How much does it cost to crash at the Nürburgring? Prices and expenses you'll have to face

The Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit is one of the greatest temples of speed on our planet. Throughout the year, many drivers head to the German track to enjoy the dynamics of their own car or a rented one, and the truth is that few circuits offer the variety of corners and sections found at the Nürburgring, which is part of why it is so popular. But what happens if we have an accident on the Bavarian circuit? We’ll tell you in advance: nothing good.

The Nürburgring is a very treacherous circuit that demands the utmost even from the most experienced drivers; that’s why it’s called the “Green Hell”. If we decide to drive on the circuit, we must tread carefully, since if we suffer an accident we would have to face a series of hidden costs that would leave our wallets trembling.

Below you can see the official price list – updated in 2017 – for accidents occurring at the Nürburgring:

• Intervention of the barrier repair truck (armco): 185 euros
• Removal of damaged barriers: 12 euros/metre (up to x4 for very high barriers)
• Installation of new barriers: 39 euros/metre (up to x4 for very high barriers)
• Removal of damaged armco posts: 6.30 euros/unit
• Track marshals, in case of accident: 60 euros/hour of assistance
• Installation of new armco posts: 48 euros/unit
• Safety Car deployment: 101 euros/half hour
• Circuit closure: 1,666 euros/hour
• Tow truck service: 500 euros

As you can see, the problems come when you hit the metal protections: a relatively mild collision can easily cost you more than 1,000 euros. Not to mention an accident that requires being towed away or one that makes it necessary to close the circuit for a certain period; the bill would not come to less than 5,000 euros.

Damage to the car itself

The list above does not include damage to the car itself, which could be just as expensive or considerably more so. Always bearing in mind how spectacular the accident was; but clearly everything is proportional. In most personal insurance policies, our car is not covered on track in the event of an accident, so you won’t be able to do anything; they have ways of finding out that you have breached the contract.

If, on the other hand, you go in with a rented car, which is common to enjoy the track even more, you can find all sorts of situations. The most popular rental companies such as Hertz, Avis or Europcar, do not allow entry to circuits, so we recommend not even considering it.

If you prefer to rent a car from a rental company to drive at the Nürburgring, of which there are several in the vicinity, you might have a bit more luck, but always bear in mind that you will have to pay an excess. For example, at the company Rent4Ring, that excess can range from 3,000 euros for a Suzuki Swift with accident insurance up to 10,000 euros for a BMW 125i without insurance, always excluding circuit costs and only applying when the damage to the car exceeds that amount.

Despite these dangers, the “Green Hell” remains a special place for all lovers of four wheels, a circuit where you will see spectacular cars, both around the surroundings and on the track. If you are a true petrolhead we recommend you visit it at least once in your life, but it is worth being aware of the consequences of a possible mishap on the circuit, otherwise you will end up paying dearly. Above all, plenty of common sense and plenty of safety on the track. Enjoy!