For any motoring enthusiast, the summer is the time when you're likely to use your specialist car more than at any other point of the year. It's lighter for longer, the weather tends to be drier and there's simply more things to do with your car, whether that's a 'cars and coffee' style event, a local pub meet or that road trip you've been planning for ages.
We thought it would be sensible to highlight a few important things to bear in mind to make sure that you get the most from your summer motoring.
Being organised
Make sure that you're insured – this may sound borderline ridiculous if you're simply driving anywhere but some insurers will exclude cover during an “organised motoring event” that might include a road trip or even joining a few friends to convoy to a pub or motoring venue.
Lockton's policy includes cover for this, although there are a handful of road-based events that our insurer, in common with many others, can't cover due to a poor record of claims, incidents and standard of driving and behaviour.
Staying on track
This is the season for taking to the track. You'll get to understand what you and your car are capable of in safety and improve your track and road craft at the same time.
If you're taking part in a trackday organised by your owners club, then our policy provides cover as standard. If you haven't driven your car on a circuit before, then you'll need to take advantage of the professional tuition that most offer before cover can be provided.
If you're taking part in a trackday not organised through your club, you'll need to let us know so we can seek approval from the insurer and there may be a charge to extend your cover.
Breaking it down
Whilst modern cars are very reliable, standing by the side of the road when something's broken isn't the nicest way to spend a summer day.
The DVLA provides excellent guidance on what you need to remember when you're driving abroad here https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad and we'd add to that the following:-
- Phone charger or power bank – nothing worse than having no charge on your phone!
- Warning triangle – to warn other motorists if you can't move your vehicle off the road.
- High visibility jacket – see and be seen.
- Locking wheel nut key – keep this in a safe place!
Our policy provides European-wide breakdown cover, managed by Aviva's Private Client team. This means that you will not only be looked after from the moment you call them, through getting you to your chosen destination safely and making sure that your car is fixed.
Don't take our word for it though – our good friend Petrol Ped found himself needing to use our breakdown cover during a road trip through France and you can hear his thoughts here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5wePtn9cRQ
Sharing the fun
If you're with a group of friends, the chances are that you'll be keen to try each other's cars. Most motor policies will cover you to drive someone else's car, but on a Third Party Only basis.
This could prove embarrassing and costly if the unthinkable were to happen, however, under Lockton's policy, you're insured on a Comprehensive basis to drive other cars and what's more, anyone aged over 35 is insured to drive yours on the same basis.
With a summer of fun well underway, we hope that you all get to enjoy your cars. We'll be at a number of club events throughout the season and look forward to meeting you. Drive safely and have fun!
We've added some links to wider articles on trackdays here and organised motoring events here.