Nordschleife Tourist days, insurance cover and the law
Discussion
Hi Folks,
What is the legal situation if you're driving a car on German roads without insurance?
I assume its a legal requirement to have insurance cover to drive in Germany as it is in the UK. And whilst your car insurance might cover you for European travel, almost all policies specifically exclude driving the nordschleife. Which means you're effectively driving a public road without insurance cover.
Does this mean you're effectively breaking the law?
What is the legal situation if you're driving a car on German roads without insurance?
I assume its a legal requirement to have insurance cover to drive in Germany as it is in the UK. And whilst your car insurance might cover you for European travel, almost all policies specifically exclude driving the nordschleife. Which means you're effectively driving a public road without insurance cover.
Does this mean you're effectively breaking the law?
quote from - http://www.leeds-solicitors.com/nurburgring_insura...
''The Road Traffic Act 1988 prohibits an insurer from excluding minimum level cover anywhere in an EU member state in a place where insurance is mandatory. Any clause in an insurance policy seeking to exclude mandatory cover is of no effect. However, the cover required by law is minimum level cover. Therefore, third party only to the limits set out in the Road Traffic Act. However, your insurance policy will very likely contain a clause which says that if the insurer is obligated to meet a claim it otherwise would not pay then the insurer is entitled to reclaim the settlement from the policyholder.
In August 2010, the Ombudsman made a final decision regarding a case concerning the Nurburgring Nordschleife. He found that the Nordschleife is a one way toll circuit with all the characteristics of a 'prepared course'. The insured's policy excluded use on a 'prepared course' which was held to be neither unfair or unreasonable given the increased risks associated with driving in such places. The insurer agreed to meet any third party liabilities but this did not mean that the driver was driving within the terms and conditions of his policy. The Ombudsman said that UK and European law requires insurers to provide a minimum of third party only cover even if their policyholders are using the insured vehicle in a manner which invalidates their own-damage cover.''
''The Road Traffic Act 1988 prohibits an insurer from excluding minimum level cover anywhere in an EU member state in a place where insurance is mandatory. Any clause in an insurance policy seeking to exclude mandatory cover is of no effect. However, the cover required by law is minimum level cover. Therefore, third party only to the limits set out in the Road Traffic Act. However, your insurance policy will very likely contain a clause which says that if the insurer is obligated to meet a claim it otherwise would not pay then the insurer is entitled to reclaim the settlement from the policyholder.
In August 2010, the Ombudsman made a final decision regarding a case concerning the Nurburgring Nordschleife. He found that the Nordschleife is a one way toll circuit with all the characteristics of a 'prepared course'. The insured's policy excluded use on a 'prepared course' which was held to be neither unfair or unreasonable given the increased risks associated with driving in such places. The insurer agreed to meet any third party liabilities but this did not mean that the driver was driving within the terms and conditions of his policy. The Ombudsman said that UK and European law requires insurers to provide a minimum of third party only cover even if their policyholders are using the insured vehicle in a manner which invalidates their own-damage cover.''
Not quite. Legally you have 3rd party cover. So no laws are broken. And 3rd partys get their cash from your insurance company.
Then afterwards your insurance company will come after you for the cash because you breached your contract and did something forbidden which made them pay out.
Edit. Response was to op.
Then afterwards your insurance company will come after you for the cash because you breached your contract and did something forbidden which made them pay out.
Edit. Response was to op.
Stephanie Plum said:
The stickied post above might help 
My bad, I didn't see that at all. D'oh! Although I wasn't so much asking about how to get covered, but whether you could land in trouble with the Police for being un-insured. Interesting topic, some relevant info on there, read with interest.
Thanks for the responses.
Edited by NNNick on Saturday 8th October 00:02
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff