Towing a track car - Insurance needed?

gaz_jones

A friend of mine uses a track car a number of times a year and we were wondering on if he needs insurance on the car to tow it?

As far as I know the trailer is a bog standard car trailer, it's not a low loaded van or anything. Just a trailer that attaches to a car.

Does the car he's towing need insurance, or would the insurance he has on the car he's driving/using to tow be enough?


I've had a search on google but am coming up with very mixed results.

Thanks all.

harveybobbles

Why not ask them if they are a friend...?!

dacouch

Is he looking for cover for the car that is on the trailer?

gaz_jones

harveybobbles wrote: »

Why not ask them if they are a friend...?!

Because neither of us are sure. Up until now it's been insured and has driven it to the track. He's been offered a trailer and it would work out much cheaper for him to trailer the car there than insuring it each year, but only if the track car being towed doesn't need insurance.

Sorry, I know I didn't word the OP very well.

dacouch wrote: »

Is he looking for cover for the car that is on the trailer?

He doesn't need cover for the track car, just wants to know he can legally tow it without having insurance for it. Obviously in the event of an accident he wouldn't be able to claim for it, but as it's only a cheap car that gets thrashed around a track I doubt he minds that.

wealdroam

No insurance is required for a car which is on a trailer.
Its the trailer which is being towed.
The trailer just happens to have something on it.

The towing car's insurance company might be interested in the towing aspect.

LandyAndy

If the car is on a trailer I can't see any reason why it would need to have road insurance. Does he not know anyone else who trailers their track car to events?

LandyAndy

wealdroam wrote: »

No insurance is required for a car which is on a trailer.

The towing car's insurance company might be interested though.

I wouldn't have thought so as long as the towed unit is within the towing vehicles allowed weight limit.

dacouch

A motor policy will automatically cover third party only cover (The legal minimum) for an attached trailer but only whilst it's attached to the insured vehicle.

By all means get him to ring his Insurers for them to confirm, but I would recommend he just says trailer rather than mention the track car on the back as there is a small chance this may go against him on his motor insurance with the Insurers.

vaio

I’d have thought it would be detailed in his policy but I think car policies automatically include enough insurance to make any suitable trailer legal from an insurance point of view. So, if the trailer comes off and hits someone the damage to them will be covered but not the damage to the trailer & contents unless the policy is extended to include it.

If he’s reasonably good at trackdays then an A frame or dolly might be a better solution but he needs to be reasonably sure that all the car wheels will still be attached and pointing roughly in the right direction at the end of the day

gaz_jones

Cheers for the replies guys. I've sent him a link to this topic. I don't think it would put him over the allowed weight so fingers crossed


Thanks for the replies

Gloomendoom

dacouch wrote: »

A motor policy will automatically cover third party only cover (The legal minimum) for an attached trailer but only whilst it's attached to the insured vehicle.

Not all policies. Some specifically exclude trailer cover, even the legal minimum, in certain circumstances. Admiral and Elephant are companies that spring to mind