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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
C3 of Year Winner (track prepared) 2019
You can typically get a free quote by inputting your info with the various suppliers; Lockton, Track day insurance, RLI, etc.
Lockton has been a major insurer for a while but it seems a few others are becoming available as of lately. I believe RLI underwrites most of them though.
I used Lockton for my first track event, then I learned about RLI.
Last night I was purchasing track insurance for an HPDE at the NCM Motorsports Track this weekend. I decided to check Lockton again since it had been a while. Then I ran a quote for RLI. I was really surprised to see >$130 difference between the two quotes - surprised enough to call Drew at RLI to be sure that RLI's policy is apples-to-apples with Lockton since their quote was so much more "cost effective." He believes their coverage is slightly better. Drew is in a good position to know since until mid-2015 RLI was the underwriter for Lockton. Lockton swapped to another underwriter that provided THEM some additional discounts.
I suspect you will be surprised with the results. Lockton itemizes the premium, various fees, taxes, etc. and RLI provides one price - without all the add-ons.
I have no connection with RLI other than being a repeat customer and nothing to gain other than helping fellow track addicts save money to use on tires, brakes and gas.
Insurance companies always talk a good game during the sale. Its when they have to actually pay money out, that their real character becomes evident.
I've used Lockton for many years. Had to file my first ever claim last year.
The experience was even better than I'd hoped. I know of one or two others who had similar good experience with Lockton claims
I've heard nothing of claim experience from other companies.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
C3 of Year Winner (track prepared) 2019
Originally Posted by blueray16
Insurance companies always talk a good game during the sale. Its when they have to actually pay money out, that their real character becomes evident.
I've used Lockton for many years. Had to file my first ever claim last year.
The experience was even better than I'd hoped. I know of one or two others who had similar good experience with Lockton claims
I've heard nothing of claim experience from other companies.
Lockton has earned my future business.
Absolutely agree. While I have been fortunate enough to not need to file a claim, I want to know that I am not going around in circle should that time ever come. I look at it like my personal home/auto insurance. There are a large number of companies I could entrust with my policies, and many of them would likely be cheaper than what I pay today. However, should an event arise resulting in my needing immediate service, I can't say for sure how well they would respond.
I do believe OnTrackInsurance, RLI, and Lockton would all three perform about the same. I am sure Hagerty insurance is worth looking into as well but know from the collector car market, they often hide some language in their policies that make them very limited in use. For instance, the car can be driven but with no destination. Stop at the store and the car is damaged or stolen, you could be at risk. Insurance companies in general are frustrating to deal with more often than now, but that is due to the litigious world we live in.
Thank you all,
I called RLI to check their coverage, which is for HPDE only, it does not cover pleasure driving on the track (track days).
My Allstate agent has had 2 responses from Allstate HQ that they cover track day driving as long as it is not a race or an event ..... I know, hard to believe when insurance companies try to deny all claims .... and I've had 1st hand experience, though through business not personal. This is what my agent said when I asked for it in writing "I can't get special wording from home office everything in that policy language has to be approved through the TEXAS DEPT OF INSURANCE".
I have a quote from a broker who deals with this type of insurance and an insurance agent friend is checking the conditions .... I'll report back when he gets back to me.
Thank you all,
I called RLI to check their coverage, which is for HPDE only, it does not cover pleasure driving on the track (track days).
My Allstate agent has had 2 responses from Allstate HQ that they cover track day driving as long as it is not a race or an event ..... I know, hard to believe when insurance companies try to deny all claims .... and I've had 1st hand experience, though through business not personal. This is what my agent said when I asked for it in writing "I can't get special wording from home office everything in that policy language has to be approved through the TEXAS DEPT OF INSURANCE".
I have a quote from a broker who deals with this type of insurance and an insurance agent friend is checking the conditions .... I'll report back when he gets back to me.
I'll give the other insurance co's a call too.
This company The Open Track, and I'm not representing or promoting them, provide track day coverage ..... it's based on the value you enter for your vehicle but starts at $100k. For $125k it costs $5,159 with filing fees and taxes. Its unlimited days and they cover 65 tracks but don't list them. You can also get a Canadian endorsement for an extra $500. Still waiting to hear from my insurance friend on the conditions. https://www.theopentrack.com/
Just booked my time at the Ron Fellows school today. Of course I didn't find the information on the $10,000 deductible before I booked. However, as soon as you speak to them after paying for the course the first thing they mention is that $10,000 liability. It may be something I will do in the future but that sort of caught me off guard so I opted to cancel my reservation.
With the knowledge of the $10,000 deductible, I may reschedule after thinking it over and perhaps checking with my agent or picking up additional coverage. I just don't like to make a $10,000 decision over the phone without any time to think about it. Too much like talking to a telemarketer to me. When I have any doubts or feel under pressure my answer is no.
They are nice folks and handled it professionally so nothing against the school.
