Race transporter insurance

[griff2be]

Hi Guys

Any suggestions for who to contact for race truck insurance. Usual set up - converted 7.5 tonne commercial vehicle, large awning.

One 'specialist' I contacted didn't seem familiar with the concept - wanted to fit it under a (rally) description of 'service' vehicle and would not cover the awning under any circumstances. Which seems a bit daft, given the awning is worth about 30-40% of the complete vehicle set up.

Another will cover the truck, but not the awning unless, quote 'it was originally fitted to the vehicle' - thus missing the point about it being converted from a box truck.

I am starting to feel a sense of foreboding about this. If you don't fit into a standard product, no-one wants to know......

Cheers

Andy

[daydreamer]

I looked into a 7.5tonner last year - and as you say the prospects for insurance were not good.

Apart from the obvious Competition Car Insurance route (which I'm sure that you have already tried), it is a matter of hit and hope.

I'm afraid that you may end up self insuring the loss and go for a reasonably cheap 3rd party f&t.

Shame, as it is a route that all of us would love to go down.

Rich

(yes, still squeezing a race car into the back of an Iveco Daily)

[griff2be]

I’ve now had an answer from the company which sets out their position – to be fair they have taken the time to explain things. I’m strating to wonder whether it is even possible to get cover without taking out a motor trader policy. I have reproduced some of the correspondence below… (it reads from the bottom up)

______________

Dear Andrew

I will try and answer your points one by one and as clearly as possible.

The generator and compressor could be perhaps be covered under the content cover (will check with the rating guide and terms and conditions), content cover is usually available up to £5000. The insurers generally require a full inventors and receipts and photographs prior to inception.

This is a small “competition scheme” and is with all due respect aimed at the lower ebb of the Motorsport fraternity i.e. more for the average enthusiast opposed to racing as a career / income. Awnings are covered under motor trade policies, but this is not a motor trade policy, this is a service vehicle policy, under which the underwriters have excluded awnings. This is for a variety of reasons, but I would imagine in the most part it is because the cover is not generally required for the average client that purchases this kind of service vehicle insurance. But in relation to your question “no” you would not be covered, as the policy excludes awnings.

As I explained above the larger teams, whether it be GP2’s , Formula Renault’s , F3’s etc etc are covered under a motor trade policy , which covers the team, liability, vehicles etc etc and these are much larger premiums with much higher excesses. I am sure there are both companies and other insurance schemes that will cover the service vehicles and awnings or the awnings singularly – however this policy does not, and we don’t have an underwriter on our books that will insure the awning separately for you.

As the broker I am afraid we have to work within the guidelines or the underwriter’s facility and this is the premium it has calculated.

I regret that we have not been able to help you more.

Kind regards


________________________________________

Dear xxxx

Thank you for this.

I am however, a little confused. The generator and compressor are quite normal parts of an onboard workshop so I do not understand why they are not covered.

In addition, of the vehicle value of £10,500, approximately 30% relates to the awning. Are you saying that if the truck was stolen or destroyed by fire, the awning, stored inside the vehicle, would not be covered?

Race teams up and down the country have awnings attached to their trucks, trailers and artics. Many are far larger, more complex and expensive than mine. Surely it must be possible to insure these? I am amazed that this has not come up before as you deal with motorsport as a specialism?

Finally the premium does seem very high, given the value of the vehicle, the low mileage and age/experience of the drivers.

Many thanks

Andy
_______________________


Dear Andy,
Please find attached quotation should you wish to discuss please feel free to contact me at the office.
We would cover the lorry as a service vehicle, however we would not cover the awning or the generator/compressor, as for tools and spares then this would need to satisfy the scheme terms and conditions.
Please note, we will not under any circumstances cover the awning due to the level of exposure this represents, it is more like a marquee!

[jeremyc]

Have you tried insurance_jon to see if he can help you?

Alternatively you might have to find a sail maker to sponsor the awning.

[griff2be]

Thanks JC - I'll give him a try.

Funnily enough, my awning is actually made of sail cloth

[Graham]

having seen the number of awnings that dont survive the season I think I can understand why they dont fancy it.


The score at Pembrey was awnings nil wind and rain 2 !!!

Whats the truck your looking at. If your using anything over 3.5 ton as a business even a sole trader watch of for Operators licence requirements...

[griff2be]

Graham said:

having seen the number of awnings that dont survive the season I think I can understand why they dont fancy it. The score at Pembrey was awnings nil wind and rain 2 !!! Whats the truck your looking at. If your using anything over 3.5 ton as a business even a sole trader watch of for Operators licence requirements...

That's accidental damage, which is one thing. Fire and theft are another matter entirely, and it that that irritates me about the underwriters' attitudes. Why is the theft of a truck worth say £8k with a £2k awning inside it any different in risk terms to a £10k truck?

The 7.5 tonne truck is purely for non commercial pleasure purposes old chap

>> Edited by griff2be on Thursday 16th June 20:24

[Racing Rod]

Andy me boy, phone our friend Peter Cross at Clowes, don't do a direct insurance, do one for Andy Holden Motorsport as a Trade and business policy, then put all the cars, race and road, trucks, trailers, stuff etc on it.
When I had the truck, they put it on my trade policy for fire, theft, accident or loss except in time of war, including the awning for theft or fire only. They wouldn't cover the awning when in use,or during erection ............ or dismanteling. Cost me about £25 a month as an add on charge to a £9k pa all risks trade policy that covers all the cars we had.

[john75]

Try Peter Foster at Boswell's in Norwich 01603 727646 they insure most of the Teams in this part of then world.

[aorange]

Just spoke to Boswell's and they do NOT provide this type of insurance policies, I was even told that it is a misconception that they specialise in insurance policies related to motor-sport so I thought I'd save someone a call by posting it here.

If anyone knows of any other company that can provide insurance for a race-truck then please let me know. I have just purchased a converted coach (which weighs over 7.5 tonnes) with a living space in the middle and a small garage at the back. I am finding it really difficult to get insurance for it =(

[kg55]

Andy i insure my truck with competition car insurance under "road insurance for motorsport support vehicle" if this helps but thats for the truck only as i could not find anybody who does contents etc.

[teamHOLDENracing]

This is a 6 year old thread! I'm insured, including the awning, but can remember with whom at the min. The awning is not covered when being put up or taken down, or when up. I insure my contents with the race car rather than on the truck insurance.