FanShield race insurance worth it runner crossing finish line — Race insurance may be able to refund your entry if you can’t run.

By Marnie Kunz
Certified trainer, run coach, and Runstreet founder

If you’re wondering if FanShield race insurance is worth it, this review gives my experience as well as research I gathered from from around the web. I recently signed up for a race and saw FanShield race insurance as an option to “protect my purchase” in case something came up and I could not attend. What a great idea, I thought, knowing my running friend and I often have things come up, so don’t make every trail race we sign up for. I have a senior dog who often has unexpected health issues, and my friend’s work schedule changes often, so we don’t make every race. In any case, we put the insurance to the test when we couldn’t make it to a trail running event recently. This review is based on my research and experience with FanShield. I recommend reading it before purchasing FanShield race insurance so you can make an informed decision.

FanShield race insurance worth it — My friend Jose and I love trail running.

What Is FanShield Race Insurance?

FanShield race insurance is an optional add-on you may see when registering for a race online. It’s marketed as a way to “protect your purchase” in case something prevents you from running on race day. Instead of losing your entire registration fee, you can file a claim for a refund if your reason for missing the event fits within their policy. FanShield also offers ticket protection for other events such as concert tickets and sporting events.

The cost of FanShield is usually just a small percentage of your entry fee — often just a few dollars for smaller races. At checkout, you’ll see a box offering FanShield coverage, and you can choose whether or not to add it before finalizing your race entry.

To be clear, FanShield doesn’t actually organize the race- it’s a third-party insurance provider that partners with race directors and event platforms. The company offers coverage for a variety of events, including running races, concerts, and festivals — but the process works the same. If you can’t attend, you submit documentation to FanShield, and if your situation qualifies, you get your money back.

This all sounds like peace of mind for runners who deal with injuries, unexpected work schedules, or family emergencies — but the fine print matters. Before deciding if FanShield race insurance is worth it, it’s important to understand what they do and don’t cover.

What Does FanShield Cover? (Hint: Not a Lot)

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Couch to 10K Training Plan (12 Weeks - Beginners Walk to Run)

FanShield coverage can vary depending on the race or event you sign up for, so it’s not exactly the same for every race. Generally, FanShield covers emergency situations that prevent you from attending due to unexpected events, including some of these covered scenarios:

Illness or injury – if you or an immediate family member can’t attend due to a medical issue. For this they require a medical note from a doctor for proof that you were advised not to attend.
Travel issues like flight cancellations or a car accident you’re involved in that makes it impossible to get to the race. Being stuck in traffic does not count under their terms.
Emergencies – unexpected events such as a change in military duty, work relocation, death in your immediate family, or other qualifying situations listed in the policy. The policy I had did not cover if the event is canceled by the organizers due to extreme weather or other reasons.

It’s important to note that FanShield does not cover every reason you might miss a race. For example, most policies won’t refund you for work conflicts that arise, changing your mind, or routine training injuries. Each race may have slightly different terms, so you’ll want to read the specific coverage details before purchasing.

Understanding exactly what is and isn’t covered is key to deciding if FanShield race insurance is worth it for you. Later in this review, I’ll share my personal experience using FanShield and whether it lived up to its promise.

Why Get Race Insurance?

In principle, race insurance seems like a great idea to me as life can change unexpectedly and race costs continue to climb, so being able to get a refund would be a nice option. If you sign up for a very expensive race, or if you’re worried about an emergency arising and preventing you from running, race insurance may be helpful.

In practice, though, the insurance carrier and the terms of the coverage can determine a lot so it’s important to read the fine print so you know what you’re signing up for if you get FanShield race insurance.

For example, if you need a doctor’s note saying you were advised not to run the race on the planned date, that is a very specific situation that requires planning and documentation and is a much narrower definition of “medical coverage” than what you might expect from the way it is marketed on race sign up pages.

Similarly, their coverage of travel issues does not include many situations - such as traffic issues or forecasted weather conditions. For car trouble, FanShield covers a mechanical breakdown of a ticketholder’s vehicle within 48 hours of the event, resulting in the non-use of the vehicle as transportation to the Event. You must provide proof of the mechanical breakdown, such as a tow truck or mechanic’s receipt or a police report.

My Experience with FanShield

FanShield race insurance worth it woman running — Photo by Marques Jackson Photography.

My friend and I both bought FanShield insurance for a trail race we signed up for. Knowing that sometimes we don’t make every race, it seemed like a great idea, and it listed many general reasons it covered, like medical and transportation issues. Once I bought the insurance and saw the terms, though, the requirements were strict, maintaining that a person must get a doctor’s signed note saying they advised against participating in the event on the specific date.

So, for me, my reason for not attending the race was twofold: 1, my dog got sick over the weekend, and after struggling with pneumonia for months and finally being clear of it, she seemed to be sliding back into the illness, coughing and weak. (Unfortunately, pet-related issues are not included in the insurance.)

