Can Stock Car Drivers Get Life Insurance? A Step-by-Step Guide for Stock Car Racers in 2025 + YouTube Video
Can stock car drivers get life insurance? Yes, you can. Stock car and NASCAR drivers face unique challenges when it comes to securing life insurance.
While most applicants are evaluated based on age, health, and lifestyle, amateur and professional drivers must also contend with the elevated risk associated with high-speed racing.
Whether you’re a full-time, veteran NASCAR driver like Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Richard Petty or a weekend short track competitor, understanding how your career impacts your life insurance options is crucial.
The good news? Life insurance for stock car drivers is available to you, and with the right guidance, you can find an excellent policy that protects your family without breaking the bank.
Table of Contents
How Stock Car Drivers Can Apply for Life Insurance
Understand How Life Insurance Applications Are Evaluated
When applying for life insurance, insurers typically assess:
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Age and gender
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Overall health and medical history
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Tobacco use
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Lifestyle and hobbies
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Occupations, sports and hobbies — including motorsports
As a stock car racer, your application will receive additional scrutiny due to the inherent dangers of your profession. However, many life insurance companies specialize in evaluating high-risk applicants, and racing alone will not disqualify you from obtaining coverage.
Know the Underwriting Risks of Stock Car Racing
Underwriting is the process insurers use to evaluate your risk level. Regardless of whether you race at local tracks on a periodic basis or you are a regular at the Daytona 500, the process is exactly the same. For race car drivers, insurers look at:
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Type of racing (stock car, NASCAR, dirt track, etc.)
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Sanctioning body (e.g., NASCAR, ARCA, local series)
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Number of races per year
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Tracks and speeds involved
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Safety equipment used
The more detailed and honest you are, the better. Failing to disclose your racing activities can result in claims being denied later on.
Disclose Your Racing Activities Honestly
Be transparent during the application process. Insurers often request:
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A completed Racing-questionnaire
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Your racing license or sanctioning body ID
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Past race records or schedule
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A list of safety measures in place (helmet use, fire suit, roll cage, etc.)
Transparency ensures you’ll be quoted accurately and may even reduce the flat extra fees some companies add for hazardous occupations and hobbies.
Understanding “Flat Extra Fees” for Stock Car Racers
A common way insurers handle high-risk applicants is by adding a flat extra fee to your premium.
What is a flat extra fee?
It’s an additional cost per $1,000 of coverage to account for the added risk of racing.
Example: If your base rate is $50/month for $500,000 in coverage, and your insurer adds a $5 flat extra, your premium increases by $2,500 annually (500 x $5 ÷ 12 =$208/month extra).
These fees may be temporary and can sometimes be removed if you stop racing or reduce the number of events you race.
Sample Life Insurance Rates for Stock Car Drivers
Keep in mind that these sample rates look very vague, but you have to remember that all these premiums for race car drivers have to be custom quoted by an insurance agent based on your specific answers to some questions.
The table below shows estimated monthly premiums for a 20-year term life insurance policy with $500,000 in coverage for healthy, non-smoking male applicants. These rates assume a moderate flat extra fee and are intended for illustrative purposes only.
Age | Estimated Monthly Premium* |
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30 | $65 – $90 |
35 | $75 – $100 |
40 | $90 – $115 |
45 | $120 – $150 |
50 | $160 – $200 |
*Rates vary based on underwriting class, how many races per year, and insurer.
Recommended Life Insurance Companies for Stock Car Racers
These insurers are well-known for working with high-risk professions and hobbies, including motorsports racing:
1. Prudential Financial
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Founded: 1875
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AM Best Rating: A+
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Why it’s great: Prudential is known for flexible underwriting and accepting applicants with hazardous hobbies, including racing. Offers term, universal, and variable universal policies.
2. Banner Life (Legal & General America)
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Founded: 1949
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AM Best Rating: A+
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Why it’s great: Banner Life is recognized for competitive rates and fair consideration of high-risk applicants, especially those with well-documented safety practices.
3. Protective Life Insurance
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Founded: 1907
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AM Best Rating: A+
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Why it’s great: Protective Life is known for low premiums and leniency with flat extras in cases where the driver races part-time or at lower speeds.
4. Lincoln Financial Group
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Founded: 1905
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AM Best Rating: A+
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Why it’s great: Lincoln Financial provides strong customer service and customized term and universal life policies for applicants with unique occupational risks.
5. Mutual of Omaha
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Founded: 1909
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AM Best Rating: A+
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Why it’s great: Mutual of Omaha offers simplified issue and fully underwritten policies, with a history of working with clients who participate in hazardous avocations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will racing disqualify me from getting life insurance?
Not at all! Racing increases your risk, but many insurers are willing to offer coverage with flat extra fees. The key is full disclosure and working with companies experienced in high-risk underwriting.
What documents will I need to apply?
You may need:
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Completed application
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Racing activity questionnaire
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A current racing license
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Medical exam results (for traditional policies)
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Racing history and schedule
Can I still get life insurance if I race part-time?
Yes. In fact, part-time racers may receive better offers than full-time drivers. Less frequent racing often translates to lower flat extras and standard premiums.
How do flat extras work?
A flat extra is a fixed additional fee added to your premium per $1,000 of coverage. This helps the insurer manage the added risk of your racing activities.
What if I stop racing, can my premium go down?
Yes. If you stop racing and notify the insurer, they may remove the flat extra fee during your policy’s next renewal or after a specified period (e.g., 12 months without racing).
How to Buy Life Insurance for Race Car Drivers YouTube Video
In Conclusion: Protecting What Matters Most
As a stock car driver, you understand risk better than most. But securing the right life insurance for stock car drivers doesn’t have to be a roadblock. With guidance from an experienced insurance agent, you can:
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Find an insurer that understands your profession
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Disclose your racing background without fear
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Secure affordable coverage for your family’s future
Ready to take your insurance journey to the next level? We’re here to help you compare quotes, find the perfect policy, and ensure it fits your life both on and off the track.
All the best,