, but in essence it’s still racing. At first these events were covered by the standard insurance policy, but recently car insurance companies have generally excluded coverage for cars driving at any site designed for racing, whether organized as a race or a driving school.
And this leaves many race drivers, both professionals and enthusiasts, thinking about the options they have — drive a different car at the race or take the one they have, hoping there won’t be any accidents on the track. Some of them have made the decision, and stepped away from their roaring sports cars to drive something safer and slower.
Racing insurance coverage
But if you love racing there’s still an option for you, so don’t worry. First, the insurance legislation varies from state to state, and you may find that your car insurance company will cover your vehicle during a race. So be sure to check with your insurer and the legislation first. Then there are many race tracks that provide single event cheap car insurance policies or multiple-event solutions so check with the authorities of the track of the race before you sign up. There are also agents and insurance companies that offer specialized auto insurance policies providing coverage for racing events, so be sure to find one if you’re confident with your racing obsession.
