ard

Edit for clarification: I am asking about track insurance for HPDE specifically and I realize that the organization one runs with makes a difference; I mostly run with Hooked On Driving

I buy per-event insurance as I don't track enough for an annual policy to make sense $-wise. To date I've bought track insurance for every track event I run with my daily driver (est. value ~$35K). Insurance costs me $240 / event with a 10% deductible. I visit the tracks in northern California; Thunderhill, Sonoma, and Laguna Seca. I've been to Thunderhill about twice as often as to the other 2 combined. I am considering not buying track insurance for Thunderhill going forward. My rationale is that, for me, the riskiest part of Thunderhill East is T15 and going off into the dirt on the left side of the front straight (when running counter-clockwise) and spinning across the track into the wall by the hot pits. I assess that possibility as relatively low for myself (not trying to be over-confident here, just my assessment based on how I currently drive).

I realize that at the end it is a highly personal decision whether or not to buy track insurance. I'm curious what the "decision-making tree" looks like for others when deciding whether or not to buy insurance and whether the perceived riskiness/safety of a given track factors into the decision.

Thanks,

/alex

KOAN

I look at it this way. If you can afford financially and psychologically to walk away from a crashed car, then you can and should consider going without insurance. If you are forgoing insurance because you believe you are not risking totalling your car at an HPDE, then I think you are naive. An accident can happen in a second, and can be due to someone else hitting you, or could be due to fluids or debris on the track, a mechanical malfunction of your own car causing you to hit someone else, etc. I have been doing this for over 20 years, and I think track insurance is just part of the expense of DEs.

NastyHabits

Annual policy that covers me at any track with any organization, as long as it's not a race.

gbuff

I hit fluids on track 3 times last year and managed to not hit anything each time because after almost 30 years of tracking I am such a good driver

Seriously, I don't insure as the value of my car no longer warrants it, but yours does. I can almost guarantee you that A) if you do this often enough something WILL happen and B) $240 plus the deductible is probably less than you will spend for virtually ANY incident you would be involved in.

It's your car and your money.

needmoregarage

I buy track insurance for every event at every track. I’m not worried about ME. I drive well and usually within my limits. When I push the envelope, it’s in places with decent run-off where it’s safer to be on the edge.

The only exception was when we (hubby and I) would rent the track for an evening with a few friends. In that case, there were maybe 2-4 cars on track, and they were friends, and we all trusted each other. Never had any issue.

The reason I buy track insurance is the other drivers. I’ve seen enough carnage to know that so far I’ve been lucky, but even great, safe drivers I know have been in the wrong place at just the moment when something happens (mechanical, fluid drop, other driver’s bad judgment, etc).

Since my car is 6 figures (718 GT4 currently) I don’t particularly wish to walk away from it if the worst happened. It wouldn’t “ruin” me financially, but I am more comfortable having fun with the car knowing it’s insured. In years when I am on the track more than 9 events I buy the annual policy (last time I checked it - nine events was the breakeven point). Otherwise I buy per-event or in bundles of 3 or 6 or whatever makes sense for that particular year.

It’s very personal and there’s no right/wrong.

ard

Thanks for the responses. There is a reason why this sub-forum is my favorite. If I were to summarize the tenor of the responses it's a riff on the old break-up line "it's not you, it's me" - for the track the rationale is "it's not me, it's you" .

De Jeeper

As said....if u can afford to loose the car then u dont need the insurance. I found the break even for an anual policy is about 10 events. I have a 40k anual for around $3k. I hope to never use it but im happy to have the safety net. Mostly because of bmw's blowing motors mid corner.

ldamelio

I insure. Declared value of $60k costs me about $325 per event. On the one hand, I can easily afford to walk away from the car, on the other hand spending another $3k a year for 20 or so track days isn't a lot.

Don't kid yourself - insurance of any kind is legalized gambling with the odds heavily in favor of the house. I have come to despise the insurance industry over the course of 63 years on the planet. Health insurance rapes employers and patients on one side and providers on the other. I know, I'm a retired surgeon - easily 8 digits in unpaid claims (note - I'm not counting charity care which I happily provided) over my career.

I've paid many hundreds of thousands of dollars of premiums over my lifetime for life, malpractice, homeowners, flood, disability, etc. with few claims and a loss ratio (from the carriers perspective) of less than 3%. The one time I had a homeowners claim, I collected about 15% of my loss with a lot of fighting. The opportunity cost of my time to fight exceeded what I ultimately was 'awarded.' Thus, even if you "win" (i.e. have a claim greater than your premium), this casino doesn't honor its debts and pay out. I effing hate the insurance industry. I generally self-insure these days other than health care, auto and homeowners. There, I mostly cover liability and self-insure for a lot of the physical stuff.

For some reason, I make an exception and buy the track coverage. It's mainly psychological - it buys some subliminal peace of mind while on the track, the perceived risk is much more than the actual and makes track insurance seem like a fair value, and to a certain extent, it's a self-indulgent hobby so my reptile brain says to minimize loss potential. From what I've read here, the claims experience is decent with the major track carriers. The carriers I've dealt with (Open Track and Lockton) have been communicative and helpful in the purchase process.

Now that I'm typing it out and reading my words, I'm probably wasting my money. I'll rethink it as the 2024 season kicks off. Maybe a tune and exhaust instead of insurance! Please don't drop oil in front of me.

There's my psychobabble on the topic. YMMV.

Carlo_Carrera

I insure at all track/events. It gives me peace of mind.

dgrobs

Yup…..
Some policies even cover lost nuts and bolts

wthensler

Sadly, no insurance company will touch a Ferrari on track. So it’s not an option for me…..

ProCoach

Wow, you could SEE that oil spill... Glad no damage.

De Jeeper

Somehow 7 cars went off with no touches. I was the 3rd off and there still wasnt a flag (we had the crap flaggers because wrl was on t-bolt) Most of that oil was from a spll much earlier and thats why i was really caught off guard. I was used to driving through the visual cue (oildry) to stay wide but this time it let go quick. Fun times.

Billt134

Funny you say "selective " I use to only use track insurance for faster tracks like WGI , Daytona even Road Atlanta , but as my experience grew , my pace increased and I realized I don't have control of other drivers or debris on the track ! so now I get insurance for every track day.

Steve113

Since I do have some experience with this topic. I can tell you it's when your guard is down that you are most likely to have incidents. Almost like most accidents on the street happen within 5 miles from home.

Also speed of the track has not been a common denominator in crashes. Runoff absolutely is. Will also tell you that there have been huge increases in crashes after COVID then before and 80%+are totals. There are no small hits today cars are way to fast and expensive to fix