iRacing Costs

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Here’s a clear and structured explanation of each topic:

iRacing Subscriptions & Pricing

Monthly Fee + Cars & Tracks

iRacing operates on a subscription model. Unlike traditional racing games, you pay a monthly or yearly fee to access the platform. However, while your subscription gives you access to the base content, additional cars and tracks must be purchased separately.

Subscription Costs (Standard Pricing):

Monthly: $13
3 Months: $33
1 Year: $110
2 Years: $199

These prices may vary due to promotions or discounts.

Free Cars & Tracks

When you subscribe to iRacing, you automatically get access to a selection of free cars and tracks. These are mainly used in the Rookie and lower-license series.

Free Cars (Examples):

Mazda MX-5
Toyota GR86
BMW M2 CS Racing
Formula Vee
Street Stock

Free Tracks (Examples):

Lime Rock Park
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Okayama International Circuit
Oran Park
Laguna Seca

The free content allows you to race in official series without additional costs.

Paid Cars & Tracks

Once you move beyond the Rookie series, you’ll need to purchase additional content.

Cars: Usually cost $11.95 each, with some exceptions.
Tracks: Vary from $11.95 to $14.95, depending on complexity and licensing.

🔹 Bundle Discounts: Buying 3+ items at once gives a discount (10% for 3, 15% for 6, 20% for 40+).

🔹 Legacy Content: Older cars and tracks may be discounted.

Steam Promos (Yearly Offers)

If you purchased iRacing through Steam, you may find seasonal discounts, especially during events like:

Steam Summer Sale
Steam Winter Sale

Pros of using Steam:
✔️ Steam Wallet & gift cards can be used.
✔️ Easy account management.

Cons of using Steam:
❌ Some promotional offers (like Black Friday deals) may not apply.
❌ Purchasing content is tied to your Steam account, making it harder to switch to a standalone iRacing account.

iRacing Promos (Black Friday, Special Offers)

iRacing offers special promotions, especially during:

Black Friday: Often the best discount (up to 50% off subscriptions).
New Users: Discounts for first-time subscribers (e.g., $5 for the first month).
Returning Users: Discounts for inactive users to renew subscriptions.

Pro Tip: If you’re planning to subscribe long-term, wait for Black Friday deals to maximize savings.

Friend Referrals (iRacing Dollars Bonus)

If you’re new to iRacing, ask a friend for a referral link before signing up.

Your friend earns iRacing Dollars ($10 per referral) when you join.
These can be used to buy cars, tracks, or renew subscriptions.
You can also refer others once you’re a member.

iRacing Series Participation Credits

iRacing rewards active drivers with credits:

If you complete 8 out of 12 weeks in an official series (D-license or higher), you get $4 in iRacing Credits.
You can earn up to $10 per season (or $40 per year).
These credits can be used for cars, tracks, or subscriptions.

Note: Participation credits do not work for Rookie races.

Gift Cards & iRacing Dollars

iRacing Gift Cards: Can be purchased to buy content or pay for subscriptions.
iRacing Dollars: Earned through friend referrals, hosted events, or promotions.

Tip: If you race frequently, you can save money by using iRacing Dollars for purchases instead of real money.

Hosted Events

Hosted events allow players to create their own private races.
Requires an iRacing subscription + purchased content.
Costs $0.50 per hour to host, but friends can join for free.

These are great for private races, practice sessions, or league events.

Leagues

Leagues are private racing groups within iRacing that operate their own championships.

Many leagues are invite-only or require registration.
Some leagues charge entry fees for prizes.
League racing is often more structured than official races.

🔹 Finding a League: Use the iRacing forums, Discord, or the in-game league finder.