Progressive Insurance change of terms

[AlanDog]

Just got this with my renewal card. I read the whole thing carefully looking for just such an exception. Last page:

"The following provision is added:

RACING EXCLUSION

A.This policy does not apply to any vehicle:

1. While in an organized competitive event... (etc)

.....

2. while used in "performance testing" that is done on a closed road, or a race track, or a testing facility where there is no competition.

"performance testing" is when an "insured" uses any vehicle to:
a. test its performance, speed or handling
b. test or practice driver skills.

<end of quote>

[NevadaWolf]

Personally I'd call and get exact clarification/definition.

Taken just as the text is written means I can't go find an abandoned road to practice safe braking or turning skills.

[Alex]

Sounds like a lot of Progressive customers are going to report bike accidents right outside the gates of the racetrack... Damn invisible deer!

[AlanDog]

Originally Posted by Alex

Sounds like a lot of Progressive customers are going to report bike accidents right outside the gates of the racetrack... Damn invisible deer!

I'm so honest. These simple things never occur to me. You're like a little devil on my shoulder. Thanks.

[Trailerboy531]

Originally Posted by Alex

Sounds like a lot of Progressive customers are going to report bike accidents right outside the gates of the racetrack... Damn invisible deer!

One of my favorite paddock phrases "If you crash it...it's stolen"

[JohnnyBravo]

Live from progressive... Boo
Guess they had to many high speed crashes to pay for

[csmith12]

It fell out off the trailer.

[gantt]

^^^^^^haha, that's what I'm sayin.

[jkv45]

"b. test or practice driver skills."

Sounds to me like that would also include any damage done at something like an advanced MSF rider safety course where you were using your cycle.

[beazy411]

I just called Progressive and they said that anything done with MSF or other safety course, like if AAA has one or the ARTD for the military folks out there is covered. Track days and races are not covered. For those you would need to have race coverage and Progressive does not offer that.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by beazy411

I just called Progressive and they said that anything done with MSF or other safety course, like if AAA has one or the ARTD for the military folks out there is covered. Track days and races are not covered. For those you would need to have race coverage and Progressive does not offer that.

Thanks for checking.

[Panda]

It seems to be a clarification as my older policy doesn't have that exclusion but still doesn't cover track days.

[Falcor]

I didn't even know there was insurance policies for race bikes. It'd be expensive wouldn't it? Considering how you are more likely to damage the bike. Or at least to me I think you would be lol.

[beazy411]

From what the agent at Progressive told me, race bikes are treated similar to work vehicles with the owning team being the same as the company that would own work trucks or the like. I would imagine that it would be expensive, especially considering the cost of some of those liter bikes with all the aftermarket goodies.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by Falcor

I didn't even know there was insurance policies for race bikes. It'd be expensive wouldn't it? Considering how you are more likely to damage the bike. Or at least to me I think you would be lol.

I've never heard of anyone insuring a race bike, but Progressive is trying to cover themselves for the situation when someone takes their streetbike to a trackday and wads it up - then files a claim.

[beazy411]

Originally Posted by jkv45

I've never heard of anyone insuring a race bike, but Progressive is trying to cover themselves for the situation when someone takes their streetbike to a trackday and wads it up - then files a claim.

I could understand insuring a race bike against theft, but I couldn't imagine an insurance company insuring a race vehicle against anything other than theft or acts of nature.

You are probably right with the insurance companies trying to cover themselves against someone taking their street ride and turning it into a crumpled mass, it just makes good business sense.

This is just another reason to have a dedicated track bike, and it wouldn't need a title since it would be pointless to insure it.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by beazy411

This is just another reason to have a dedicated track bike, and it wouldn't need a title since it would be pointless to insure it.

I totally agree.

I'd never take my street bike to the track. Anything that hits the track should be disposable IMO. The chances of it becoming a complete wad of junk in about 2 seconds is pretty high if you are pushing the limits.

[choneofakind]

I agree that your motorcycle should be a non-necessity before taking it to the track because the risks are very high per mile ridden, but

Originally Posted by jkv45

The chances of it becoming a complete wad of junk in about 2 seconds is pretty high if you are pushing the limits.

you clearly haven't been to the track with the right attitude. You're the one in charge of your bike. You're the one who sets your own pace. You're the one who learns and grows. You're the one who feels that SR. You're the one who holds back and rides within your own limits. You're the one who knows when to leave a session early if you start getting nervous/too fast/out of your limits.

Track days aren't about speed and they're certainly not a race, they're about learning and improving. Everyone does that at their own rate. If you go to a track day with the idea that you want to be the fastest guy there, a) you're going to be disappointed and b) of course you're going to wad it up. If you're semi-intelligent about it and you take it as an opportunity to soak in everything you can, you'll come home with a bike that you respect more than when you started (in the same condition), a giant grin, and a lot of fun stories about who you met and every turn you took.

Just don't look at it as, 'oh, I don't want to wad up my bike so I'll never go to the track'. Streets are arguably a more likely place for that to happen because they aren't a controlled environment. Look at how many threads there are in our crash forum; how many of those were at the track? 10%?

[tooblekain]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I agree that your motorcycle should be a non-necessity before taking it to the track because the risks are very high per mile ridden, but

you clearly haven't been to the track with the right attitude. You're the one in charge of your bike. You're the one who sets your own pace. You're the one who learns and grows. You're the one who feels that SR. You're the one who holds back and rides within your own limits. You're the one who knows when to leave a session early if you start getting nervous/too fast/out of your limits.

