Race within the rules
This page explains what governing bodies, regulators, standards bodies and researchers publish. It is not a substitute for your class's rule book, a track's safety rules, the race director or the makers' instructions.
How this page is written
Each statement below is a governing body's rule or description of its own cover, and applies only to that body's events or members. None of it is law, and no country's insurance law was read for this site. What a policy actually covers is set by its terms, which were not read; this page records only what the bodies say about it. No amounts are given.
EFRA
- Compulsory public liability insurance (General Rule 5.3.9, 2024). Public liability insurance against accidents and legal liability is compulsory for all EFRA events. It applies to all competitors and officials whatever their nationality or sporting status, and the rule says a copy of the certificate should be presented to the section chairman before the event.
- EFRA's own liability (3.7.1 and 3.7.2). EFRA says it will not accept any legal liability for an event it has sanctioned. It adds that EFRA and its officials accept no legal liability for claims of injury, damage or loss arising from organisers' procedures or equipment, and that competitors or their guardian can be asked to sign an agreement to these conditions before taking part.
- National insurance rules come first in large scale (8.15.6). EFRA's arrangement for large-scale racing, in which mechanics marshal from the pit lane instead of drivers marshalling on track, is stated as unable to overrule national insurance regulations.
These are from the 2024 General Rules, the latest edition read; EFRA lists 2026 General Rules that were not read, so the wording may have changed.
IFMAR
The IFMAR 1/8 IC off-road World Championship rules (2024, rule 3.8.i) make insurance against accidents and legal liability compulsory, with a copy of the insurance certificate enclosed with the event contract. IFMAR's General Rules for World Championships were not found, so whether the same requirement is written for every class is not confirmed here.
BRCA (United Kingdom)
Membership cover
The BRCA ties insurance to membership. Its 2026 become-a-member page says membership, held by calendar year, includes third-party liability insurance for racing at BRCA-affiliated clubs and events, and that clubs must be affiliated for their events to fall under BRCA insurance. Its join page says adult and junior memberships carry BRCA membership insurance for racing at club and BRCA-sanctioned events, and that the Non-Driving Membership, intended for parents, pit crew and substitute marshals, carries membership insurance for trackside attendance without the right to drive.
Club affiliation
The BRCA's 2026 club affiliation page says affiliation includes public liability insurance covering competitors and organisers, that the club is the legal entity, and that affiliated members are covered through the club. It says the cover extends to public displays and shows.
ROAR (North America)
ROAR's About page (2026) says its members are insured at any ROAR-sanctioned event, and that about 200 clubs in the United States and Canada are sanctioned by ROAR and covered by its member accident and liability insurance. ROAR's current rule book could not be read, so any insurance conditions it sets for events are not recorded here.
Side by side
| Body | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| EFRA | Public liability insurance compulsory for all events, for all competitors and officials; a copy of the certificate should be presented before the event | General Rules 2024, 5.3.9 |
| IFMAR | Insurance against accidents and legal liability compulsory; certificate enclosed with the event contract | 1/8 IC off-road World Championship rules 2024, 3.8.i |
| BRCA | Third-party liability cover with membership (become-a-member page), "membership insurance" (join page); affiliated clubs carry public liability cover for competitors and organisers | Membership pages and club affiliation 2026 |
| ROAR | Members insured at any ROAR-sanctioned event; sanctioned clubs covered by member accident and liability insurance | About page 2026 |
What was not found
No insurance rule from FEMCA or the AARCMCC was found. Not found is not the same as not existing. Membership in each body, and what else it brings, is covered on the BRCA and national bodies, EFRA and ROAR.