Just booked my time at the Ron Fellows school today. Of course I didn't find the information on the $10,000 deductible before I booked. However, as soon as you speak to them after paying for the course the first thing they mention is that $10,000 liability. It may be something I will do in the future but that sort of caught me off guard so I opted to cancel my reservation.
With the knowledge of the $10,000 deductible, I may reschedule after thinking it over and perhaps checking with my agent or picking up additional coverage. I just don't like to make a $10,000 decision over the phone without any time to think about it. Too much like talking to a telemarketer to me. When I have any doubts or feel under pressure my answer is no.
They are nice folks and handled it professionally so nothing against the school.
For what it's worth, Spring Mountain's safety "barriers" are extensive to prevent safety/damage issues. $10,000 is no joke to me either.
No passing outside of pulling off line on the straight, reorganizing the cars at 5mph.
Plenty of runoff area.
Very few barriers/obstacles needed or nearby.
Plenty of ground school time and exercises prior to entering the track area.
PTM-Sport 1 is very sophisticated with plenty of authority to reign you in, it can be pretty challenging to get the car out of control in Sport 1, you'd basically have to trail brake way too hard or have a sudden change in surface.
As far as insurance goes, I've been a happy repeat customer to ontrackinsurance(katz). They've quickly responded to me at all hours of the day, even weekends. Hopefully I don't have to test their customer service on the right side of an incident.
Just booked my time at the Ron Fellows school today. Of course I didn't find the information on the $10,000 deductible before I booked. However, as soon as you speak to them after paying for the course the first thing they mention is that $10,000 liability. It may be something I will do in the future but that sort of caught me off guard so I opted to cancel my reservation.
With the knowledge of the $10,000 deductible, I may reschedule after thinking it over and perhaps checking with my agent or picking up additional coverage. I just don't like to make a $10,000 decision over the phone without any time to think about it. Too much like talking to a telemarketer to me. When I have any doubts or feel under pressure my answer is no.
They are nice folks and handled it professionally so nothing against the school.
When I was there they gave the option of reducing the liability for a fee. Did this change? I never took it but it was definitely offered.
I've been to Spring Mt several times, 1st time they told me we had a 5,000 deductible, which I could reduce in 1/2 I think it was for a 2 or 300 dollar fee, so I took it. Next time out I asked them in 8 or so years how many vehicles have you damaged to any great extent, their answer was none, so I no longer take the extra insurance, although I suppose the worst could happen, I think the risk is slight.
I went to Spring Mountain for the first time in August. As lrobe said, there are very few things to hit if you do go off the track. On my first track session I felt like the tires were getting ready to break loose in the turns & the instructor is telling me to carry more speed. WTF? Then I did the ride along with the instructor and saw and felt how much grip there really is. As long as you drive within the limits that you are comfortable with, trust the car and listen to the tips the instructors give you you should be fine.
I enjoyed it so much I’m going back in Dec. I wanted to do Level 1 course but it was full so I’m doing the Owners School again and hopefully Level 1 in the Spring. This is going to get expensive!
Just booked my time at the Ron Fellows school today. Of course I didn't find the information on the $10,000 deductible before I booked. However, as soon as you speak to them after paying for the course the first thing they mention is that $10,000 liability. It may be something I will do in the future but that sort of caught me off guard so I opted to cancel my reservation.
With the knowledge of the $10,000 deductible, I may reschedule after thinking it over and perhaps checking with my agent or picking up additional coverage. I just don't like to make a $10,000 decision over the phone without any time to think about it. Too much like talking to a telemarketer to me. When I have any doubts or feel under pressure my answer is no.
They are nice folks and handled it professionally so nothing against the school.
I think the $10K liability keeps the nut cases under control. The course is well laid out to teach handling techniques to novices. There is skads of run off room and the chance of a reasonably fast driver having an expensive incident is extremely low. Even if there is a mechanical failure in the car that causes an off track incident there is sufficient run off room to pretty much eliminate an expensive incident.
The performance level of the driver's they usually get is so far below the performance level of the car that the car usually covers their mistakes with no issues.
However, they have to account for the nut cases amongst us who think they are the unrecognized world's best race car driver and will push the car far beyond the driver's and the car's capabilities. In twelve seasons of instructing at HPDEs I have only run into a few of these nut cases but they do exist. Usually they leave the track with a waaded up car.
Auto insurance regulations are governed by the states. Every state has different rules about what an insurance company must cover and what they can exclude. Just because Allstate will cover an HPDE event in one state does not mean they will cover you in another state. In Tennessee every auto policy I have seen excludes coverage on a racing surface. That includes the paddock, hot and cold pits and track. They list the exclusions under the Liability section, Medical Payment section and the physical damage section. Read your personal auto policy carefully look for exclusions they will be in the middle of the policy after they tell you all the stuff they do cover.
As far as I know liability insurance to pay for damage to the track equipment is not available period. Coverage for damage to your car is available through Lockton, Hagerty/RLI. and others. The key is to list all of your modifications on the application. If you don't list it there is no coverage. The policy states this. Lockton and RLI anyway, I have not read any others.