Aviva will not cover your competiton/track car on the road

[Mighty Flex]

Hi all,

Heads up for anyone using Aviva car insurance, and possibly others.

I have been told to cancel my policy within the next 7 days as my car is used for autosolos. The same applies to any other competition or track days.

While there was no expectation from me for any sort of cover for these events (which if MSA are covered with their own third party cover), I have just been told that they will not cover a car for normal road use if it is used for anything other than "normal public use" at any time during the policy term. The car in question is an almost standard MR2. There no is indication that this activity should be declared when taking out a policy.

I don't know if any other insurers are like this - I previously had my car that I use with Footman James, who were aware and perfectly happy with the situation: they obviously don't cover the activities apart from optional track day cover, but it's not a problem if the car is used in club motorsport.

The car is also my main daily driver, so a classic/ limited miles policy is not really competitive/applicable.

It is worth checking as I expect this would be used as an excuse not pay out in the event of a perfectly valid claim.

Cheers

Felix

Edited by Mighty Flex on Friday 24th March 15:25

[Mighty Flex]

Far Cough said:

Will you now have to declare that you have had insurance refused when getting a quote for a new policy ?

Your broker is not Competition Car Insurance is it by any chance as I`ve got a mate who CCi have refused to re cover ?

No idea? I will be cancelling it within the week they have given me? I think its unreasonable as there absolutely nothing to suggest you have to declare when you take out the insurance. It came up in conversation while declaring aftermarket wheels (as I have a more than one set I was asking if they could cover that rather than amending each time they are changed.

My Insurance was taken out as Aviva multi car: they were best value on my Alfa 166 when renewal came up for that and I added my MX5 (since replaced by the mr2), when that needed renewing, as it was a good price and they allow revisions/amendments with no fees through the online chat.

[Mighty Flex]

I have just contacted Admiral, as they offer competitive quotes and a similar multi car policy. To them its absolutely no problem. For relatively unmodified cars that are used regularly on the road, I would still consider normal insurance, just be clear that the car might be used for competition: Aviva would tell you to go away, whereas others would probably be fine.
On a £500, standard-ish track slag/shed, a specialist broker is likely overkill, though once you get into more complicated realms, I would expect the brokers to be worth investigating.

Edited by Mighty Flex on Friday 24th March 17:58

[Mighty Flex]

PhillipM said:

If you declared everything they asked for to start with I'd tell them to swivel tbh.

they avoided answering my question about where they stated the requirement to declare it. As far as I can tell its not an immediate cancellation: I have week to sort out other cover. Is this something I have to declare to other insurers? My Alfa is currently off the road, I might see if I can swap it back in, as I'm not completely clear whether I'm allowed to be insured with them with a car not used for motorsport. There isn't long left on the policy, so this saves a years no claims/cancelation fees.

[Mighty Flex]

BertBert said:

I was hoping the OP could tell us the actual circumstances!
Bert

Sorry, missed that one. Was talking in a the live chat ( I use this because it gives you a transcript), and basically they request details of wheels (rather than just "aftermarket" covering anything from standard through to big wide wheels and track semi slicks) I asked if it could be setup so i don't need to declare every time because of having different (road legal)sets for autosolos etc+.
I saw no harm in this information as it just serves as an explanation for why i didn't want to change the declared mods every few weekends. I have no interest in hiding anything because it could result in a whole world of balls. Chat guy picked up on this and had to check with his supervisor etc.

I doubt they would ever find out otherwise, unless you had an accident while obviously on the way to/from an event.

Edited by Mighty Flex on Sunday 26th March 22:48

[Mighty Flex]

snowen250 said:

Mighty Flex said:

I have just contacted Admiral, as they offer competitive quotes and a similar multi car policy. To them its absolutely no problem. For relatively unmodified cars that are used regularly on the road, I would still consider normal insurance, just be clear that the car might be used for competition: Aviva would tell you to go away, whereas others would probably be fine.
On a £500, standard-ish track slag/shed, a specialist broker is likely overkill, though once you get into more complicated realms, I would expect the brokers to be worth investigating.

Edited by Mighty Flex on Friday 24th March 17:58

Interesting!

When i was trying to insure my track car through Admiral they told me that if it was being used for trackdays they would not insure it! I think it is an increasingly common thing with insurance companies. Would call Admirals CC dept and check maybe? As the sales guys on the phone may be more desperate to hit targets...

Admiral did state no rollcages - but for a relatively normal car that they would insure other wise the sales guy said it would be fine.

I wonder if it comes down to how they pitch it to their manager or underwriter, and how careful whoever it stops with is WRT interpreting the rules. I can't expect its much fun if they trace it back to you approving something you shouldn't have, to get a sale, in the event of a claim.

[Mighty Flex]

Mighty Flex said:

I have just contacted Admiral, as they offer competitive quotes and a similar multi car policy. To them its absolutely no problem. For relatively unmodified cars that are used regularly on the road, I would still consider normal insurance, just be clear that the car might be used for competition: Aviva would tell you to go away, whereas others would probably be fine.
On a £500, standard-ish track slag/shed, a specialist broker is likely overkill, though once you get into more complicated realms, I would expect the brokers to be worth investigating.

Edited by Mighty Flex on Friday 24th March 17:58

Rang them instead of online chat and got the answer that they do not cover a car that it is used for trackdays/competition!

[Mighty Flex]

Batfink said:

Mighty Flex said:

Rang them instead of online chat and got the answer that they do not cover a car that it is used for trackdays/competition!

Surely this is a definition of small print.
They only cover cars driven on the road.
If its driven on track its not insured.

You can argue it two ways. Is it a refusal to cover a car in certain situations or completely??...but most people who take their car on track know they will not be covered so are unlikely to even mention it as a hobby

completely. But how many people on here are technically voiding their insurance by doing trackdays etc.
In the event of a claim for an incident on the road and it is found out for whatever reason that the car has been used on a track, then the insurer have a get out. The document wording is [deliberately] not clear, and i like many would interpret it as there simply being no cover for those activities.

[Mighty Flex]

I should clarify that this is normal road insurance.