The other reason was that I had sustained pretty serious injuries from falling at a previous trail running event, and they were not healed as I’d expected by the race date. I still had very tender, deeply bruised knees, which were ok for light running in the city, but I was afraid of falling on them again on rocky trails since they hadn’t healed all the way. This was a bummer because I love trail running, and this trail race specifically is one of my favorites.

In any case, my friend also could not make the race due to work conflicts, and so we both thought well, at least we paid for the insurance option. But alas, when I submitted my claim with photos documenting my injuries, it was denied, stating that I needed a doctor’s note saying I was advised against participating in the event on the event date.

Since the run was on a Sunday morning and I had only been to a doctor right after my injury two weeks before, I did not have the required note, and I did not get a refund. In addition to misleading marketing terms when you sign up, I felt like FanShield also had poor customer service, with only an email to contact them and a few days' delay for a response.

My friend did not get a refund either, as general work issues are not covered. In fact, when I looked at the terms that I received after purchasing the insurance, their covered situations were very narrow, only including extreme emergencies with documentation - such as you got in an accident within 48 hours of the event and have a police report to submit, or you have a doctor’s note saying you were advised against doing the race. A general unforeseen situation, such as your ride to the event falls through or you get called in to work, will not be covered.

FanShield Reviews

We are apparently not the only ones let down by FanShield. I did some research online to check out reviews of the company, which also operates under the name Protecht, and here is what I found:

Trustpilot score of 2.3 out of 5.0 based on 1,280 reviews
Better Business Bureau rating of a B with 161 complaints filed
Reddit reviews are also low for FanShield, with many consumers feeling scammed and like the insurance wasn’t worth it because of denying refunds
The Complaints Board platform gives FanShield a 1 out of 5 star review with 10 negative complaints filed.

Looking at the many complaints and poor reviews for FanShield, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience using FanShield’s race or event insurance. People are particularly frustrated with the refund process, citing denials even when events are missed due to circumstances seemingly covered by the insurance, such as work conflicts or inclement weather. In the case of extreme weather, FanShield requires “proof of loss” in the form of a weather advisory against traveling, road closures due to weather, or a dated warning regarding travel due to unsafe conditions from the National Weather Service.

Consumers report frustration with the refund process, indicating a lack of flexibility and understanding from the company. Customers also voice concerns about the company's contact methods and overall refund protection support experience.

Many people feel that the company’s policies are designed to avoid paying out claims, leading to a perception of FanShield as a scam. The consensus among reviewers is overwhelmingly negative, with many advising potential customers to avoid this organization.

Is FanShield Race Insurance Worth It? Final Recommendation

After being frustrated and disappointed with FanShield, I would not recommend it for other runners. I personally will not use FanShield again for my next event due to the very limited protection terms, the strict proof requirements, and the overall poor customer service and consumer experience. I did not feel like it was worth the cost and was disappointed that the reasons listed on the event site for coverage were actually much more limited than what I had expected, and required very specific documentation.

After doing research and finding many other complaints with FanShield, I see that a lot of customers have had bad experiences with the company, which also operates under the name RegShield and Protecht. If you want event insurance with a more full scope of coverage and better customer support, I recommend looking elsewhere.

FAQs

Does FanShield give you a refund?

FanShield may give you a refund if you have an unforeseen emergency situation that is listed in the terms of your policy, and you have documentation to prove it. Overall, the feedback for using FanShield is pretty negative, with most consumers saying they do not get refunds and some even saying it’s a total scam. If you do get FanShield, read the terms of your coverage carefully so you know what is required for a refund.

How does FanShield work?

FanShield offers insurance for live events such as concerts, races, sports events, and more. The insurance gives conditional coverage for certain emergency situations that may prevent you from attending your race or event. If your situation is covered by the policy, you will need to submit the required documentation and follow the steps to get a refund. In general, FanShield offers very limited coverage while requiring extensive documentation to get a refund.

How do I cancel FanShield?

If you just bought FanShield, you can usually cancel it within a few days of purchase. To do so, check your confirmation email for a link, or you can use this link to cancel FanShield or email help@fanshield.com for additional assistance (it may take a few days to hear back from them).

Is race insurance worth it?

Race insurance may be worth it if you find a reputable company and if you want emergency coverage for a large entry fee. I personally do not recommend FanShield and would not use it again. If I found a company that has better customer service with broader coverage, I would consider getting race insurance in the future for big events.

Enjoy Your Best Race

While race insurance like Fanshield may not always deliver the safety net runners hope for, one thing you can control is how you prepare for race day. Solid training reduces the chances of injuries and last-minute setbacks.

If you’re ready to train smarter and feel confident lining up at your next race, check out the Runstreet Training Center. As a certified running coach, I’ve created training plans to help you stay consistent, strong, and prepared so you can get to the starting line healthy and ready to run your best.

Happy running to you and take care!

Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach, a dog lover, an Akita mom, and the founder of Runstreet. She specializes in helping runners get faster and stronger and helping beginners elevate their fitness levels. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.

Is FanShield Race Insurance Worth It? Rundown + Review