A comprehensive guide to track day insurance
Before putting your pedal to the metal, it’s wise to arrange some form of specialist track day insurance.
In most cases, this provides the protection NOT offered by a regular motor policy.
This guide explains what a track-day policy will (and won’t) cover – and outlines why you might want to consider it.
What is track day insurance?
Trackday insurance is different from standard on-the-road motor insurance because it only pays for repairing or replacing YOUR car should it be damaged whilst taking part in an organised track event.
It usually excludes third-party liability, which means it won’t pay for damage you cause to someone else’s car or the actual race track. The driver or any passengers in the vehicle will also NOT be covered in the event of a personal injury.
Unless stipulated in the policy, track day cover is unlikely to pay for a damaged vehicle to be towed to from the course to a garage for repairs.
A well-organised professional track day should include a briefing to explain that you must pay for any damage your car sustains – even if it is caused by someone else. To fully enjoy the experience without worrying about the risk of your car being written off, specialist track day insurance is essential.
What does track day insurance cover?
Trackday insurance can cover any car which is taking part in organised events, whether it includes hill climbs, drag strips or a limited number of laps.
Our tailored cover can include:
- Accidental damage to your vehicle whether at fault or not
- Cover for vehicles up to £300,000
- Cover for drivers aged 25 to 69
- Single event cover or annual policies
- No track day experience needed
- Modified cars allowed
- Circuit recovery service
How much does track day insurance cost?
In the unfortunate event that something should go wrong, a policy of this nature provides the driver with something of a safety net.
As a specialist independent insurance broker, we try to understand your needs and weigh up a number of other factors before finding the most appropriate cover.
The price you pay depends on:
- Your age
- Previous experience
- Vehicle
- The track
- Voluntary excess
In most cases, the higher the voluntary excess, the lower the premium.
Policies can be track-specific, and some locations are more expensive than others.
Cover for a single event can start from £250 but this is dependent on all the elements outlined above.
In our experience, the most important thing is to choose a policy that’s best suited to your needs and vehicle.
At Nowell & Richards we regularly provide:
- Aston Martin track day cover
- BMW track day cover
- Caterham track day cover
- Chevrolet Camaro track day cover
- Ford Fiesta track day cover
- Ford Mustang track day cover
- Honda Civic track day cover
- Lotus Elise track day cover
- Mazda MX-5 track day cover
- Nissan GT-R Nismo track day cover
- Porsche 911 track day cover
Even if your model is not mentioned on the list above, we can still insure it – please email us for a tailored quote.
Is track day insurance worth it?
As with most things in life, this depends largely upon your own viewpoint.
Some people believe organised track day events are a safer driving experience than out on the open road. Others think it’s more dangerous.
Your skills and driving experience, which may be limited to lower speeds, will obviously influence how likely you are suffer a crash out on the circuit.
So too will the ability of other drivers, who may be more willing to drive fast and take risks.
When weighing up the risks, the 3 main things to consider are:
- The market value of your car
- Inconvenience of not driving it
- Whether you can afford to repair or replace it
Whether you drive a supercar, Porsche or a hot hatch like a VW Golf, you’re probably going to want to think about taking out cover. After all, one mistake could potentially prove very costly – especially if you use your vehicle as a daily drive.
At Nowell & Richards, our experienced Private Client Executives are car enthusiasts themselves. Not only can they explain the pros and cons of trackday insurance cover in great detail, they can also scour the wider market to find the best policy for your needs. In the event of an incident, we’ll lead the claims process and support you at every step.
Ultimately, though, only you can decide whether track insurance is worth it – a decision which should be based on your needs, budget and personal circumstances.
To learn more about tailored trackday insurance, please get in touch or call 01785 255514 – we’ll be happy to provide expert, impartial advice without any obligation.
