• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Geico Will Cancel your Insurance Policy if they find out that you have taken your bike to the Track

Blankpage said:
You can't really be expecting insurance companies to break it down by individual kart tracks and say this one we'll cover but that one we won't.

If I was in the insurance business I wouldn't cover bikes on track either. Wouldn't even entertain the idea of debating it.
Click to expand...

Exactly. If you calculated crashes per mile, they'd be higher at the track than on the street. I know riders like to claim otherwise, but they're conflating "the track is safer than the street" with "you're less likely to crash at the track" which is false on a per-mile basis.

Now, if an insurer wants to cover such events without charging higher premiums, fine.... but that's not how I'd do business.

And if someone is only concerned about theft, there are theft-only policies. Allstate, for one.
 
Last edited:
Re: boycotts

Good luck getting the rider satisfied with their insurance to boycott just because someone else wants to track their bike. The reality is that the total number of riders who track is probably a very small percentage of the total. Besides, if the market was that valuable some company would step up and provide the insurance. What it seems like is that some who track their bikes want to pay for insurance designed for the typical motorcycle owner but then also have coverage for track bikes.

Insurance is part of ownership so if it costs more from a company wanting to be in the business of covering track or comp use, that is comes under cost of ownership.

Who wants to pay higher premiums because someone wants to take their Hellcat to the track? Let them pay for specialty insurance.
 
Geico sucks.

They raised my premium 60% after an" at fault" fender bender. Didn't even bother to fight the other driver, just accepted fault immediately. Still haven't had the chance to cancel them. Thanks for reminding me.
 
951dude said:
Geico sucks.

They raised my premium 60% after an" at fault" fender bender. Didn't even bother to fight the other driver, just accepted fault immediately. Still haven't had the chance to cancel them. Thanks for reminding me.
Click to expand...

Not their job to fight, it's yours. The insurance company isn't obligated to defend you, they defend their liability.

It's your collision, hire a lawyer if its important.

Read your policy. You buy insurance, not legal representation. Any legal service they engage isn't for your benefit, its for theirs.

If you disagree with their finding and roll over, who's fault is that?
 
Last edited:
This discussion reminds me of the many reasons I have a dedicated track bike.
 
Butch said:
I think... we need to vote with our dollars and boycott shitty insurance companies and support those that support our sport. Progressive, for example.
Click to expand...

They all have issues from what I've seen. With Progressive I had a bike run over. I do all my own work. They would only pay me an hourly wage based upon labor rates in the East Bay. I didn't pay East Bay insurance rates. I paid SF insurance races which are a lot more. A LOT MORE, and they wouldn't pay me what shops charge in SF.

They also did some pretty shitty things like forcing me to take stuff to the powder coater to get a new quote even though I provided them the receipt from the original powder coating.

Oh and they claimed that 6 hours was all one needed to completely strip down a bike to send the frame and parts to the powder coater, and then reassemble the bike. This might be possible on a very simple bike, but not even close on my bike. They also told me that even if I got quotes from shops on how much time it would take that I should go kick rocks, because they wouldn't even consider it, nor would they pay for the estimates.

Yeah, Progressive has their issues too.
 
Blankpage said:
If I was in the insurance business I wouldn't cover bikes on track either. Wouldn't even entertain the idea of debating it.
Click to expand...

In may case I was very clear that I wasn't asking for coverage on the track. I wanted coverage for when I wasn't even on the bike. Theft, fire, etc. That's it.
 
Charles R said:
"Closed course" never "track". A closed course is simply any facility that's not open to uncontrolled traffic.

Never "timed/scored event" or "rally". GEICO even has wording that disallows on the road rally events like "iron butt" and cal24.
Click to expand...

They see through those attempts at deception.
 
gixxerjeff said:
This discussion reminds me of the many reasons I have a dedicated track bike.
Click to expand...

And this whole thing started because I built up a dedicated track bike. I was simply trying to get some theft, fire etc. coverage because well I live in an area where that shit happens. :teeth
 
bpw said:
Same thing as any other track, each rider deals with his own injuries and bike repairs. Most tracks waivers have language along the lines of "no fault to either party for accidents"

Moto tracks are dangerous places, If you don't have adequate health insurance and the willingness to set your bike on fire and walk away you shouldn't be there.
Click to expand...


Not to derail the post but this is something worth mentioning. While we all sign the waivers of property and injury at the track these wavers do not dismiss your medical insurance provider from pursuing damages.

Example:
You and a buddy are riding at a track day, the same group, he goes down in a turn, his bike takes you out and you end up in the hospital for several days with broken bones and large expenses. You turn this into your medical insurance - because that's what it's for.

Later, it comes out that the accident was caused by another rider. Your insurance provider can now produce a lawsuit against your friend for your covered medical expenses. You, as the insured, agreed to help your insurance company with recouping their costs from an at-fault party (your friend).

Food for thought.

As for this post, I don't know why anyone would tell their insurance company they intend to participate in high-risk behavior with their covered vehicle. Less information is always more when it comes to dealing with companies whose whole business model is built around the concept of only spending money when something bad happens - as a result, their goal is to provide you with a perceived value while increasing shareholder value by reducing their risk.
 
