In standard motorsport, track day, and recreational driving insurance, there is a notorious, generic exclusion known simply as "the participant exclusion."

While a car club, event organizer, or facility operator may hold a base Public Liability insurance policy that protects them if a spectator is injured or property is damaged, that policy frequently excludes claims arising from one active participant injuring another participant during an on-track or off-road activity.

This means if Driver A negligently collides with Driver B during a track day, a time attack, a 4WD navigation challenge, or an off-road event, Driver A can be held personally liable for Driver B’s medical costs, vehicle damage, rehabilitation, and long-term loss of income. Furthermore, the club or organizer facilitating the event can easily be drawn into a massive lawsuit for failing to provide a safe environment or adequate supervision.

The Personal Accident "Trap"

Some traditional insuring bodies claim that Driver-to-Driver liability isn't necessary because they provide a mandatory "Group Personal Accident" (PA) policy for all entrants.

However, event organizers and drivers are quickly learning the harsh reality of this setup. A small Personal Accident payout—even a couple of hundred thousand dollars—does not go far when dealing with catastrophic injuries, specialized trauma care, and permanent loss of earning capacity in this day and age.

What’s worse, those traditional insuring bodies have recognized a concerning trend: paying out that limited Personal Accident sum often just acts as seed funding. It gives the injured participant the exact financial resources they need to hire a lawyer and launch a massive civil liability lawsuit against the hosting organization and you—the other driver involved in the collision—to recover their true lifetime costs.

If you are relying solely on an association's generic policy with a standard "participant exclusion," your drivers and your club are completely exposed to that lawsuit.

Protecting Drivers, Clubs, and Families

The MAA Driver-to-Driver (D2D) Liability Cover is engineered specifically to bridge this catastrophic gap. The D2D Program provides explicit liability indemnity for participants regarding civil claims made by other participants following an on-track or off-road collision.

By removing the "participant exclusion," we ensure:

• Drivers are Protected: Individuals are not facing complete financial ruin from a split-second misjudgment on the track, circuit, or off-road trail.

• Clubs are Insulated: Organizers receive an essential additional layer of protection against vicarious liability claims arising from driver or competitor negligence.

• A "Shared Responsibility" Approach: All participants contribute to a professional environment where collective mechanical risk is legitimately managed.

The Unique MAA "Add-On" Solution

At the MAA, we recognize that flexibility is key. We understand that many automotive car clubs, track day brands, and recreational 4WD groups maintain historic affiliations or sanctioning arrangements with other legacy insuring peak bodies or national associations.

The Problem: Being Forced to Choose

Traditionally, if a club wanted to secure robust Participant-to-Participant cover through a specialized motorsport broker, they were forced to "double-insure"—taking out a second, full Public Liability policy just to unlock the participant liability component. This makes insurance exorbitant and threatens the financial viability of grassroots events.

The MAA Solution: The Strategic Add-On

Working in direct consultation with our partner insurance brokers, the MAA has engineered a strategic solution.

Because the MAA acts as your professional gatekeeper rather than the insurer, we use our WHS Lead Auditing credentials to perform a capacity audit of your club or event framework. Once your operation is certified to the high MAA National Safety Standard, your club can utilize our network to purchase Driver-to-Driver / Participant Liability as a standalone "Add-On" policy.

This means:

• Your club can keep its current affiliations and generic Public Liability base with another insuring body.

• Your club unlocks specialized, high-leverage, APRA-regulated Driver-to-Driver cover, paid directly to the licensed broker.

• Your club eliminates double-insurance, significantly lowering overall costs while massively increasing driver protection.

The Pathway to Specialised Cover

Participant-to-Participant Cover is a distinct add-on that requires specific application and underwriting verification:

1. Nominate your Club or Facility: The MAA acts as the qualifying gatekeeper.

2. WHS & Regulations Audit: The MAA performs a risk and capacity audit of your supplementary event regulations, driver briefing scripts, and track safety protocols.

3. Certification: Upon certification, your club or event brand is cleared of administrative red tape.

4. Policy Access: Your entity is cleared to utilize the MAA broker partner network to purchase the Driver-to-Driver Add-On cover directly, providing peace of mind for every competitor and driver on the grid.

Stop risking your club's assets and your drivers' financial futures on a generic policy with participant exclusions. Secure specialized protection without the double-insurance cost.

Motorsport Association Australia proudly operates in partnership with the MAA Driver Safety Charity. Driven by a commitment to make a tangible difference on and off the track, all money raised through this MAA division directly funds grassroots driver education, advanced car control, and life-saving safety training initiatives across Australia. When you work with us, you aren't just protecting your business and securing your drive—you are actively helping to equip drivers with essential road skills and ensuring everyone makes the journey home safely.