Would Insurance cover if bike is totaled at the track?

[Cucciolo]

Yesterday I had my first track school.  It was a blast!!! but I was afraid of pushing harder because I did not want to risk a crash. There is another track day this weekend and I want to ride harder without the fear of totaling the bike. Therefore my question to you guys... If I go down at the track, would my insurance cover the bike? or it would not because of some clause that excludes accidents at the track?  i have full coverage with Farmers and a growing itch to track the monster. 

[Statler]

you'll have to read the fine print in your policy.  nobody here can tell you.

mine covers track exept for timed events, and my agent and I clarified the language to be timed competitive event and not one where my bike was being timed for learning purposes.   So for me track days are ok and track schools are ok.

start plowing through the fine print.

[c_rex]

most policies do not.  however-  that deer that jumped out in front of you limped off in the bushes just after sticking it's tongue out at you.  you were miles and miles from the track by the way.

[Cucciolo]

you'll have to read the fine print in your policy.  nobody here can tell you.

mine covers track exept for timed events, and my agent and I clarified the language to be timed competitive event and not one where my bike was being timed for learning purposes.   So for me track days are ok and track schools are ok.

start plowing through the fine print.

you are right.. I will have to call my agent and ask him, but I'm afraid that if he says it is not covered and then I crash this weekend .. I won't be able to use CRex's advice.. it would be a tad suspicious... LOL

[Spidey]

I've actually found the opposite--most policies do cover track crashes.  However, it's rarely worth reporting a track crash unless you totally kill your bike.  But like Statler said, it's going to depend on the precise language of your policy.  Some will only cover schools or classes, so if you can sell your trackday to your insurer as a riding school (easier to do if there is a school component to the track day) you're golden.   I know a coupla people who done this.  Other insurers will cover you--as in Statler's case--unless you're involved in a timed competition, i.e., racing. 

Have fun.     [moto]

[Cucciolo]

I've actually found the opposite--most policies do cover track crashes.  However, it's rarely worth reporting a track crash unless you totally kill your bike.  But like Statler said, it's going to depend on the precise language of your policy.  Some will only cover schools or classes, so if you can sell your trackday to your insurer as a riding school (easier to do if there is a school component to the track day) you're golden.   I know a coupla people who done this.  Other insurers will cover you--as in Statler's case--unless you're involved in a timed competition, i.e., racing. 

Have fun.     [moto]

sportbiketracktime is doing it this weekend. They provide instruction for the novice class.. good to know this Spidey.. thanks!!! Like always.. you guys are my best knowledge source... Thanks all! 

oh.. if I crash.. I am sure that the damage would be worth more than 500.00 which is my deductible... maybe i could even call in to lower it to 250.00 .... just a thought..

[myssrhl]

Progressive covered my buddies 954 Honda on one of our track days together. at Jennings GP.

Bought his pipe, sliders, suit, helmet, everything.....and he told them exactly where and how it happened...

He got a little to hot on the loud handle with 1 1/2 laps warming the tires..

He took flight over the bars...

[Cucciolo]

Progressive covered my buddies 954 Honda on one of our track days together. at Jennings GP.

Bought his pipe, sliders, suit, helmet, everything.....and he told them exactly where and how it happened...

He got a little to hot on the loud handle with 1 1/2 laps warming the tires..

He took flight over the bars...

I just got an online quote with Progressive. They want 900.00 for a 12 month policy which is exactly the same as my current policy with Farmers at 400.00. That is ridiculous. I called them and the rep said that the S4R is a higher cost. What I like about progressive is that it covers gear and farmers does not. I am not sure if it is worth to migrate my home, cars and life to progressive to get a better quote for my bike.. 

[blue tiger]

most policies do not.  however-  that deer that jumped out in front of you limped off in the bushes just after sticking it's tongue out at you.  you were miles and miles from the track by the way.

This is also known as insurance fraud. If you were the only one at the track go for it. If there are witnesses and the insurance co. asks questions...well...could be a bad idea.

[He Man]

not if you crashed your bike, then on the way home, crashed into a deer that stuck its tougne at you and ran off...

[toaster]

i know that most insurance companies will cover it as long as its not a timed event.  ive looked into it with my state farm about taking my car to the track and as long as its not timed its covered.  the event i was going to do is called hpde (high performance driving education).

[MTBryan]

I got to see Julian riding at the track. He did a great job! He was really getting into it by the end if the day.

Julian, my take has been that the day last Friday (Ed Bargy school), and even this Saturday and Sunday, are advertised as a track day and school. This weekends event says, "Our Novice group offers an unparalleled level of instruction".

When I join you at the speedway, my strategy will be to tell the insurance company (in case anything bad happened) that it was a motorcycle handling course designed to make riding safer. And that is the absolute truth. If you want a warm and IZ_, you could ask your agent if a riding instruction would be covered by insurance. That site for this weekend also says, it is NOT a racing school, so I can't imagine your insurance company would have an issue with that?

[Adam in TX]

you are right.. I will have to call my agent and ask him, but I'm afraid that if he says it is not covered and then I crash this weekend .. I won't be able to use CRex's advice.. it would be a tad suspicious... LOL

It may also be worth noting here that your insurance agent isn't going to be investigating the accident, and isn't going to be paying out on the insurance... he shouldn't particularly care whether or not you wind up using the policy, as long as you keep shopping from him.

[Cucciolo]

I got to see Julian riding at the track. He did a great job! He was really getting into it by the end if the day.

Julian, my take has been that the day last Friday (Ed Bargy school), and even this Saturday and Sunday, are advertised as a track day and school. This weekends event says, "Our Novice group offers an unparalleled level of instruction".

When I join you at the speedway, my strategy will be to tell the insurance company (in case anything bad happened) that it was a motorcycle handling course designed to make riding safer. And that is the absolute truth. If you want a warm and IZ_, you could ask your agent if a riding instruction would be covered by insurance. That site for this weekend also says, it is NOT a racing school, so I can't imagine your insurance company would have an issue with that?

thanks man!!  I wouldn't have made it without your help!! 

That "warm and IZ_" question is the way to go..  although Adam has a point.. The agent may not care at all if I ask this question, even if it is not covered, and then I put a claim. Although, the adjuster, as part of his investigation, may ask the agent if he suspects or has any reason to believe that I may have been at the track.. provided that they don't cover track days/schools.  .... I know.. I am being paranoid, but who knows for sure how these investigations go.. I will be at the track this weekend regardless.. this is not really an issue anymore.

[Jetbrett]

Having some familiarity with this from the other side of the issue.....you should absolutely, positively read your policy and the exclusions carefully.   Usually, there is an exception for racing and timed events.   If your activity is not listed as an exclusion, you should be covered.  This may not stop your insurer from given you grief though.   Most adjusters are not familiar with track days and incorrectly suspect that these are races.   If there is not an exception for track days/track schools in your policy, you go down, and your company denies your claim, you will have to hire an attorney.  They should be able straighten things out for you pretty quick.

The laws from state to state are different, but typically any ambiguity is resolved in favor of the policy holder.  In other words, unless there is a very, very clear exclusion for track schools and/or track days, you should be fully be covered.   However, if the worst does happen and you go down, don't turn what would otherwise be a covered claim and turn it into an insurance fraud claim against you.  If the worst happens and you go down causing damage to the bike and, even in the remarkable chance you manage to find a um, "deer" to run into on the way home, you could cause yourself much grief if you (falsely) claim all damage was caused by the "deer".