Track days aren't about speed and they're certainly not a race, they're about learning and improving. Everyone does that at their own rate. If you go to a track day with the idea that you want to be the fastest guy there, a) you're going to be disappointed and b) of course you're going to wad it up. If you're semi-intelligent about it and you take it as an opportunity to soak in everything you can, you'll come home with a bike that you respect more than when you started (in the same condition), a giant grin, and a lot of fun stories about who you met and every turn you took.

Just don't look at it as, 'oh, I don't want to wad up my bike so I'll never go to the track'. Streets are arguably a more likely place for that to happen because they aren't a controlled environment. Look at how many threads there are in our crash forum; how many of those were at the track? 10%?

Plus Juan

[alex.s]

race bike insurance?

max, get some. HURRY.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I agree that your motorcycle should be a non-necessity before taking it to the track because the risks are very high per mile ridden, but

you clearly haven't been to the track with the right attitude. You're the one in charge of your bike. You're the one who sets your own pace. You're the one who learns and grows. You're the one who feels that SR. You're the one who holds back and rides within your own limits. You're the one who knows when to leave a session early if you start getting nervous/too fast/out of your limits.

Track days aren't about speed and they're certainly not a race, they're about learning and improving. Everyone does that at their own rate. If you go to a track day with the idea that you want to be the fastest guy there, a) you're going to be disappointed and b) of course you're going to wad it up. If you're semi-intelligent about it and you take it as an opportunity to soak in everything you can, you'll come home with a bike that you respect more than when you started (in the same condition), a giant grin, and a lot of fun stories about who you met and every turn you took.

Just don't look at it as, 'oh, I don't want to wad up my bike so I'll never go to the track'. Streets are arguably a more likely place for that to happen because they aren't a controlled environment. Look at how many threads there are in our crash forum; how many of those were at the track? 10%?

Your comment may be true for a trackday, but not racing.

I raced karts and motorcycles for many years, but I've never done a trackday. When I was on the track I was always pushing my limits - and did step over the line numerous times.

If you race to win you will step over the line - even if you think you know your limits.

Just ask Jorge or Marc...

[JBinSD]

When I wadded my new 300 last year in the second race of my life, I "thought" about making a claim, but figured it wasn't worth it. Lots of people told me to just do it, but I wasn't comfortable lying, so I didn't.

Pathetic thing was that I called and asked a few questions at Geico, and made it clear I was NOT making a claim, but the effin' person I spoke with, once he found out the bike went down, put a ding on my driving history anyway. I appealed it up through several managers, but their BS is that they deserve to know when you go down, even if you don't make a claim, as it affects their rating of you.

Moral of story: Never, ever talk to an insurance person unless you have your story straight and know the rules. Bastids, I stayed with Geico because their rates are so good, but will never seek info until I know exactly where I stand. My Farmer's agent was super cool about telling me what/what not to say, but Farmer's premiums were double Geico. As he put it, "I just can't compete with that damn lizard". His honesty was almost worth paying double. . . almost.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by JBinSD

Pathetic thing was that I called and asked a few questions at Geico, and made it clear I was NOT making a claim, but the effin' person I spoke with, once he found out the bike went down, put a ding on my driving history anyway. I appealed it up through several managers, but their BS is that they deserve to know when you go down, even if you don't make a claim, as it affects their rating of you.

That is @#&*@(#&*( terrible.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by jkv45

Your comment may be true for a trackday, but not racing.

I raced karts and motorcycles for many years, but I've never done a trackday. When I was on the track I was always pushing my limits - and did step over the line numerous times.

If you race to win you will step over the line - even if you think you know your limits.

Just ask Jorge or Marc...

Then you really have no reason not to do some track time, especially not just because you don't want to wreck your bike. You already know how fun the track is, you already know your limits, and you know you miss it.

Did I say anything about racing?

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

you clearly haven't been to the track with the right attitude.

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Track days aren't about speed and they're certainly not a race, they're about learning and improving.

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Look at how many threads there are in our crash forum; how many of those were at the track? 10%?

Originally Posted by jkv45

If you race to win you will step over the line - even if you thinkyou know your limits.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by Alex

That is @#&*@(#&*( terrible.

I had to be really careful when I went into Progressive after I wrecked on the track. My agent had already entered in all the data before I found out my policy did not have the right kind of coverage anyway. So when I told him to cancel it, I had to watch everything to ensure it didn't go through as a total loss accident.

When I went to the DMV and State Farm, I kept asking if that showed up on my history. They both said since no claim there was no history. Whew

[mwirrick]

Hmmm. I had heard a lot of insurance companies cover your bike if you crash it on a track but not in a timed event, their logic being that they'd prefer you crashed there rather than on the street because the chances of getting hurt and really destroying the bike are less on the track (sort of, I know), than on the street where you might hit something. Almost makes too much sense for it to be part of an insurance company's thinking.

[RedPepper64]

This policy change really bothers me. I've always been treated fairly by Progressive and hate to switch just because of track day coverage missing. We are checking out State Farm this week.

[stlcbr]

I was out on a rural back road for a nice sunday afternoon ride, a black dog ran out and scared me

[Alex]

I posted this on another forum, and folks said that Progressive had always had restrictions against covering trackdays.

[Panda]

@Bigballsofpaint put this in another thread

3. to any vehicle resulting from, or sustained during practice or preparation for:
a. any pre-arranged or organized:
(i)
racing;
(ii)
stunting;
(iii)
speed or demolition contest or activity; or
b. any riding activity conducted on a permanent or temporary racetrack, racecourse, or during any closed course event..

I mentioned this before but I don't think the exclusion is new. They just added a clarification/reworded it to make it clearer.