Discussion
Going on tour of europe at end of week in VXR, to French Alps, Italy and Germany.
Interesting that uk insurers try to class the nurburgring as a 'racetrack', when its actually a de-restricted german toll road.
Wondering how to play this as it isnt specifically included or excluded, and clearly it is in Germany classed as a standard road from a legal and insurance perspective.
Bennno
Going there at the end of the month again. Most comapnies will not cover accidents on the Ring although you could fight this if they have have not specified it in their small print. If you Just say your going into Germany as well as France then Im sure in a court they would find it hard to not cover you if not excluded in the small print as it is a toll road with cars, bikes, buses and tractors (Honest!) going around it at times.
S600VXR said:
Going there at the end of the month again. Most comapnies will not cover accidents on the Ring although you could fight this if they have have not specified it in their small print. If you Just say your going into Germany as well as France then Im sure in a court they would find it hard to not cover you if not excluded in the small print as it is a toll road with cars, bikes, buses and tractors (Honest!) going around it at times.
Thats my feeling also....Bennno
This subject has been done to death on just about every internal-combustion-related website in the world (plus a few other media besides....)
I have been using the Nordschleife about 3 times a year for 6-7 years now, so you can reasonably assume that I've done my homework on this question. Bottom line is, I think every mainstream UK insurer will tell you "no" now, and the minors are also almost all on-message with the same refusals. If it came down to a 3rd party claim, they *might* be obliged to pay the 3rd party but you should assume for all intents and purposes that your own vehicle will NOT be covered. You can purchase specific cover for the Ring on a daily basis. I don't have the details to hand but you buy in "blocks" of £5k cover and this costs approx £100 (GBP) per block per day up to a maximum of £15k, i.e. £300 per day. As I understand it, if your car is worth more/damaged beyond £15k, they will still pay out the £15k but that's all.
Also bear in mind two other significant points of costs (apart from tyres, petrol, and the hiked-again "runden" costs - €19 per lap this year):
1. If you require recovery from the Ring, this will cost you a flat €175 (I *think* that's euros and not GBP). You will need to pay up front, you will HAVE to pay (you can't get your mate to tow you off, for example, never mind the lunatic danger in doing so). One way to avoid this is to join ADAC, the European equivalent of the AA. For a small-ish annual fee, definitely under £100, you get full AA-type cover which covers the whole of Europe for 12 months and AS LONG AS you advise the Nordschleife marshals that you insist on ADAC being called, you will get towed f.o.c.
2. If you think that's rich.......they have now clamped down almost totally on damage charges to the infrastructure out there. If you slide and hit the Armco, you will be charged on a per-lenght and per-upright basis for the damage along the entire length of any deformation caused by your impact. There are a lot of largely-anonymous travelling marshalls, plus static marshalls and busybody spectators, and your chances of getting away with this are very slim indeed. You *WILL* be required to pay, in full, before you leave the circuit, usually by credit card, and the bill is often €3000 or more. I have seen this occur many many times. You may think about doing a runner - however, if you have been spotted and your number taken, you will be reported to the Polizei who will then prosecute - as well as making you pay the original damage costs!
Then there's the cost of replacing any tarmac destroyed by fluids.......and the recharge of lost revenues if your accident results in track closure.....
But don't let me put you off!!! If you go there with the right frame of mind and retain at least half a brain whilst you're out there, you'll have a fantastic time. I don't keep returning for no reason!!
I have been using the Nordschleife about 3 times a year for 6-7 years now, so you can reasonably assume that I've done my homework on this question. Bottom line is, I think every mainstream UK insurer will tell you "no" now, and the minors are also almost all on-message with the same refusals. If it came down to a 3rd party claim, they *might* be obliged to pay the 3rd party but you should assume for all intents and purposes that your own vehicle will NOT be covered. You can purchase specific cover for the Ring on a daily basis. I don't have the details to hand but you buy in "blocks" of £5k cover and this costs approx £100 (GBP) per block per day up to a maximum of £15k, i.e. £300 per day. As I understand it, if your car is worth more/damaged beyond £15k, they will still pay out the £15k but that's all.
Also bear in mind two other significant points of costs (apart from tyres, petrol, and the hiked-again "runden" costs - €19 per lap this year):
1. If you require recovery from the Ring, this will cost you a flat €175 (I *think* that's euros and not GBP). You will need to pay up front, you will HAVE to pay (you can't get your mate to tow you off, for example, never mind the lunatic danger in doing so). One way to avoid this is to join ADAC, the European equivalent of the AA. For a small-ish annual fee, definitely under £100, you get full AA-type cover which covers the whole of Europe for 12 months and AS LONG AS you advise the Nordschleife marshals that you insist on ADAC being called, you will get towed f.o.c.
2. If you think that's rich.......they have now clamped down almost totally on damage charges to the infrastructure out there. If you slide and hit the Armco, you will be charged on a per-lenght and per-upright basis for the damage along the entire length of any deformation caused by your impact. There are a lot of largely-anonymous travelling marshalls, plus static marshalls and busybody spectators, and your chances of getting away with this are very slim indeed. You *WILL* be required to pay, in full, before you leave the circuit, usually by credit card, and the bill is often €3000 or more. I have seen this occur many many times. You may think about doing a runner - however, if you have been spotted and your number taken, you will be reported to the Polizei who will then prosecute - as well as making you pay the original damage costs!
Then there's the cost of replacing any tarmac destroyed by fluids.......and the recharge of lost revenues if your accident results in track closure.....
But don't let me put you off!!! If you go there with the right frame of mind and retain at least half a brain whilst you're out there, you'll have a fantastic time. I don't keep returning for no reason!!
C8PP0, well put. and factualy correct.
Talking about Armco, one of my tenants a couple of weeks ago took out a car on a test drive drive, got it locked crossed and side ways on an M4 slip road, and took out 15 lengths of Armco @ £1,500 per length. The BIB once they new the cost had been covered drop all charges against him, and there were plenty !!!!!!
So in other words it is the same the whole world over.
Oh, The Toyota was a complete wreck and to rub salt into the wounds the garage impounded his car against costs.
Here endith the lesson.
Talking about Armco, one of my tenants a couple of weeks ago took out a car on a test drive drive, got it locked crossed and side ways on an M4 slip road, and took out 15 lengths of Armco @ £1,500 per length. The BIB once they new the cost had been covered drop all charges against him, and there were plenty !!!!!!
So in other words it is the same the whole world over.
Oh, The Toyota was a complete wreck and to rub salt into the wounds the garage impounded his car against costs.
Here endith the lesson.
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