Eligibility > Driving Schools
The Select classic car insurance policy excludes driver education events, as well as all other off-road/track events, from coverage. If you believe your current insurance policy does offer coverage for these events, take a moment to read the following.
The following excerpt is from an online newsgroup discussion regarding the subject of insurance coverage for driver education events. The author, Bob Rouleau, is an active Porsche Club of America driver education event participant and instructor. Mr. Rouleau’s comments bring to light some things to watch out for if you have an insurance claim from a driver education event.
The message Mr. Rouleau refers to in the excerpt was written by a driver who received a letter from his insurance agent stating his automobile was covered for driver education events.
…I’m investigating this issue quite seriously. Some companies commonly issue letters covering participants in Driver’s Ed. In the coverage letter discussed previously, note the words to the effect that he’s covered as long as there is no timing and it isn’t a race.
There have been a few instances where the insurance company denies coverage after investigating and concluding that a particular Driver’s Education event is “practicing for racing.”
While mandatory Driver’s Ed for a racer makes sense (learn to drive a car safely before you race it), an insurance company faced with a write-off of a $100,000 993 Twin Turbo for example, might conclude that Driver’s Ed is actually racing driving school, and not what they intended when they confirmed coverage. They’d be wrong in my opinion, but they have an arguing point which leads to litigation.
If you are concerned about insurance at your Driver’s Education event, ask yourself these questions:
- Even though timing is not allowed, do we talk openly about lap times?
- Would an investigator notice people standing by the track with stopwatches? Perhaps see tripod mounted automatic timing devices?
- Would he also observe cars chasing each other, not to say racing?
- Are there articles in your club newsletter which might convey the wrong impression of Driver’s Education?
- Do other participants refer to Driver’s Education as “racing”?
- Perhaps a large number of race cars participating in “Driver’s Ed” the weekend before a race at the same venue?
I could go on (and on and on) but the moral of the story here is that just because you have a letter saying that Driver’s Ed is covered, don’t count on an easy settlement should something untoward happen. Driver’s Education events should pass close scrutiny by a skeptical insurance adjustor. Will yours? If the insurance company feels that the Driver’s Education event you participated in isn’t really “Driver’s Education” they may deny coverage and force you to litigate.
My advice to anyone attending Driver’s Education events is to assume that you have no insurance coverage.
Accidents at Driver’s Ed are very infrequent. When they do happen, they almost always involve only one car, i.e. driver error.
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