Nurburgring Insurance Cover
Discussion
Just read the forum on track day cover. Related to this I'm hoping to go the 'ring in May. Reading my cover note under exclusions, it says:
"Excluding use for any competitions, trial, performance test, race or trial of speed, including off road events whether between motor vehicles or otherwise, and irrespective of whether this takes place on any circuit or track, formed or otherwise, and regardless of any statutory authorisation of any such event."
My understanding of the ring is that it is a "de-restricted public toll road" and as such doesn't come under the above exclusion.
What do you guys think? Am i covered for the ring or do i need to ask for track day cover? Should i call them to confirm but then run the risk they don't insure me?
I'm insured with Norwich Union Direct.
"Excluding use for any competitions, trial, performance test, race or trial of speed, including off road events whether between motor vehicles or otherwise, and irrespective of whether this takes place on any circuit or track, formed or otherwise, and regardless of any statutory authorisation of any such event."
My understanding of the ring is that it is a "de-restricted public toll road" and as such doesn't come under the above exclusion.
What do you guys think? Am i covered for the ring or do i need to ask for track day cover? Should i call them to confirm but then run the risk they don't insure me?
I'm insured with Norwich Union Direct.
From my experience if you ask any insurance company to confirm in writing that you are covered for driving on the Ring during public days they will say no and make a note on your file.
If you find differently from any company please let me know (by email if you wish).
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Tuesday 22 March 11:38
If you find differently from any company please let me know (by email if you wish).
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Tuesday 22 March 11:38
I am no expert on insurance, I wish I was.
The German police treat the Ring as an almost entirely derestrcited, one-way, public, toll road - and as such, all the usual rules apply:
- you must be insured
- you car must be road legal
- normal rules of the road apply - you may only overtake on the left (you will get a ticket if seen overtaking on the right - they sometimes use a helicopter for this)
- if there is an accident, it is dealt with in the same way as any other on-the-road accident
So, I fail to see how a UK insurance company that offer insurance in mainland Europe can arbitrarily decide that this particular road is not acceptable to them. I would suspect that in the event of a large third party claim that the German authorities would have no sympathy with the UK insurance company.
However, it seems to me that if there were an incident one would have to fight tooth and nail to get them to pay up. I'd really love to see someone have a pop at it.
Anyway - for this year I have reregistered my car in Germany (back where it belongs) and run with proper German insurance rather than the shitty UK ersatz insurance.
The German police treat the Ring as an almost entirely derestrcited, one-way, public, toll road - and as such, all the usual rules apply:
- you must be insured
- you car must be road legal
- normal rules of the road apply - you may only overtake on the left (you will get a ticket if seen overtaking on the right - they sometimes use a helicopter for this)
- if there is an accident, it is dealt with in the same way as any other on-the-road accident
So, I fail to see how a UK insurance company that offer insurance in mainland Europe can arbitrarily decide that this particular road is not acceptable to them. I would suspect that in the event of a large third party claim that the German authorities would have no sympathy with the UK insurance company.
However, it seems to me that if there were an incident one would have to fight tooth and nail to get them to pay up. I'd really love to see someone have a pop at it.
Anyway - for this year I have reregistered my car in Germany (back where it belongs) and run with proper German insurance rather than the shitty UK ersatz insurance.
Insurance at the ring is a very grey area. Normal road car insurance is technically fine but I doubt they would ever pay out in the event of a claim.
The only way to be sure would be to get your car covered via Competition Car Insurance (Egger Lawson - try googling it) as if it was a trackday. Cover is about £100 per 10k of cover.
Even then, I'm not sure what CCI reckon to insuring the ring. The driving is less controlled than at a normal trackday, mixing pros with amateurs, coaches with bikes, etc.
Most people have the attitude of bearing their own risk and looking out for others.
The only way to be sure would be to get your car covered via Competition Car Insurance (Egger Lawson - try googling it) as if it was a trackday. Cover is about £100 per 10k of cover.
Even then, I'm not sure what CCI reckon to insuring the ring. The driving is less controlled than at a normal trackday, mixing pros with amateurs, coaches with bikes, etc.
Most people have the attitude of bearing their own risk and looking out for others.
joe - thats why i'm so confused - given the description of what the 'ring is i feel that i'm covered. However, i guess i need to be certain and the only way to get that level of comfort is to try to get some written communication from them - not rating my chances highly!!
"Most people have the attitude of bearing their own risk and looking out for others."
Domster - to adapt Hondo's phrase: My car would be writing checks my body can't cash!!
"Most people have the attitude of bearing their own risk and looking out for others."
Domster - to adapt Hondo's phrase: My car would be writing checks my body can't cash!!
strappon said:
joe - thats why i'm so confused - given the description of what the 'ring is i feel that i'm covered. However, i guess i need to be certain and the only way to get that level of comfort is to try to get some written communication from them - not rating my chances highly!!
But, in my view, they are never going to voluntarily say it's fine (even if it is in fact not legal for them to refuse cover) - so asking is a bad move and has an obvious answer. If your attitude was - I went on a holiday to Germany - saw this "Ring" thing - noted that it was a public toll road, drove it, and (unfortunately) crashed it - then the aregument is better than knowing in advance that they will say (regardless of whether it is legal to do so) that you're not covered.
If you are gonig to "wing it" as so many people do, then I'd suggest you be prepared with a good lawyer in the event of a claim - I suspect it's really unlikely they'll pay without a major fight.
ok - just called NU up purporting to be a new customer and asked them if i'd be covered. they said YES if it's a public road. I said it was a derestricted public toll road (ie no speed limit) and they insisted i would be covered under the wording of the policy. only issue i have is that the call centre in India and the lovely lady on the phone had never heard of the 'ring (quel surprise).
hmmm, still tempted to try and get that in writing...
hmmm, still tempted to try and get that in writing...
ok - sounds like i gotta pay and smile to get peace of mind.
by the way melv, from ben lovejoy's site:
www.nurburgring.org.uk/beginners.html
"During public sessions, its legal status is that of a one-way public toll-road with no speed limit (except on the approach to the two exits). Vehicles must be 100% road-legal (including tyres), and normal German road traffic law applies"
i interpreted this as a derestricted road but i could be wrong
it's never easy is it?
by the way melv, from ben lovejoy's site:
www.nurburgring.org.uk/beginners.html
"During public sessions, its legal status is that of a one-way public toll-road with no speed limit (except on the approach to the two exits). Vehicles must be 100% road-legal (including tyres), and normal German road traffic law applies"
i interpreted this as a derestricted road but i could be wrong
it's never easy is it?
dazren said:
From my experience if you ask any insurance company to confirm in writing that you are covered for driving on the Ring during public days they will say no and make a note on your file.
If you find differently from any company please let me know (by email if you wish).
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Tuesday 22 March 11:38
Insurers are not daft. If you happen to have a crash on a road in Nurburg, Germany they will probably suss it out. The breakdown truck that collects the remenants of your car after a crash at the 'ring will say what road the incident occurred on. The claims department are a lot more knowledgeable than the quote monkeys. It may be classified as a road in the letter of the law but they'll probably find a way to wriggle out of it.
My AA 5 Star Cover last summer expressly mentioned I would not be recovered from the 'ring. I never even said I was going to Germany.
The ring has speed limits in places (Adenau bridge/Breidscheid corner is the obvious one). Therefore it is not technically a 'derestricted toll road'.
As Melv says, it is a public German road with normal motoring regulations applying, like overtaking on the left only.
However, do not assume that insurers will classify it as a normal German road. They aren't stupid and the ring is famous these days. Many will either specifically exclude it or imply exclusion - ie it is close enough to being a race track to be a race track and you knew it wasn't like a normal German road.
As Melv says, it is a public German road with normal motoring regulations applying, like overtaking on the left only.
However, do not assume that insurers will classify it as a normal German road. They aren't stupid and the ring is famous these days. Many will either specifically exclude it or imply exclusion - ie it is close enough to being a race track to be a race track and you knew it wasn't like a normal German road.
Getting one off insurance through Competiton Car Insurance is very expensive. Better to get an insurance company that have track day cover included. I pay an extra £79 per track day on top of my annual premium for road use. I use Bickley Insurance services. They do cover the 'Ring. The underwriter is Norwich Union.
I've always advised my broker who inturn talks to NU and gets confirmation that I'm covered. As a regular visitor to the Ring i know people who have succesfully claimed using their UK policy because the road is classed as a toll road and the vehicle needs to be road legal to use it. Our NU rep said they don't like it but have to accept it. One of the guys had a fight to get paid out but he was eventually succesfull.
As far as i am concerned if I have confirmation from my broker that everything is OK and it isn't then he's in the sticky stuff and I'll take my chances.
As far as i am concerned if I have confirmation from my broker that everything is OK and it isn't then he's in the sticky stuff and I'll take my chances.
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