Racing a car is not only exhilarating but also dangerous. The law surrounding racing cars can be tricky, and you’ll need to know what the essential legal tips are if you want to race your car legally and successfully. In this article, we will discuss some of those tips to avoid getting into trouble with the law. Let’s get to the list.
Get A Driver’s License
First of all, you will need to get a driver’s license to race your car legally. You cannot drive the car without it, even if you drive on private property or have only one passenger. Make sure that when you apply for a driver’s license, they know why it is being applied for and that you have a valid reason to do so.
Having a valid racing license is key if you want to race your car. It will allow you to drive the car on public roads and private property and help avoid unnecessary legal trouble when racing a car.
Do Not Race Against Traffic
Racing against traffic is illegal in most countries/states, so make sure that if you do race, it’s on a track or private property where no one but your passengers can get hurt. If racing at night, always wear reflective clothing to make you more visible to oncoming traffic and the police. If possible, try as much to avoid racing against traffic, as it is the most dangerous form of racing.
When you race against traffic, chances of getting into an accident are very high, which means you are not only risking your own life but the lives of other people on the road. For instance, getting involved in truck accidents can be deadly as they weigh more than normal cars and can cause significant damage. It would be best to avoid all these and have legal assistance if you get into an accident.
Get Insurance for Your Car
Another legal tip to keep in mind if you are racing a car is that you will need insurance for the car. This means purchasing an addendum from your policy when you get it so that it covers vehicle damage, injuries, and even deaths caused by your racer.
For instance, if involved with an accident with a truck, the truck may be covered by insurance for the damage, but you will need to purchase additional coverage to cover your damages. This will ensure you are not out of pocket or in trouble with the law. If possible, you should also try to get personal injury protection for yourself, your passenger(s), or other people you may have in the car with you before racing it.
Get Organized and Get a Racing Logbook
Another essential legal tip to keep in mind when racing a car is to get organized. If the police catch up with you while doing laps on some private property, then they can do anything from impounding your vehicle or fining you if not prepared for them. You will want to have all your licenses and permits ready so that the police don’t have any reason to detain you.
It would be best if you carried a racing logbook with all the details of your races, including important information on who was driving at what time, so that you are not accused of being the driver when someone else was behind the wheel. This way, no one can accuse you of racing the car.
Learn the Rules of the Road
As part of your legal tips when racing a car, it would be best for you to learn the rules of the road before getting behind the wheel. This way, you won’t end up in trouble with local law enforcement or get into an accident that can land you in jail.
For instance, if going at speeds above 20 miles per hour, you will need to get a special driving permit known as the ‘Graduated License’ so that you can go at high speeds. If pulled over by law enforcement for speeding and do not have this license, it could land you in trouble with the police even if racing on private property or your road.
Drive an Inspected, Road Worthy Vehicle
Lastly, always ensure that you drive a car that has been inspected and is road-worthy. This will help avoid unnecessary legal trouble or accidents while racing your car. For instance, if an inspection was done on the vehicle at least 12 months ago and it does not pass now, then it’s a good idea to have another one done before racing it. If anything goes wrong and you get involved in an accident, at least the police will know that the car was up to standard when being driven on public roads.
In short, when it comes to legal tips when racing a car, there are certain essential things that you will need to be aware of before getting behind the wheel and speeding around for fun. In this article, we have discussed some of those tips in detail so that if you want to race your car legally without any worries, you are well prepared.