Butch said:
I think... we need to vote with our dollars and boycott shitty insurance companies and support those that support our sport. Progressive, for example.
Click to expand...
Geico was pretty shitty to me. I got hit and run on the Bay Bridge in 2015, a witness described him to a T, he later reported the car stolen and claimed he wasn't driving it when it hit me, it was "recovered" with no damage other than the dent from where he hit me (no forced entry, ignition damage, etc), they supported his claim of not being the one driving, and I still haven't gotten paid yet. Hopefully this week...
 
ToraTora said:
And this whole thing started because I built up a dedicated track bike. I was simply trying to get some theft, fire etc. coverage because well I live in an area where that shit happens. :teeth
Click to expand...


If it were me, I'd make sure that A. this wasn't a clerical error and B. inform them you have decided that Race Tracks are very dangerous and your wife has informed you she will have divorce papers drafted should you choose to even drive by a race track. :)

Should your dedicated track bike be stolen or burn down no one will ever see all the road rash you caused in your last crash. lol
 
I used to train customer service staff in an insurance office. Accountability is key. Two of the first things I would teach:

1) Can I get your name please (including spelling)?
2) I would like to escalate to your manager please. (note: not a question)

Follow these steps for EVERYBODY you talk to and take notes. If their management needs to correct something, they cannot do it very well when you respond "I don't know who I spoke to".

Speed contests and insurance don't mix. But most insurance companies are cool with track days as long as you are not on the clock (including time trials). The rep the OP spoke to may not have understood the difference.
 
DJ Thrawn said:
As for this post, I don't know why anyone would tell their insurance company they intend to participate in high-risk behavior with their covered vehicle. Less information is always more when it comes to dealing with companies whose whole business model is built around the concept of only spending money when something bad happens - as a result, their goal is to provide you with a perceived value while increasing shareholder value by reducing their risk.
Click to expand...

The other stuff you posted is well worth noting. As for this part. I simply asked if they had coverage off track. If they didn't fine, but they did so I bought it. That was the time they should have said, yeah sorry we don't offer that product. But that's not what happened. I was very specific about what I wanted, and they sold it to me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Junkie said:
Geico was pretty shitty to me. I got hit and run on the Bay Bridge in 2015, a witness described him to a T, he later reported the car stolen and claimed he wasn't driving it when it hit me, it was "recovered" with no damage other than the dent from where he hit me (no forced entry, ignition damage, etc), they supported his claim of not being the one driving, and I still haven't gotten paid yet. Hopefully this week...
Click to expand...

I had a bike parked on the street hit and run. Cameras on it, got it all on video, had two witnesses, and the plate number. I called Progressive. They did find out who owned the vehicle, but their company refused the claim because they could not contact the owner of the vehicle. I found him in minutes with LinkedIn. It's really not that hard. I called the guys insurance company (I can't remember the name at the moment), and asked what they did to get in touch with the guy. They said they called him. How many times? Once! Once! Progressive half ass paid me (see above), and I never got my deductible.

DJ Thrawn said:
If it were me, I'd make sure that A. this wasn't a clerical error and B. inform them you have decided that Race Tracks are very dangerous and your wife has informed you she will have divorce papers drafted should you choose to even drive by a race track. :)

Should your dedicated track bike be stolen or burn down no one will ever see all the road rash you caused in your last crash. lol
Click to expand...

Oh I have, like I said I had them on the phone for over an hour. They are suppose to call me back this week. If they don't I will be calling them. I have asked them to be specific about what they will cover. They repeatedly referred me to the contract, but the contract doesn't say that they will cancel my policy for any of these reasons. Only that they will not cover liability in those cases. But I didn't buy that type of insurance for the bike anyway, so to me why would that even apply?

fraz said:
I used to train customer service staff in an insurance office. Accountability is key. Two of the first things I would teach:

1) Can I get your name please (including spelling)?
2) I would like to escalate to your manager please. (note: not a question)

Follow these steps for EVERYBODY you talk to and take notes. If their management needs to correct something, they cannot do it very well when you respond "I don't know who I spoke to".

Speed contests and insurance don't mix. But most insurance companies are cool with track days as long as you are not on the clock (including time trials). The rep the OP spoke to may not have understood the difference.
Click to expand...

Yeah I generally take very good notes on those things. When you can rattle off a list of names you get treated significantly different than when you roll over and submit.

Geico is most certainly not okay with track days, even with instruction.
 
I'm not sure I fully get what happened.

I always assumed that if you do a track day - you're on your own if you dump the bike there. Some people have said they drive to just outside the track - dump the bike and state they were in an accident - then call insurance but if you're not into that kind of shady shit (i'm not) - you go down at the track - even with insurance - you don't file an insurance claim. It's on you to fix the bike at whatever cost it would be to do so.
 
Moto Beck, Yeah I would be totally fine with that, and that is how I've read my contract. There's nothing in there that say if you go to the track that they will cancel your policy. It only says they will not cover any liability at said event.

And since I bought the coverage on the bike it hasn't gone to the track, so I haven't broken any of their hidden rules. So I don't really get it either. When I talk to them next I'll be better prepared because I have read the contract. I'll post what happens. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
Tora, best of luck. I hope you’re successful- you’re just looking for “major loss” coverage which has FAR less risk than the typical policy for comprehensive/collision.

Alas, it seems Common Sense goes against the P&L of most companies.

Now another issue: Most warranties (and extended warranties on used bikes) specifically state they won’t cover parts if the bike has been tracked!

This all makes that $4,000 Track-only bike with only a bill of sale a smart option for those with the means.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top