Interesting take on limited "mileage" on my policy!

[Conor]

So here is one for a lively debate.

My Admiral policy says 5000 miles (est.). And I quote "Annual mileage (est)", under "Vehicle details". There is no other mention of 5000 on the policy anywhere. So I would assume that isn't even something is enforceable..

Move onto my new policy with "REIS" for my track car Renault Clio, this is where it get's interesting. The policy is third party only and intended to be used mainly on track with light road usage, typically to and from tracks.

I told them I would do 1000 miles a year in it. They then proceeded to add clauses that limit my mileage to 1000 and that going over it will render the policy inoperable... This is complete horse s**t!

The car will be driven on track, where it is not covered under this policy. Yet the miles used on track are counted in the policy limitation, due to the limitation terms, but the policy summary states "non competition mileage".

* If for example, I went to brands 5 times a year, I would do 500 miles on the circuit and only 200 miles getting there.

This just doesn't add up at all.. and I think I am being mis-sold this policy if they are to enforce on track milage.

Has anybody come across this before?

------------
A very rough calculation of track mileage:

* Brands Hatch (Indy) lap = 1 mile
* Lap time = 1 minute (I wish!!)
* Number of sessions in day = 5
* Session time = 20 minutes

* Miles per 20 minute session = 20 miles
* Total mileage = 5 * 20 = 100 miles
* 5 track days a year = 500 miles
--
* 1 return trip to Brands Hatch from my house = 40 miles
* 5 trips per year = 5 x 40 = 200

 

[dry run]

Seems to me they are just trying to protect themselves from some less scrupulous people driving more than 1000 miles on the road and in the event of a claim, they say that tjhe excess mileage was all "on track".

 

[js190d]

I would imagine a track day car owner must set the alarm bells ringing for any insurer.

Insurer Logic would dictate that if you own a track car you also know how to work on cars so disconnecting a speedo drive would be a very easy option, so they are merely covering themselves.

Have they asked for photos of your speedometer as proof of mileage?

 

[Conor]

I would imagine a track day car owner must set the alarm bells ringing for any insurer.

Insurer Logic would dictate that if you own a track car you also know how to work on cars so disconnecting a speedo drive would be a very easy option, so they are merely covering themselves.

Have they asked for photos of your speedometer as proof of mileage?

You would think that.. I was pleasantly surprised when the premium came in at £200 for the year, I had to prove I had another car as my daily and show the NCB however.

They haven't asked for proof of mileage, even though the document says they will. I just called the operator and she said they don't do that because "it's a track car policy".

That being said, the policy says different, and come claim time, who knows what could happen.

I think I am going to write them an email stating that the odometer will not reflect all road usage, and a significant amount of it will be from track road (private land) use.

 

[js190d]

Sounds more or less the same as classic car insurance. Limited mileage, must be second car & must be garaged (after 8pm).

My insurer never asked for proof of mileage and one year upon renewal never even asked for the current mileage reading at all.

£200 must reflect the track use (ie fast car & driver) as a 1000 mile classic car policy would be a lot less than that.

 

[Conor]

Sounds more or less the same as classic car insurance. Limited mileage, must be second car & must be garaged (after 8pm).

My insurer never asked for proof of mileage and one year upon renewal never even asked for the current mileage reading at all.

£200 must reflect the track use (ie fast car & driver) as a 1000 mile classic car policy would be a lot less than that.

Yea I guess you lads up the country think 200 is high... but, I am in London! And only 4 years NCB. At least it wasn't something silly like the other two cars!

 

[M80]

They may use MOT history as a guide, but even that should have some flexibility.

I had similar when insuring a Vito to be converted for camper use.
They wanted me to state mileage as was, I said the vehicle was used by others and their use was outside of my insurance so mileage statements were pointless.
This was a broker only and threatened to void my policy w/o my declaration.
I just voted with my feet next time around.

 

[Srdl]

Best thing is just keep a record of any road miles done to the track or for MOT etc. Shouldn’t be too onerous given your planned usage. Then, if there is any question later, it’s up to them to prove otherwise.

 

[V6Matty]

If in event of a claim you’d be asked to prove your track visits and the total number of laps completed at each, they will easily be able to work out what is legitimate mileage vs someone trying it on

 

[Conor]

Best thing is just keep a record of any road miles done to the track or for MOT etc. Shouldn’t be too onerous given your planned usage. Then, if there is any question later, it’s up to them to prove otherwise.

Agreed. I'll just log the track visits and rough idea of laps. Then the rest will be regular mileage. That said, I haven't raised the issue of "driving other peoples cars" here......meaning what if a friend drives my car, which is completely legal, and not forbidden on this policy.

I wonder has this mileage restriction stuff ever been tested in court?

If in event of a claim you’d be asked to prove your track visits and the total number of laps completed at each, they will easily be able to work out what is legitimate mileage vs someone trying it on

Yes, something like that.. so the plan is to log the track visits. I'll only do a handful a year so shouldn't be tough.

 

[Ricardo_e220]

I used to have my ELISE insured through REIS and they used to ask for my mileage at every renewal time....of course easier now to check online if so inclined..

if not insured on track (mine was with high excess about 10% of car value) then I suppose you could disconnect the speedo and not be doing anything wrong as ling as you reconnect when back on road....

Isn’t there anyone else out there less draconian or up the miles to 2000 as I’d be surprised if it make much of a difference

 

[Ricardo_e220]

Agreed. I'll just log the track visits and rough idea of laps. Then the rest will be regular mileage. That said, I haven't raised the issue of "driving other peoples cars" here......meaning what if a friend drives my car, which is completely legal, and not forbidden on this policy.

I wonder has this mileage restriction stuff ever been tested in court?



Yes, something like that.. so the plan is to log the track visits. I'll only do a handful a year so shouldn't be tough.

Could also take a photo of speedo when starting and leaving the track? Would be date time and gps stamped if on a mobile

 

[Conor]

Could also take a photo of speedo when starting and leaving the track? Would be date time and gps stamped if on a mobile

That is a good idea.

Fwiw. A number of business process do seem to rely on this stamping of meta data.. Which is easily altered on a computer. Just saying. But yea that is actually a good idea.

 

[Conor]

I used to have my ELISE insured through REIS and they used to ask for my mileage at every renewal time....of course easier now to check online if so inclined..

if not insured on track (mine was with high excess about 10% of car value) then I suppose you could disconnect the speedo and not be doing anything wrong as ling as you reconnect when back on road....

Isn’t there anyone else out there less draconian or up the miles to 2000 as I’d be surprised if it make much of a difference

Yea. I need to up the mileage...is the answer. But the. Principle still applies..I feel like it's the insurance industry once again wanting their cake and eat it.

 

[umblecumbuz]

If the policy includes track mileage (weird!) then there is no point trying to log road use separately. If you claim, it's the policy wording that they will use to squeeze you, no matter how you argue.

It sounds as though they have just adapted a normal Classic Car policy. I have one car on Classic cover, with declared 3k miles annual usage. Each year I have to state the recorded mileage and they accept that (easy to verify by mot records). Ditto as above - garaged, not a daily driver, owner of second daily car, etc. Won't be 3k miles this year at the current rate!
The policy is straightforward and simple.

Why don't you protest with your feet?